Unique natural features of the Pacific Ocean. Features of the nature of the oceans

Our Earth looks like a blue planet from space. This is because ¾ of the surface of the globe is occupied by the World Ocean. It is one, though very divided.

The surface area of ​​the entire World Ocean is 361 million square meters. km.

Oceans of our planet

The ocean is the water shell of the earth, the most important component of the hydrosphere. Continents divide the oceans into parts.

Currently, it is customary to distinguish five oceans:

. - the largest and oldest on our planet. Its surface area is 178.6 million square meters. km. It occupies 1/3 of the Earth and makes up almost half of the oceans. To imagine this value, it is enough to say that all the continents and islands together can easily be placed in the Pacific Ocean. This is probably why it is often called the Great Ocean.

The Pacific Ocean owes its name to F. Magellan, who, during his round-the-world trip, crossed the ocean under favorable conditions.

The ocean has an oval shape, its widest part is located near the equator.

The southern part of the ocean is an area of ​​calm, light winds and a stable atmosphere. To the west of the Tuamotu Islands, the picture changes dramatically - here is a region of storms and heavy winds, turning into ferocious hurricanes.

In the tropics, the waters of the Pacific Ocean are clear, transparent and have a deep blue color. A favorable climate formed near the equator. The air temperature here is +25ºC and practically does not change throughout the year. Winds of moderate strength, often calm.

The northern part of the ocean is similar to the southern, as if in a mirror image: in the west, unstable weather with frequent storms and typhoons, in the east - peace and quiet.

The Pacific Ocean is the richest in terms of the number of animal and plant species. Over 100 thousand species of animals live in its waters. Almost half of the world's fish catch is caught here. The most important sea routes are laid across this ocean, connecting 4 continents at once.

. covers an area of ​​92 million square meters. km. This ocean, like a huge strait, connects the two poles of our planet. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge runs through the center of the ocean, famous for the instability of the earth's crust. Separate peaks of this ridge rise above the water and form islands, the largest of which is Iceland.

The southern part of the ocean is under the influence of the trade winds. There are no cyclones here, so the water here is calm, clean and transparent. Closer to the equator, the Atlantic changes completely. The waters here are muddy, especially along the coast. This is due to the fact that large rivers flow into the ocean in this part.

The northern tropical zone of the Atlantic is famous for its hurricanes. Two major currents meet here - the warm Gulf Stream and the cold Labrador.

The northern latitudes of the Atlantic are the most picturesque area with huge icebergs and powerful ice tongues protruding from the waters. This area of ​​the ocean is dangerous for navigation.

. (76 million sq. km) - the area of ​​​​the most ancient civilizations. Navigation here began to develop much earlier than in other oceans. The average depth of the ocean is 3700 meters. The coastline is slightly indented, with the exception of the northern part, where most of the seas and bays are located.

The waters of the Indian Ocean are more salty than in others, as far fewer rivers flow into it. But, thanks to this, they are famous for their amazing transparency and rich azure and blue color.

The northern part of the ocean is a monsoon region, and typhoons often form in autumn and spring. Further south, the water temperature is lower due to the influence of Antarctica.

. (15 million sq. km) is located in the Arctic and occupies vast areas around the north pole. The maximum depth is 5527m.

The central part of the bottom is a continuous intersection of mountain ranges, between which there is a huge basin. The coastline is heavily indented by seas and bays, and in terms of the number of islands and archipelagos, the Arctic takes second place after such a giant as the Pacific Ocean.

The most characteristic part of this ocean is the presence of ice. The Arctic Ocean remains by far the least explored, as research is hampered by the fact that most of the ocean is hidden under the ice cover.

. . The waters surrounding Antarctica combine signs. Allowing them to be separated into a separate ocean. But there are still disputes about what to consider borders. If from the south the borders are marked by the mainland, then the northern borders are most often drawn along 40-50º south latitude. Within such limits, the ocean area is 86 million square meters. km.

The bottom relief is cut by underwater canyons, ridges and basins. The fauna of the Southern Ocean is rich, there is the largest number of endemic animals and plants.

Characteristics of the oceans

The oceans are several billion years old. Its prototype is the ancient Panthalassa ocean, which existed when all the continents were still a single whole. Until recently, the bottom of the oceans was assumed to be flat. But it turned out that the bottom, like the land, has a complex relief, with its mountains and plains.

Properties of the waters of the oceans

The Russian scientist A. Voyekov called the World Ocean "a huge heating battery" of our planet. The fact is that the average water temperature in the oceans is +17ºC, and the average air temperature is +14ºC. Water heats up much longer, but it also consumes heat more slowly than air, while having high heat capacity.

But not all the water column in the oceans has the same temperature. Under the sun, only surface waters heat up, and with depth, the temperature drops. It is known that at the bottom of the oceans the average temperature is only +3ºC. And it remains so because of the high density of water.

It should be remembered that the water in the oceans is salty, and therefore it freezes not at 0ºC, but at -2ºC.

The degree of salinity of the waters varies depending on the geographic latitude: in temperate latitudes, the waters are less saline than, for example, in the tropics. In the north, the waters are also less saline due to the melting of glaciers, which greatly desalinate the water.

The waters of the ocean are also different in terms of transparency. At the equator, the water is clearer. As the distance from the equator increases, the water becomes saturated with oxygen faster, which means that more microorganisms appear. But near the poles, due to low temperatures, the waters become more transparent again. So, the waters of the Weddell Sea near Antarctica are considered the most transparent. The second place belongs to the waters of the Sargasso Sea.

The difference between the ocean and the sea

The main difference between the sea and the ocean is in size. The oceans are much larger, and the seas are often only part of the oceans. The seas also differ from the ocean, to which they belong, by their unique hydrological regime (water temperature, salinity, transparency, distinctive composition of flora and fauna).

The climate of the oceans


Climate of the Pacific infinitely diverse, as the ocean is located in almost all climatic zones: from equatorial to subarctic in the north and Antarctic in the south. There are 5 warm currents and 4 cold currents in the Pacific Ocean.

The greatest amount of precipitation falls in the equatorial zone. The amount of precipitation exceeds the proportion of water evaporation, so the water in the Pacific Ocean is less salty than in others.

climate of the atlantic ocean determined by its large extent from north to south. The equator zone is the narrowest part of the ocean, so the water temperature here is lower than in the Pacific or Indian.

The Atlantic is conditionally divided into northern and southern, drawing a border along the equator, and the southern part is much colder due to its proximity to Antarctica. Many areas of this ocean are characterized by thick fogs and powerful cyclones. They are strongest near the southern tip of North America and in the Caribbean.

On formation Indian Ocean climate the proximity of two continents - Eurasia and Antarctica - has a huge impact. Eurasia actively participates in the annual change of seasons, bringing dry air in winter and filling the atmosphere with excess moisture in summer.

The proximity of Antarctica causes a decrease in water temperature in the southern part of the ocean. Hurricanes and storms are frequent north and south of the equator.

Formation climate of the Arctic Ocean determined by its geographic location. Arctic air masses dominate here. Average air temperature: from -20 ºC to -40 ºC, even in summer the temperature rarely rises above 0ºC. But the waters of the ocean are warmer due to constant contact with the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Therefore, the Arctic Ocean warms a significant part of the land.

Strong winds are rare, but fogs are frequent in summer. Precipitation falls mainly in the form of snow.

It is influenced by the proximity of Antarctica, the presence of ice and the absence of warm currents. The Antarctic climate dominates here with low temperatures, cloudy weather and mild winds. Snow falls throughout the year. A distinctive feature of the climate of the Southern Ocean is the high activity of cyclones.

The influence of the ocean on the Earth's climate

The ocean has a tremendous influence on the formation of climate. It accumulates huge reserves of heat. Thanks to the oceans, the climate on our planet is becoming milder and warmer, since the temperature of the waters in the oceans does not change as sharply and quickly as the temperature of the air over land.

Oceans contribute to better circulation of air masses. And such an important natural phenomenon as the water cycle provides the land with a sufficient amount of moisture.

There is a truly unique geographical object of the planet Earth in the world - it is the Pacific Ocean. Like the mainland of Eurasia, it can be called the largest, most populated, and so on. In 1513, it was first discovered by the Spanish conquistador de Balboa for Europeans. The ocean then bore the name "South Sea".

After seven years, another Spaniard Ferdinand Magellan, a famous navigator, sailed here. He managed to cross the Pacific Ocean from Tierra del Fuego to the Philippine Islands directly in just four months. During the trip, the weather was calm and calm, without storms and storms, so the explorer called the ocean "Pacific".

Some scientific experts wished to call it "Great", based on its incredible size. But this name has not received recognition and any support. Until 1917, on all Russian maps, this geographical object was referred to as the "Eastern Ocean" or "Pacific Sea". This name was given to him by Russian explorers who first reached the ocean.

Features of geographical parameters

This ocean is considered the largest ocean of our entire planet. More than 178,000,000 km² is the area of ​​the water table. And this is equal to 49% of the total area of ​​the oceans directly. This geographical feature washes almost all the continents of the Earth, except for Africa. The width of the ocean in the equatorial region is 20 thousand kilometers. If we take into account its length from north to south, then it is located from the Arctic waters right up to the coast of Antarctica

More than ten thousand islands are located in the Pacific Ocean. All of them have a different size and origin. The largest number of them is located in the central and western parts.

25 seas and three huge bays stand out in this ocean. In the western region of the ocean, the largest number of seas. Among all, the following marginal seas can be distinguished:

Beringovo;

East China;

Japanese;

Okhotsk;

It is also worth highlighting the seas of the Indonesian islands:

Javanese;

Sulawesi;

Moluccan.

In the Pacific Ocean itself, there are seas, such as:

coral;

Philippine;

New Guinean;

Amundsen;

Tasmanovo;

Bellingshausen;

Features of the bottom of the Pacific Ocean

From the point of view of the structure of the ocean, three main parts can be distinguished:

Shelf or continental margin;

transition zone.

Only 10% of the total area of ​​the Pacific Ocean belongs to the shelf zone. In the east, it is practically absent. The Mariana Trench is 11,000 meters deep and is the deepest in the world.

A continuous ring around the Pacific Ocean forms a transition zone. 65% of the bottom area is on the ocean floor. Many underwater ridges cross it. Such ridges create basins on the ocean floor directly along the entire perimeter. An extensive area of ​​tectonic faults is located in the transition zone. They formed the Pacific Ring of Fire, a seismically active zone.

Water properties

The ocean is well warmed up due to its length in equatorial latitudes. It is considered the warmest ocean in the country. 34.7 ‰ - salinity of the water of the Pacific Ocean.

Also characteristic is a complex system of various ocean currents, which was formed with the help of vast expanses and the influence of the continents. The biggest contradictions are: Kuroshio, Intertrade, Northern Tradewind, Peruvian, Southern Tradewind.

The waters of the Pacific Ocean are densely populated. This geographical feature is called the "ocean of giants and endemics". The depths of the ocean are little explored by specialists.

Due to the properties of water, plankton are quite productive. It is an excellent food base for marine mammals and fish. Tropical latitudes are characterized by colonies of coral polyps. Such formations form systems of coral islands and reefs.

The largest and oldest of all oceans. Its area is 178.6 million km2. It can freely accommodate all the continents and combined, which is why it is sometimes called the Great. The name "Quiet" is associated with the name of F., who made a round-the-world trip and sailed across the Pacific Ocean under favorable conditions.

This ocean is really great: it occupies 1/3 of the surface of the entire planet and almost 1/2 of the area. The ocean has an oval shape, especially it is wide.

The peoples inhabiting the Pacific shores and islands have long sailed the ocean and mastered its riches. Information about the ocean was accumulated as a result of the voyages of F. Magellan, J.. The beginning of its wide study was laid in the 19th century by the first round-the-world Russian expedition of I.F. . At present, a special department has been set up for the study of the Pacific Ocean. In recent years, new data on its nature have been obtained, the depth has been determined, currents, the topography of the bottom, and the ocean are being studied.

The southern part of the ocean from the shores of the Tuamotu Islands to the shores is an area of ​​​​calm, and stable. It is for this calmness and silence that Magellan and his companions called the Pacific Ocean. But west of the Tuamotu Islands, the picture changes dramatically. Calm weather is rare here, usually stormy winds blow, often turning into. These are the so-called southern squalls, especially fierce in December. Tropical cyclones are less frequent but more severe. They arrive in early autumn from , at the northern tip they turn into warm westerly winds.

The tropical waters of the Pacific Ocean are clean, transparent and have an average salinity. Their deep dark blue color amazed observers. But sometimes the waters here turn green. This is due to the development of marine life. In the equatorial part of the ocean, favorable weather conditions. The temperature above the sea is around 25°C and almost does not change throughout the year. Moderate winds blow here. At times there is complete silence. The sky is clear, the nights are very dark. The equilibrium is especially stable in the zone of islands. In the belt of calm, strong, but short-lived showers are frequent, mostly in the afternoon. Hurricanes are extremely rare here.

The warm waters of the ocean contribute to the work of corals, of which there are many. The Great Reef stretches along the eastern coast of Australia. This is the largest "ridge" created by organisms.

The western part of the ocean is under the influence of monsoons with their sudden vagaries. Terrible hurricanes arise here and. They are especially fierce in the northern hemisphere between 5 and 30 °. Typhoons are frequent from July to October, in August there are up to four in a month. They originate in the area of ​​the Caroline and Mariana Islands and then "make raids" on the coast, and. Since in the west of the tropical part of the ocean it is hot and rainy, the islands of Fiji, New Hebrides, New are not without reason considered one of the most unhealthy places on the globe.

The northern regions of the ocean are similar to the southern ones, only as if in a mirror image: the circular rotation of the waters, but if in the southern part it is against, then in the northern part it is clockwise; unsettled weather in the west where typhoons move north; cross currents: Northern Equatorial and Southern Equatorial; there is little floating ice in the north of the ocean, since the Bering Strait is very narrow and protects the Pacific Ocean from the influence of the Arctic Ocean. This distinguishes the north of the ocean from its south.

The Pacific Ocean is the deepest. Its average depth is 3980 meters, and the maximum reaches 11022 m. The coast of the ocean is located in the seismic zone, as it is the boundary and the place of interaction with other lithospheric plates. This interaction is accompanied by ground and underwater and.

Bottom relief: East Pacific Rise, Northeast, Northwest, Central, East, South and other basins, deep-sea trenches: Aleutian, Kurile-, Mariana, Philippine, Peruvian and others.

Inhabitants: a large number of unicellular and multicellular microorganisms; fish (pollock, herring, salmon, cod, sea bass, beluga, chum salmon, pink salmon, sockeye salmon, cinnamon and many others); seals, seals; crabs, shrimps, oysters, squids, octopuses.

: 30-36.5‰.

Currents: warm -, North Pacific, Alaska, South Tradewind, East Australian; cold - California, Kuril, Peruvian, for the Western winds.

Additional Information: The Pacific Ocean is the largest in the world; for the first time he crossed it in 1519, the ocean was called "Pacific", because in all three months of travel they did not fall into a single storm; The Pacific Ocean is usually divided into northern and southern regions, the border of which runs along the equator line.

The largest ocean on Earth is the Pacific. It contains the deepest point on the planet - the Mariana Trench. The ocean is so large that it exceeds the area of ​​all land, and occupies almost half of the world's oceans. Researchers believe that the ocean basin began to form in the Mesozoic era, when the procontinent broke up into continents. During the Jurassic, four major oceanic tectonic plates formed. Further, during the Cretaceous, the Pacific coast began to form, the outlines of North and South America appeared, and Australia broke away from Antarctica. At the moment, the movement of the plates is still ongoing, as evidenced by earthquakes and tsunamis in Southeast Asia.

It's hard to imagine, but the total area of ​​the Pacific Ocean is 178.684 million km². To be more precise, the waters stretch from the north to the south for 15.8 thousand km, from east to west - for 19.5 thousand km. Before a detailed study, the ocean was called the Great or Pacific.

Characteristics of the Pacific Ocean

It should be noted that the Pacific Ocean is part of the World Ocean and occupies a leading position in terms of area, as it makes up 49.5% of the entire water surface. As a result of the research, it was revealed that the maximum depth is 11.023 km. The deepest point is called "Challenger Abyss" (after the research vessel that first recorded the depth of the ocean).

Thousands of different islands are scattered across the Pacific Ocean. It is in the waters of the Great Ocean that the largest islands are located, including New Guinea and Kalimantan, as well as the Greater Sunda Islands.

History of development and study of the Pacific Ocean

People began to explore the Pacific Ocean in ancient times, as the most important transport routes passed through it. The tribes of the Incas and Aleuts, Malays and Polynesians, Japanese, as well as other peoples and nationalities actively used the natural resources of the ocean. The first Europeans who explored the ocean were Vasco Nunez and F. Magellan. Members of their expeditions made outlines of the coastlines of islands, peninsulas, recorded information about winds and currents, weather changes. Some information about the flora and fauna was also recorded, but very fragmentary. In the future, naturalists collected representatives of flora and fauna for collections, in order to study them later.

The pioneer conquistador Nunez de Balboa took up the study of the waters of the Pacific Ocean in 1513. He was able to discover a previously unseen place thanks to a trip through the Isthmus of Panama. Since the expedition went to the waters of the ocean in the bay, located in the south, Balboa gave the name to the ocean "South Sea". After him, Magellan went out into the open ocean. And because he passed all the tests in exactly three months and twenty days (in excellent weather conditions), the traveler gave the name to the Pacific Ocean.

A little later, namely, in 1753, a geographer named Buache proposed calling the ocean the Great, but everyone has long been fond of the name "Pacific Ocean" and this proposal has not received universal recognition. Until the beginning of the nineteenth century, the ocean was called the "Pacific Sea", "Eastern Ocean", etc.

The expeditions of Kruzenshtern, O. Kotzebue, E. Lenz and other sailors mastered the ocean, collected various information, measured the temperature of the water and studied its properties, and conducted research under water. By the end of the nineteenth century and into the twentieth, the study of the ocean began to acquire a complex character. Special coast stations were organized and oceanological expeditions were carried out, the purpose of which was to collect information about various features of the ocean:

  • physical;
  • geological;
  • chemical;
  • biological.

Expedition Challenger

A comprehensive study of the waters of the Pacific Ocean began during the period of study by an English expedition (at the end of the eighteenth century) on the famous ship Challenger. During this period, scientists studied the bottom topography and features of the Pacific Ocean. This was extremely necessary in order to carry out the laying of an underwater telegraph cable. As a result of numerous expeditions, uplifts and depressions, unique underwater ridges, basins and trenches, bottom sediments and other features were revealed. The availability of data helped to compile all kinds of maps characterizing the bottom topography.

A little later, with the help of a seismograph, it was possible to identify the Pacific seismic ring.

The most important direction in the study of the ocean is the study of the system of trenches. The number of species of underwater flora and fauna is so huge that even its approximate number cannot be established. Despite the fact that the development of the ocean has been going on since time immemorial, people have accumulated a lot of information about this area, but there is still so much unknown under the water of the Pacific Ocean, so research continues to this day.

Sections: Geography

Goals:

  • To acquaint students with the physical and geographical features of the Pacific Ocean, the features of nature, and human economic activity in the ocean.
  • To develop the ability to work in a group, analyze, summarize and systematize the material, the ability to work independently. Systematize the ability to work with a map, develop speech, thinking of students.
  • Cultivate a sense of responsibility, independence, the ability to hear others. To instill love for the beauty of the nature of the ocean, the ability to see it.

Equipment:

  • Texts with assignments for students, markers, drawing paper.
  • Atlases, wall map of the world.
  • Tasks for each group, questionnaires for students.

During the classes

  1. Org. moment.

Guys, do you like when guests come to your house? So today we have guests. Today at the lesson we will all work in interest groups. Each group will have their own assignment, and our guests also have an assignment to work on during today's lesson.

  1. Call stage

Today we will study a geographical object, and which one, try to determine for yourself. slide 1.

  1. Part of this geographical feature is the dirtiest sea on Earth - the Yellow.
  2. This geographical feature also includes the deepest sea on Earth - the Philippine.
  3. Only in this geographical feature can you see the Great Barrier Reef, built by small animals, and it is so huge that it can even be seen from the moon.
  4. It is here that you can observe the most gigantic destructive waves - the tsunami.
  5. This geographical object is so huge in area that it can fit all the land on itself, and there will still be a place.

Many of you have probably guessed what geographical object we are talking about. Pacific Ocean.

Slide 2. Picture of the Pacific Ocean, the sound of the sea, the teacher reads the text: Colorful ocean! In a calm, the mirror-like surface of the water, flooded with bright sunlight, looks whitish, especially near the horizon, which is perceived as fuzzy and blurry. But as soon as a weak breeze pulls the ocean with light ripples, a juicy blue will immediately appear and play on it. A cloud will run into the sun, and the water will darken. Heavy rain clouds will close the sky - and the ocean will become like the sky - gray and gloomy. In the evening, when the sun begins to set, the water lights up with a crimson flame.

Problematic question of the lesson:

Often this ocean is also called the Great. And today in the lesson we will try to correlate the characteristic features of this ocean with its names, and also agree or disagree with the names of this ocean. Since we have already explored some of the oceans, propose a plan for exploring the ocean based on the data you already know.

Slide 3 (FGP Cluster)

Pacific Ocean:

  1. What continents washes.
  2. What oceans is it connected to?
  3. Located relative to:
  • equator;
  • zero meridian;
  • tropics;
  • polar circles;
  1. Climatic zones
  2. Research history.
  3. Relief.
  4. Climate.
  5. organic world.
  6. Types of economic activity.

What information can be obtained using only a geographical map? (The student answers at the blackboard with a map.)

Slide 4:

  1. What continents does it wash?
  • Eurasia
  • North America
  • South America
  • Australia
  • Antarctica

Slide 5.

  1. What oceans is it associated with?
  • Arctic
  • Indian
  • Atlantic

slide 6.

  1. Located relative to:
  • Equator - S.p. and Yu.p.;
  • zero meridian - Z. p., V. p.;
  • tropics - cross S.t., Yu.t.;
  • polar circles - crosses S.p.k.;

Slide 7.

  1. Climatic zones:
  • S.P. - everything except the arctic
  • Yu.P. - all.

Slide 8 (general branched cluster)

Outcome:

See how much we've already said about the Pacific by being able to read a map. What good fellows we are! Why do you think the study of any object begins with its geographical location? Why can't we expand the cluster further? (Lack of knowledge.)

  1. The stage of realization of the meaning (comprehension of the content)

Work in interest groups.

Yes, precisely because you still do not have enough knowledge on this topic, you will extract them yourself. It was for this purpose that in the last lesson you were divided into interest groups, and some of you chose an additional task of a leading nature. And today in the lesson you will have the opportunity to demonstrate the result of your work to the class.

Distribution of roles in the group:

Please note that the roles are written on your table on a yellow sheet, distribute them among themselves within 30 seconds.

  • Speaker: Speaks on behalf of the group, Presents the result of your joint work.
  • Coordinator: ensures equal participation of group members, monitors working hours, so that everyone participates in the work.
  • Secretary: writes down ideas expressed and decisions made.
  • SOS - director: asks the teacher for help.
  • Invigorates: inspires the members of the group, encourages, encourages all the ideas expressed in the group and the efforts made by the members of the group.

Task explanation: (written on a piece of paper for each group)

So, the task of each group is as follows:

  1. Everyone in the group gets acquainted with the text proposed to your group, in the course of reading makes some notes for themselves.
  2. Together with the group, they try to draw up their own cluster or plan on a drawing paper using markers.
  3. Present the results of your work.

Working time is limited to 10 minutes. The coordinator must keep track of the time.

Have questions? Get to work.

Texts for the group:

  • 1 group: Composes a cluster on the topic: “Research history.”

Many peoples inhabiting the Pacific shores and islands from ancient times made voyages on the ocean, mastered its riches. The beginning of the penetration of Europeans into the Pacific Ocean coincided with the era of the Great Geographical Discoveries. The ships of F. Magellan for several months of navigation crossed a huge body of water from east to west. All this time, the sea was surprisingly calm, which gave Magellan reason to call it the Pacific Ocean.

Much information about the nature of the ocean was obtained during the voyages of J. Cook. A great contribution to the study of the ocean and islands in it was made by Russian expeditions led by I.F. Kruzenshtern, M.P. Lazareva, V. M. Golovnina, Yu.F. Lisyansky. In the same 19th century comprehensive studies were carried out by S.O. Makarov on the ship "Vityaz". Regular scientific voyages since 1949 were made by Soviet expeditionary ships. A special international organization is engaged in the study of the Pacific Ocean.

  • 2 group: Composes a cluster on the topic: “The relief of the Pacific Ocean.”

The relief of the ocean floor is complex. The continental shelf (shelf) is well developed only off the coast of Asia and Australia. Continental slopes are steep, often stepped. Large uplifts and ridges divide the ocean floor into basins. Near America is the East Pacific Rise, which is part of the system of mid-ocean ridges. At the bottom of the ocean there are more than 10 thousand individual seamounts, mostly of volcanic origin.

The lithospheric plate, on which the Pacific Ocean lies, interacts with other plates at its boundaries. The edges of the Pacific Plate plunge into a tight space of trenches that encircle the ocean. These movements give rise to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Here lies the famous “Ring of Fire” of the planet and the deepest Mariana Trench (11,022 m).

  • 3rd group: Makes a cluster on the topic: “Climate of the Pacific Ocean.”

The climate of the ocean is varied. The Pacific Ocean is located in all climatic zones except the Arctic. Above its vast expanses, the air is saturated with moisture. Up to 2000 mm of precipitation falls in the equator region. The Pacific is protected from the cold Arctic Ocean by land and underwater ridges, so its northern part is warmer than the southern.

The Pacific Ocean is the most restless and formidable among the oceans of the planet. Trade winds blow in its central parts. In the western - monsoons are developed. In winter, a cold and dry monsoon comes from the mainland, which has a significant impact on the climate of the ocean; some of the seas are covered with ice. Often devastating tropical hurricanes - typhoons ("typhoon" means "strong wind") sweep over the western part of the ocean. In temperate latitudes, storms rage throughout the cold half of the year. Westerly transport of air prevails here. The highest waves up to 30 m high were noted in the north and south of the Pacific Ocean. Hurricanes raise entire water mountains in it.

The properties of water masses are determined by the characteristics of the climate. Due to the large extent of the ocean from north to south, the average annual water temperature on the surface varies from -1 to +29 °C. In general, precipitation in the ocean prevails over evaporation, so the salinity of surface waters in it is somewhat lower than in other oceans.

  • 4th group: Makes a complex plan on the topic “Ocean economic activities.”

More than 50 coastal countries are located on the shores and islands of the Pacific Ocean, in which approximately half of humanity lives.

The use of the natural resources of the ocean began in antiquity. Several centers of navigation arose here - in China, in Oceania, in South America, on the Aleutian Islands.

The Pacific Ocean plays an important role in the life of many nations. Half of the world's fish catch comes from this ocean . Except fish part of the catch is made up of various shellfish, crabs, shrimps, krill. In Japan, algae and mollusks are grown on the seabed. In some countries, salt and other chemicals are extracted from sea water and desalinated. Metal placers are being developed on the shelf. Oil is being produced off the coast of California and Australia. Ferromanganese ores have been found at the bottom of the ocean. Important sea routes pass through the greatest ocean of our planet, the length of these routes is very large. Navigation is well developed, mainly along the coasts of the mainland.

Human economic activity in the Pacific Ocean has led to the pollution of its waters, to the depletion of certain types of biological wealth. So, by the end of the XVIII century. mammals were exterminated - sea cows (a type of pinnipeds), discovered by one of the participants in the expedition of V. Bering. On the verge of extinction at the beginning of the 20th century. there were seals, the number of whales decreased. Currently, their fishery is limited. A great danger in the ocean is water pollution by oil, some heavy metals and waste from the nuclear industry. Harmful substances are carried by currents throughout the ocean. Even off the coast of Antarctica, these substances have been found in the composition of marine organisms.

Presentation by each group of their work,

Before the groups begin their presentations, I want to remind you that the purpose of our lesson is to: Match the characteristics of this ocean with its names, and try to agree or disagree with the names of this ocean.

And for this, each group has a sheet, which is divided into sectors “+” and “-”. As you listen to your comrades talk about the ocean, you write arguments for or against the name. You can also ask questions to clarify or clarify the material.

  1. Stage of reflection and reflection.

Summary of work: The climax of our work with you has come: Let's hear your arguments for or against the names “Quiet” and “Great”. Which band is ready to start their performance?

There are guys in our class who have chosen an individual task of a leading-edge nature and now they will present to your attention the result of their work, and at the same time we will consolidate the material we have already studied.

Working with the reference outline “Pacific Ocean.”

Teacher question:

  • What are the characteristics of the Pacific Ocean?
  • What was the most interesting part of today's lesson? Struck?
  • What else would you like to know about the Pacific Ocean?

Reflection. (anonymous profile)

I invite you to analyze your work in groups. To do this, each of you has orange sheets with questions, answer them. The questionnaire is anonymous, so it is not necessary to sign the sheets. Underline your answer

  1. Did you enjoy working in groups?
  • Don't know
  1. Did you enjoy your role in the group?
  • I don't know (yes and no)
  1. How did your group cope with the task?
  • Fully.
  • Partially not done.
  • Failed to complete the task.
  1. Evaluate your activity in the work of the group.
  • He was active (tried to participate everywhere).
  • Was active most of the time.
  • Not very active.
  • Passive.

Thank you for the lesson.

When you leave the lesson, attach to the mood tree the sheet that matches your mood today in the lesson.