1. The Study of the Oceans
Oceanography

2. Main Parts to Oceanography:
Chemical – Elements and Chemical Reactions
Biological – Living Organisms
Physical – Energy and Motions of Seawater
Geological – Sediments and Topography

3. Activity: Globe Toss
Data:
Analysis:

4. How much of the earth’s surface makes up the oceans?
Oceans cover 71 % of the Earth’s surface.
29% is land

5. World Ocean
Could a ship attempting to travel through all oceans do so without being stopped?
What about ice?
The waters beneath the ice do connect the ocean basins.
All oceans of the world are connected.
There are no natural boundaries that entirely separate the 4 ocean basins.
1955 – The United Nations established the boundaries of the oceans and continents.

6. Why study the ocean? Last Frontier
Countries divide oceans near their land
Oil and food shortages
Source of rain and snow for rivers
Influence climate

7. Five Oceans of the World
In order from Largest  Smallest:
Pacific Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
Indian Ocean
Southern Ocean
Arctic Ocean

8. Pacific Ocean Water Features: Land Features:
52% of the world’s ocean water
Deepest and largest basin
Land Features:
Ring of Fire
Mountains around basins (saucer-like depressions of the ocean floor)
Least affected by continents
Many islands, most formed by volcanoes
Deepest Trench – Marianas (7 miles)
Large mid-ocean ridge down the east side of the basin
Ring of fire = edge of Pacific Ocean- lots of volcanoes (san andreas fault)

9. Marianas Trench Between Japan and Australia
Challenger Deep = deepest part of world ocean

10. Atlantic Ocean Water Features: Land Features:
Shallow basin, average 3,310 m deep
26% of world’s ocean water
Broad continental margins
Large rivers enter – Amazon and Congo (25% of world’s fresh water flows from these rivers)
Land Features:
Mid-Atlantic Ridge runs down the center
Part of the longest continuous mountain range in world- the Mid-Ocean Ridge

11. Indian Ocean Water Features: Land Feature: 20% of world’s ocean water
Mostly in southern hemisphere
2 sources of warm salt water – Red Sea and Arabian Sea
Currents change direction twice a year due to Monsoon winds
Land Feature:
Y - shaped ridge, called the Mid-Indian Ridge

12. Southern Ocean Water Features: Land Features:
Noted for ferocious weather and high waves
Located between 60oS and the continent of Antarctica
Antarctic Circumpolar Current flows clockwise around Antarctica and isolates surface waters
Land Features:
Deepest point located in South Sandwich Trench
No well defined basin

13. Arctic Ocean Water Features: Land Features: 2% of world’s ocean water
Circular in shape
Mostly surrounded by land
Most shallow
Covered by ice most of the year
Land Features:
2 main basins