1. Earth’s Oceans Part 1: The World’s Oceans

2. View video at: http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/environmen t/habitats-environment/habitats-oceans-env/why-ocean- matters/ http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/environmen t/habitats-environment/habitats-oceans-env/why-ocean- matters/ Why the Oceans Matter

3. What Is the Ocean?  The ocean is a vast body of saline water that covers almost ¾ of the planet’s surface and contains 97% of the world’s water.  Sometimes referred to as the World Ocean, it is one continuous body of water.

4. “The branch of applied sciences which deals with the measurement and description of the physical features of oceans, seas, coastal areas, lakes and rivers, as well as with the prediction of their change over time, for the primary purpose of safety of navigation and in support of all other marine activities, including economic development, security and defense, scientific research, and environmental protection.” http://www.iho.int/srv1/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=299 &Itemid=289 Hydrography

5. International Hydrographic Organization The International Hydrographic Organization is an intergovernmental consultative and technical organization that was established in 1921 to support safety of navigation and the protection of the marine environment. http://www.iho.int/srv1/

6. Earth’s Oceans As set by the IHO in 2000, the World Ocean is divided into 5 different oceans (in order by size):  Pacific Ocean  Atlantic Ocean  Indian Ocean  Southern Ocean  Arctic Ocean

7. Earth’s Oceans  NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) also recognizes 5 oceans.  Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans are known as the major oceans.  The Southern Ocean is sometimes called the Antarctic Ocean.

8. Earth’s Oceans  For many years only 4 oceans were recognized, so some resources still do not include the Southern Ocean.

9. Seas  “The Seven Seas” – a figurative term meaning all the seas and oceans of the world. The largest seas (after the oceans) are:  Mediterranean Sea  Caribbean Sea  South China Sea  Bering Sea  Gulf of Mexico  Okhotsk Sea  East China Sea  Hudson Bay  Japan Sea  Andaman Sea  North Sea  Red Sea  Baltic Sea

10. Earth’s Oceans Atlantic Pacific Indian Southern Arctic 1 2 3 4 5 6 1. Mediterranean Sea 2. Caribbean Sea 3. South China Sea 4. Bering Sea 5. Gulf of Mexico 6. Okhotsk Sea 7. East China Sea 8. Hudson Bay 9. Japan Sea 10. Andaman Sea 11. North Sea 12. Red Sea 13. Baltic Sea 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

11. Source of Fresh Water  Although ocean water is saline (contains salts), the ocean is our primary source of fresh water.  This is possible by the action of the water cycle.  When water evaporates from the ocean, the precipitation that eventually forms is fresh water.