Ocean

Habitats in the ocean range from warm, shallow, light filled waters to deep, dark, cold areas. Major habitats include: Inter-tidal Zone, where land and sea meet. From space, Earth has been described as a "blue marble. In fact, almost three-quarters (71%, or 140 million square miles) of the Earth is an ocean. With such an enormous area, there's no argument that healthy oceans are vital to a healthy planet.The ocean is not divided evenly between the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemispheres. The Northern Hemisphere contains more land than the ocean— 39% land versus the 19% land in the Southern Hemisphere.

The Importance of the Ocean

• Provides food.
• Provides oxygen through the photosynthesis of tiny plant-like organisms called phytoplankton
• Provides recreational opportunities.
• Contains natural resources such as natural gas and oil.
• Provide "highways" for transportation and trade.

How Many Oceans Are There?

The salt water on the Earth is sometimes just referred to as "the ocean,"

There are currents, winds, tides, and waves that circulate water around this world ocean constantly. Below are the oceans, from largest to smallest.

Atlantic Ocean: The Atlantic Ocean is smaller and shallower than the Pacific Ocean and is bound by North and South America to the west, Europe, and Africa to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north and the Southern Ocean to the south.

Indian Ocean: The Indian Ocean is the third-largest ocean. It is bound by Africa to the west, Asia and Australia to the east, and the Southern Ocean to the south.



Southern, or Antarctic, Ocean:This is the fourth largest ocean and surrounds Antarctica. It is bounded on the north by parts of South America, Africa, and Australia.

Pacific Ocean: The Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean and the largest single geographic feature on Earth.