The oceans cover the total of 71% of the earth and 97% of the planet’s total water. Apart from all these, there is underground water nearly 95% remains unexplored. Water plays an integral role in the Earth’s system without which life is not possible.
- Pacific Ocean
- Atlantic Ocean
- Indian Ocean
- Antarctic Ocean (Southern Ocean)
- Arctic Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is largest of five oceans. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, to the west by Asia and Australia and Americas in the east. The total area of 165.25 million square kilometers, it covers 46% of the Earth’s water surface and one-third of the total surface area of the Earth. It contains the deepest point in the world, the Mariana Trench in the western North Pacific reaching to a depth of 10911 meters.
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean has a total area of 106.5 million square kilometers which covers approximately 20% of the Earth’s surface and also is the second largest ocean in the world. To the north of it is connected by the Arctic Ocean, southwest by the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean in the southeast and the Southern Ocean in the south. It’s saltiest of all the Ocean and the water in the North Atlantic circulates in a clockwise direction and South Atlantic in an anti-clockwise direction.
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest Ocean in the world covering a total area of 73.56 million square kilometer which covers approximately 20% of Earth’s water. The Indian Ocean is bounded by Asia on the north, Africa on the west, Australia on the east and Antarctica on the south. It is quite warm. 40% of the offshore oil production is from the Indian Ocean.
Antarctic Ocean (Southern Ocean)
Antarctic Ocean is also known as the Southern Ocean or the Austral Ocean and it’s the fourth largest ocean with a total area of 20.33 million square kilometers. It located in the South Pole and it joins the waters of Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and the Indian Ocean. It is less saline compared to other oceans. It is surrounded by Eurasia and North America.
Arctic Ocean
The Arctic Ocean is the smallest and shallowest of all the Oceans. It’s located in the north polar region and it’s partly covered in ice throughout the year. Its total area is 14.06 million square kilometers. Relatively less plant life is found in this Ocean and it also houses a number of endangered marine species as well.