How many oceans

These oceans each have their own unique names and environment. According to the United States, there are five subdivided ocean basins, including the Atlantic, Pacific, Arctic, Indian, and Southern, previously known as the Antarctic. Various species of animals and plant life make their homes in our oceans. Each ocean has a unique ecosystem that determines the sea creatures that can live in each area. The smallest of the five oceans , the Arctic Ocean covers over six million square miles, with a coastline reaching close to 30, miles.

The Arctic Ocean has a maximum depth of 18, feet and is the shallowest of the five oceans. The coldest of the five oceans, the Arctic faces freezing temperatures year-round, with most of the water covered in ice the entire year. The area experiences extended periods of darkness during the winter. In contrast, the summer months result in extended periods of daylight. The neighbors of this ocean include the Barrow and the Prudhoe Bay in Alaska.

Flora in the Arctic Ocean is generally rare. However, there is a significant amount of phytoplankton found in the water. Only a small number of aquatic animals are present in the Arctic due to its freezing temperatures.

The Arctic is farther north than the other four oceans and its floor is home to natural gas and petroleum fields. Climate change has resulted in extreme warming trends in the Arctic. In the past few years alone, researchers have discovered a considerable decrease in ice cover.

At over 52 million square miles, the Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the five oceans, with an average depth of miles. The deepest area of the water is the Milwaukee Deep in Puerto Rico.

The trench has a depth of over five miles. The Arctic Ocean surrounds the Atlantic to the north. The Southern Ocean lies to the south. The northern edge and southern edge experience a difference in climates due to its expansive size. The varying temperatures from the Atlantic also affect the temperatures of land in the nearby areas. The same currents also cause the exceedingly cold temperatures in Newfoundland during the winter months. The Atlantic is home to various sea life such as whales, sea turtles, seals, sea lions, manatees, and dolphins.

Commercial fishing adds to its arsenal, with cod, mackerel, haddock, and herring among the most sought-after fish. The largest and deepest of the five oceans is the Pacific Ocean. The water in the Pacific Ocean is warmer than the Atlantic Ocean. Share Tweet Email. Read This Next Wild parakeets have taken a liking to London.

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Science Why it's so hard to treat pain in infants. Board on Geographic Names as the body of water extending from the coast of Antarctica to the line of latitude at 60 degrees South. The boundaries of this ocean were proposed to the International Hydrographic Organization in However, not all countries agree on the proposed boundaries, so this has yet to be ratified by members of the IHO.

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