facts and information on the ocean

 

Why our coral reefs need hope, Video Story, Copyright © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, Copyright © 2015-2021 National Geographic Partners, LLC. Top 10: Recent Ocean Facts What is a barrier island? How much oxygen comes from the ocean? However it is growing in size as it is spreading along the Mid-Atlantic Coasts. The Atlantic Ocean is about half the size of the Pacific Ocean and covers roughly 20% of the Earth's surface. 2. Despite regular discoveries about the ocean and its denizens, much remains unknown. Was Napoleon Bonaparte an enlightened leader or tyrant? We hope these ocean facts are interesting and help you learn more about these important bodies of water that make up the Earth's hydrosphere. National Geographic Society's Ocean Initiative aims to restore health and productivity to the ocean by inspiring people to care and act, reducing the impact of fishing, and promoting the creation of marine protected areas. If you are at an office or shared network, you can ask the network administrator to run a scan across the network looking for misconfigured or infected devices. Around 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered by the World’s five oceans. With so much of the Earth’s surface taken up by ocean, it’s evident how vital these marine environments are … An ocean is a body of saline water that composes much of a planet's hydrosphere (all the waters on the Earth's surface). All you need is to breathe deep to find the facts of the Ocean deep. You may need to download version 2.0 now from the Chrome Web Store. Atlantic Ocean Facts for Kids The Atlantic is the second biggest ocean in the world and is between the continents of America and Europe and Africa. About 97% of all our planet's water is contained in our oceans. 1. Life in the ocean depends on phytoplankton, mostly microscopic organisms that float at the surface and, through photosynthesis, produce about half of the world's oxygen. If Mount Everest was placed in the deepest part of the ocean, its … The year 2018 marked the oceans’ hottest year on record, and warmer waters lead to a range of consequences, from changing colors to rising sea levels to more frequent powerful storms. Over one million seabirds are killed by ocean pollution each year. A community of scientists, explorers, and citizen scientists continues to study the ocean, hoping that more information will yield more paths for conservation. 44 Facts About the Ocean (in no particular order) Earth is mostly water. Oceans are deep as well as wide. Sign up for more inspiring photos, stories, and special offers from National Geographic. Oil company accused of ignoring community concerns about water, wildlife, Idaho law aims to kill up to 90 percent of state’s wolves, Rare footage shows endangered whales 'hugging', Sharks can navigate via Earth's magnetic field, study confirms for the first time. • What are plankton? Inland bodies of saltwater such as the Caspian Sea and the Great Salt Lake are distinct from the world's oceans. With over 72% of the Earth’s surface covered by salt water, the Earth’s oceans are home to 230,000 known species. Three-quarters of this planet is covered by water bodies, with the biggests ones being the five oceans (the Atlantic, Pacific, Southern, Indian, and Arctic oceans). Southern – 20,327,000 km² 5. The largest ocean on Earth is the Pacific Ocean, covering around 30% of the Earth’s surface. Combined, they cover 71% of the planet’s surface or an area of some 361 million square kilometers. How were China's legions of terra-cotta warriors made? In celebration of the vast unknown of the ocean, we present our favorite ocean animal facts: The ocean is a continuous body of salt water that covers more than 70 percent of the Earth's surface. Our garbage—particularly plastic—chokes the seas, creating vast "garbage patches" such as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Oceans serve as the planet’s largest habitat and also help to regulate the global climate. If you, I, and those around the world are to preserve our oceans, drastic measures have to be taken to combat this pollution. The Colorado Plateau is breathtaking—but stepping off trail for a killer photo can be deadly for biocrust. The earth’s oceans have been a mystery for many centuries. Agriculture is a major source of air pollution, killing an estimated 17,900 people in the U.S. every year, according to a new study. 'The Death of Napoleon' captures the end of a tumultuous era. Because most of the Earth is covered by ocean. Copyright © 1996-2015 National Geographic SocietyCopyright © 2015-2021 National Geographic Partners, LLC. These 10 unbelievable ocean facts illustrate just how important these initiatives are. Namibians allege ReconAfrica disposed of wastewater unsafely, without permits, and ignored concerns about potential impact of oil drilling on water and wildlife. Lost and discarded fishing nets continue to lethally snare fish, seabirds, and marine mammals as they drift. Chimpanzee moms are like us: They mourn, dote, and take 'me' time. Around 70% of the planet’s surface is covered by oceans. A number of scientists suggest considering the quality of … It’s So Big, It’s Divided into Two One of the most important facts about the Atlantic is that the equator divides the... 3. Plastic pollution poses one of the biggest known threats to the ocean, influencing all ecosystems from beautiful coral reefs to abyssal trenches, eventually accumulating in our own food. Another way to prevent getting this page in the future is to use Privacy Pass. 1. Does drinking water reduce side effects after a COVID-19 shot? Much of our unwanted plastic ends up in the ocean – around 8 million tonnes of it every year, in fact! Photograph by Awashima Marine Park, Getty Images. All rights reserved, roughly 97 percent of Earth's water supply, also rich in chlorine, magnesium, and calcium, phytoplankton, mostly microscopic organisms, chemosynthesis, in which microbes convert chemicals, 80 percent of the ocean is unmapped and unexplored, tiny, soft-bodied organisms known as coral, preserve fragile, ailing ecosystems such as Australia's Great Barrier Reef, Lost and discarded fishing nets continue to lethally snare fish, New Jersey-size area in the Gulf of Mexico, Read more about ocean threats and solutions here. Nearly half of the world’s marine (oceanic) waters are over 3,000 meters (9,800 feet) deep. Pacific – 155,557,000 km² 2. And how is climate change impacting the ocean? Here are 50 of the most fascinating facts about the ocean that will make you appreciate our blue planet more than ever. Fact 1: The bloody history of anti-Asian violence in the West, Survivors recall the terror of the first F5 tornado. Experts have pieced it together. • Approximately 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by oceans. Underwater drones, for example, are being deployed to explore undersea frontiers, while new tools are helping scientists measure and understand what they find. 33 Mind-Blowing Facts About the Earth's Oceans 1 The ocean is home to nearly 95 percent of all life.. With so much going on well below the surface, it's easy to forget... 2 Coral produces its own sunscreen.. Too much sunlight can damage the algae that live inside coral in shallow water. Or just fancy learning some fun facts ? Every year, the sea rises another .13 inches (3.2 mm). FDA authorizes use of Pfizer’s vaccine in adolescents age 12 to 15, FDA clears the way for adolescents to get vaccinated, At last, a malaria vaccine has passed important clinical trials, Why you (probably) shouldn't panic about the falling Chinese rocket, Pfizer and Moderna vaccines safe for pregnant people, major study confirms, See millions of years of history while beachcombing in San Francisco, Hiking a desert park? Geographers divide the ocean into five major basins: the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic, and Southern. How We Can Keep Plastics Out of Our Ocean. Medieval elites used handwashing as a shrewd ‘power play.’ Here’s how. Human activities affect nearly all parts of the ocean. The deepest reaches of the ocean were once thought to be devoid of life, since no light penetrates beyond 1,000 meters (3,300 feet). You’d... 3. Plastic is an amazing man-made material – it’s cheap to produce and has many uses! The ocean is not divided evenly between the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemispheres. The tiny, soft-bodied organisms known as coral, which form reefs mostly found in shallow tropical waters, are threatened by pollution, sedimentation, and global warming. Fertilizer runoff from farms turns vast swaths of the ocean into dead zones, including a New Jersey-size area in the Gulf of Mexico. Coral reefs are the nurseries of the oceans, they are biodiversity hot spots. What is the carbon cycle? Average sea levels have swelled over 8 inches (about 23 cm) since 1880, with about three of those inches gained in the last 25 years. Ocean acidification may render most regions of the ocean inhospitable to coral reefs, affecting tourism, food security, shoreline protection, and biodiversity. Atlantic – 76,762,000 km² 3. Our oceans cover more than 70 per cent of the Earth’s surface. But why is the ocean salty? Ocean, continuous body of salt water held in enormous basins on Earth’s surface. All rights reserved. Let’s dive into the Ocean to explore the mysteries. The oceans hold about 321 million cubic miles (1.34 billion cubic kilometers) of water, which is roughly 97 percent of Earth's water supply. Select footage courtesy NASA. Ocean currents govern the world's weather and churn a kaleidoscope of life. And that’s with only 5% of the Earth’s oceans considered explored! Plastic is the most common element that is found in the ocean. How tiny Monaco became a giant in ocean conservation, Meat production leads to thousands of air quality-related deaths annually, ‘Megadrought’ persists in western U.S., as another extremely dry year develops, Antarctica’s ice could cross this scary threshold within 40 years. Climate change, the term scientists now use to describe global warming and other trends currently affecting the planet because of high greenhouse gas[1] emissions from humans, is strikingly reflected in the oceans. But overfishing and global warming threaten to leave oceans barren. The Atlantic Ocean is the 2 nd largest, covering 21% of Below are some astounding facts that demonstrate the size and severity of the issue, and why the solution relies on the small, everyday actions of individuals and business owners around the world – including you. The oceans hold about 321 million cubic miles (1.34 billion cubic kilometers) of water, which is roughly 97 percent of Earth's water supply. Please be respectful of copyright. Plastic materials and other litter can become concentrated in certain areas called gyres as a result of marine pollution gathered by oceanic currents. Fact 1: Earth is unique due to the existence of oceans. Oceans are enormous bodies of water that collectively cover about 71% of our planet’s surface. Seawater's weight is about 3.5 percent dissolved salt; oceans are also rich in chlorine, magnesium, and calcium. Watch this video during formal or informal instruction to explain to students why a healthier ocean means a healthier planet. Unauthorized use is prohibited. The oceans absorb the sun's heat, transferring it to the atmosphere and distributing it around the world. If you are on a personal connection, like at home, you can run an anti-virus scan on your device to make sure it is not infected with malware. The ocean is divided into Abyssal Zones based on the depth of the water. Our oceans are filled with wonders that you can’t even imagine! There is one ‘world ocean,’ but researchers often consider it five: the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic, and Southern oceans. 3. 20+ Fascinating Facts About Ocean For Kids. The oceans are losing mussel mass. The Pacific Ocean has an estimated 25000 islands. What is … FACT #3. Here’s how they do it. On some tropical coral reefs, for example, there can be 1,000 species per m². From biggest to smallest, they are the Pacific, the Atlantic, the Indian, the Antarctic (sometimes called the Southern), and the Arctic Oceans. Here’s how to help preserve the landscape. The average depth of the ocean is around 14000 feet, which is equal to the statue of liberty stacked one top of itself forty-seven times [sc:1]. The water in the oceans is constantly moving in patterns called currents. Creatures of the Ocean & Amazing Facts Explore The Blue Featured February 12, 2010 crabs creatures of the ocean fascinating marine animals interesting facts jellyfish Marine life octopus sea life Sea Turtles seahorse 2130 Views 23 Comments Humans rarely encounter frilled sharks, which prefer to remain in the oceans' depths, up to 5,000 feet (1,500 meters) below the surface. The greenhouse gas carbon dioxide is also turning ocean waters acidic, and an influx of freshwater from melting glaciers threatens to alter the weather-driving currents: the Atlantic Ocean's currents have slowed by about 15 percent over the past few decades. Other long-lived species are in crisis. Although shark bites get a lot of attention, this is far less than the number of people injured each year by elephants, bees, crocodiles , lightning or many other natural dangers. 12 interesting facts about the Southern Ocean - There is still debate about the Southern Ocean. Fixing the Grand Canyon’s aging water pipeline won’t be easy—but it’s necessary. Considered living fossils, frilled sharks bear many physical characteristics of ancestors who swam the seas in the time of the dinosaurs. Surf and spray scatter as a large wave crashes onto the shore in Palau. Humans depend on these teeming waters for comfort and survival, but global warming and overfishing threaten Earth's largest habitat. Some currents flow quickly, while some move very slowly. Will COVID-19 cancel your family reunion? But then hydrothermal vents were discovered. Much more than the other oceans combined. Marine Life / Ocean Facts… Sharks bite roughly 70 people each year worldwide, with perhaps 5-10 fatalities, according to data compiled in the International Shark Attack File (ISAF). What does a COVID-19 outbreak mean for life at Everest’s base camp? It covers 30% of the planet’s surface. Ninety four percent of all life forms on Earth are aquatic. Oceans in order of size: 1. This conveyor belt of heat drives global weather patterns and helps regulate temperatures on land, acting as a heater in the winter and an air conditioner in the summer. Each zone has its own unique characteristics, including pressure, temperature, salinity, and biodiversity. And it is also estimated that about 50,000 to 2 million sea creatures are still unidentified. In fact, the oceans hold about 96.5% of all water on Earth. Here are some exciting ocean facts for kids for you. More than 250 islands make up the country. Your IP: 178.62.226.96 Bird migration is one of nature’s great wonders. 23 Ocean Facts for Kids. More than 80 percent of the ocean is unmapped and unexplored, which leaves open the question of how many species there are yet to be discovered. Read on to discover 37 interesting facts about the Indian Ocean. How long do Greenland sharks live? … In fact, almost three-quarters (71%, or 140 million square miles) of the Earth is an ocean. There are now 5 gyres in our ocean. These chimney-like structures allow tube worms, clams, mussels, and other organisms to survive not via photosynthesis but chemosynthesis, in which microbes convert chemicals released by the vents into energy. Covering nearly 71 percent of Earth’s surface, the oceans … Love marine life? With such an enormous area, there's no argument that healthy oceans are vital to a healthy planet. Mangrove forests are cleared for homes and industry. These little-known sites help families connect to Asian American history. If any of the below ocean facts are inaccurate, please contact us and let us know. It Covers a Fifth of the Earth At over 106.5 million square kilometres (41.1 million square miles), the Atlantic... 2. At the same time, the ocean hosts some of the world's oldest creatures: Jellyfish have been around more than half a billion years, horseshoe crabs almost as long.