Oceans Of The World


 
 
Concept Explanation
 

Oceans Of The World

Oceanography:  Water covers 70.9% of the Earth's surface and is vital for all known forms of life. On Earth, it is found mostly in oceans and other large water bodies, with 1.6% of water below ground in aquifers and o.001% in the air as vapour, clouds (formed of solid and liquid water particles suspended in air), and precipitation.Oceans hold g97% of surface water; glaciers and polar ice caps 2.4%; and other land surface water bodies such as rivers, lakes and ponds hold around 0.6% of surface water. A very small amount of the Earth's water is contained within biological bodies and manufactured products.

Water, on the Earth, moves continually through a cycle of evaporation or transpiration, precipitation, and runoff - usually reaching the sea. Evaporation and transpiration contribute to the precipitation over land. Brief description about the five oceans is given below:

(1) The Arctic Ocean: It is smallest of the world's oceans and centred approximately on the North Pole. Surrounded by landmasses of Eurasia, North America and Green land, it covers an area of about 4,372,000 square miles. It is not marked by perennial ice cover.

(2) The Atlantic Ocean: The Atlantic Ocean is located between North and South Americas in the west, and Europe and Africa in the east. It covers an area of about 82,000,0o square km. It is 'S' shape ocean, which is supposed to be formed about 700 million years ago due to sea-floor spreading.

The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is the most important geographical feature of the Atlantic Ocean. It spreads throughout this ocean from Greenland in the north to Falkland Island in the south, dividing the ocean into two parts. It was formed due to divergence of American and African plates.

(3) The Pacific Ocean: The Pacific Ocean, the largest ocean of the world, covering 1/3rd of its area, extends from for 16,000 km from the east coast of Asia in the west to the west coasts of America in the east. It is marked by parallel mountain ranges along both its coasts. There are number of trenches, deeps, guyots and submarine canyons in this ocean. Mariana trench, the deepest trench in the world is found in this ocean.

(4) The Southern Ocean: Extending from the coast of Antarctica north to 60 degrees south latitude, this acean covers the area around the South Pole. It is the fourth largest ocean of the world. It is marked by narrow continental shelf; icebergs; cold oceanic currents etc.

(5) The Indian Ocean: The Indian Ocean is smaller than the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans in area and is bounded by, on all its sides, Asia in the north, Africa in the west, Asia in the east, Australia in the southeast and Antarctica in the south. It is triangular and its average depth is 4,000 m. Major parts of the coastal  lands of Indian Ocean formed by Block Mountains of Gondwanaland are compact and solid. Sunda trench near Indonesia is its main feature.

The Indian Ocean is triangular and bordered by Africa, Asia, Antaretica, and Australia, and stretches southward to Antaretica. Although it covers about 28.5 million square miles, it is smaller than the Atlantic Occan and less than half the size of the Pacific Ocean. Its maximum width is 6,200 miles between the southernmost portions of Africa and Australia. The Indian Ocean contains about 20 percent of the earth's water surface. The average depth of the Indian ocam a abou12,750 fect. The deepest is 24,440 feet in the Java Trench in the extreme northeast corner of the basin.

The Profile of the Ocean Floor: The floors of the oceans are rugged and complex with world's langest mountain ranges, deepest trenches and larges plains. In general, the occan floor can be divided into four major divisions:

(i) The continental shelf

(ii) The continental slope.

(iii) The continental rise.

(iv) The abyssal plain

OCEANS OF THE WORLD (by size):

Pacific              (155,557,000 sq km)

Atlantic            (76,762,000 sq km)

Indian                (68,556,000 sq km)

Southern           (20,327,000 sq km)

Artic                   (14,056,000 sq km)Note: The International Hydrographic Organisation approved the Southern Ocean in year 2000. It is now the fourth largest ocean.

Chapters
Pre-Historic Period
Indus Valley Civilization
Vedic Civilization
Religious Reform Movement
The Early Kingdoms
The Mauryan Empire
Post Mauryan Period
The Age Of The Guptas
Post Gupta Era
Age of Rajput
Khilji Dynasty
Slave Dynasty
Tughlaq and Sayyid Dynasty
Vijaynagar Empire And Bahamani Kingdom
Mughal Empire And Beyond
Lodhi Dynasty
Cholas, Chalukyas and Pallavas
Arab Invasions
Bhakti and Sufi Movement
Rise of Sikhs, Jats and Marathas
Administrative Structure of Delhi Sultanate
Architecture During Medivial India
Advent Of The Europeans
Post Mughal Period
Rise of New States in 18th Century
Growth of British Paramountacy
Socio Religious Reforms
Constitutional Development of India
Indian Struggle Against British Rule
The Revolt Of 1857
Education Under British Rule
Role of Press in Freedom Struggle
First Phase of National Movement
Second Phase of National Movement
Third Phase of National Movement
Constitutional Development in India
Constituent Assembly
Union And Its Territory
Structure of Indian Constitution
Fundamental Rights and Duties
The Union Executive
The Union Legislature
Constitutional Amendments and Provisions
Judiciary In India
Emergency Provisions
Center - State Relations
The State Executive
The State Legislature
Election Commission Of India
Constitutional Organisation
Non-Constitutional Organisation
Local Self Goverment
India - Size And Location
Geological History Of India
The Physical Features Of India
Climate Of India
Soils In India
Natural Vegetation
Windlife Conservation In India
Drainage System of India
Irrigation System Of India
Agriculture In India
Livestock And Fisheries In India
Minerals And Energy Resources In India
Means Of Transport In India
Major Industries In India
Tribes of India
Census of India 2011
Music
Dance
Theatre
Pantings
Art, Architecture & Culture of India
Bio-Diversity
Earth And Its Structure
Land Rock And Soil
Atmosphere, Climate And Weather
Oceanography
Human And Regional Geography
Economic Growth And Development
Sectors Of Indian Economy
Economic Planning Of India
Fiscal And Monetary Policy In India
Infrastructure In India
Effects Of British Rule On Indian Economy
National Income
Banking System In India
Poverty And Unemployment
Inflation And Trade Cycles
Major Institutions
Environmental Studies
Tissues In Organism
Cytology
Classifucation Of Plants
Structural Composition Of Plants
Nutrition In Plants, Harmones And Plant Disease
Ecosystem
Classification In Animals
Nutrition In Animals
Human Digestive System
Human Respiratory System
Human Skeleton System
Human Excretory System
Human Nervous System
Human Circulatory System
Human Endocrine System
Human Reproductive System
Genetics
Human Diseases
States Of Matter
Metals And Non Metals
Acid Bases And Salts
Periodic Classification
Fuel, Combustion And Flame
Environmental Chemistry
Rest And Motion
Work Power And Energy
Gravitation
Pressure And Its Effects
Simple Harmonic Motion
Sound and Waves
Heat And Temperature
Light - Reflection
Electricity And Magnetism
Modern Physics
Force And The Laws Of Motion
Light - Refraction
Dispersion And Human Eye
Magnetic Effect Of Electric Current
Atom And Molecule
Chemistry In Everyday Life
Units And Dimensions
Content / Category
Class / Course
 
 
 


Students / Parents Reviews [10]