The oceans, seas, and bays store the bulk of the Earth’s water, accounting for ninety six percent of the 1.36 billion tonnes. Oceans encompass the bulk of the Earth’s surface area. Oceans encompass over seventy one percent of the Earth’s surface. Oceans provide at least half of the world’s oxygen and store around fifty times more carbon than the atmosphere. Oceans also impact Earth’s climate by continuously transferring heat from the Equator to the poles. Rain falls over most of the Earth’s land surfaces due to evaporation from the ocean’s surface.
We may believe that they both contain water and that there is no difference between them, yet significant differences, facts, and points distinguish them.
What is the distinction between the terms sea and ocean?
Oceans are large forms of water that cover more than seventy percent of the earth’s surface. The globe is divided into five oceans. The alkaline nature of the large water bodies(ocean) renders them unsafe for consumption. The minerals that make up ordinary salt are primarily sodium and chloride. Oceans near the north and south poles are less salty than those closer to the equator. This is because the tropics receive more sunshine than the poles. As a result, the water in certain areas evaporates more quickly. Seas are water bodies smaller than oceans and partly landlocked on both sides. Few seas are completely landlocked saltwater lakes, such as the Caspian Sea or the Dead Sea, which is legally a lake but is still referred to as a sea. Seas that include freshwater exist, such as the Sea of Galilee. Oceans are neither bounded nor separated by any features, as may be observed. As a result, all oceans come together to form a single colossal water mass on the planet’s surface. Seas share many of the same characteristics as oceans. Waves, tides, and water currents are all part of it. Marine life is critical for the biosphere’s sustainability since the carbon cycle is governed by sea and ocean animals. The ocean is home to a diverse diversity of species. It can range in size from microscopic phytoplankton to massive whales. Coastal habitats and open sea habitats are separated here for aquatic life. Coastal habitats extend from the seashore shoreline up to the continental shelf, whereas open water dwellers reside in the middle of the sea or ocean. Marine life is abundant and diversified in the oceans and seas. The depth and distance from shore heavily influence the quantity and richness of the plants and animals. Sealife is abundant since it is usually near land, but oceans that are deeper and much further away from land have only a few primary life forms such as bacteria, tiny plankton, and shrimp.So, what do we get to understand from this?
Sea | Ocean |
Seas are similarly made mainly of salty water; however, they are less in size than oceans. | The ocean occupies over 70% of the earth’s total surface area. The ocean is composed of salty water. |
The Mediterranean Sea is the biggest. The Mediterranean Sea covers around one million square miles. | The Pacific Ocean, with nearly 60 million square miles, is the biggest. The Arctic Ocean is the smallest, with an area of 5 million square miles. |
Seas are typically found near land. | Oceans are not always located near land. |
Because sunlight can reach further into the seas, allowing photosynthesis, there is a great amount of marine life in the Seas. | Because oceans are typically positioned near land, aquatic life abounds. Oceans have fewer aquatic life since they are further away from land and deeper than the Seas. |
Some of the major waters are the Mediterranean Sea, the Caribbean Sea, the South China Sea, and the Black Sea. The Caribbean Sea is the deepest sea, with an estimated 6.9 km. | The Pacific Ocean is around ten thousand metres beneath, whereas the Arctic Ocean is approximately five-thousand six hundred metres deep. |