What Continents and Oceans has in common

Continents are the major divisions of the Earth’s landmass which are covered by water bodies such as oceans. They have a thicker crust and cover almost 21% of the Earth’s surface. A continent is separated from the other by geographical boundaries. This portion of the Earth’s surface serves as a natural habitat for several species in existence.

Oceans are large water bodies of saline waters that compose the earth’s hydrosphere structure. They have a thin crust and cover almost 73% of the Earth’s surface. Thus, oceans have an area that is double the area of all the continents in the world.

However, there are similarities between continents and oceans. The movement of the tectonic plates below the earth’s crust tends to be a common factor of land displacement in both oceans and the seas. Therefore, both are prone to the adverse effects of the movement of tectonic plates which causes earthquakes and volcanic eruptions both underneath the land and water bodies. Both have their respective distinct natural habitat and biodiversity. They tend to have the same natural topographic features and ecosystems.

Here, we will learn specifically about the water bodies that include both Oceans and Seas.

There are a total of five oceans in the world. They are:

1. The Pacific Ocean.
2. The Atlantic Ocean.
3. The Indian Ocean.
4. The Antarctic Ocean.
5. The Arctic Ocean.

Let’s discuss them one by one.

The Pacific Ocean is the world’s largest ocean water body It is generally situated between the eastern coastlines of Asia and Africa and in the western coastline area of America. The Pacific Ocean tends to be bounded by the Arctic Ocean in the North and the Antarctic ocean in the South. It covers an area of almost 160,200,000 square kilometers and is featured with the longest coastline which is nearly 130,660 kilometers. The line of the Equator passes through the middle of the Pacific Ocean which further divides into two halves,i.e. the North Pacific Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean. The word “Pacific” means peace as there are very few incidents of destructible ocean currents. However, there are certain issues and concerns on the other hand which include endangered species that live underwater such as whales, turtles, seals, etc., and the oil pollution in the Philippine Sea and the South China sea.

The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest ocean in the world covering an area of almost 100,400,000 square kilometers. Continents such as Europe and Africa surround the ocean in the east region and America in the western region. The Atlantic Ocean is a combination of the Mediterranean Sea, Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico. The Equator divides the Atlantic Ocean into North Atlantic and South Atlantic. It has the sperm whale, which is considered the largest living toothed animal.

The Indian Ocean, being the third-largest in the world, covers an area of about 75,500,000 square kilometers. The continent of Africa is encircled by the Indian Ocean in the eastern region. It is separated from the Pacific Ocean by the continents of South-East Asia and Australia. It is comparatively warmer than the other oceans which restrict phytoplankton growth. There are major ports of different countries situated at its coastline such as the Mumbai Port, The Singapore Port. It is also characterized by the presence of various bays, gulfs, and straits.

The Antarctic Ocean is the fourth largest with an area of 20,300,000 square kilometers. It is commonly known as the Southern Ocean as it is situated close to the South pole. It converges with the waters of the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean, and the Atlantic Ocean. It is rich in its ecosystem and diversity with species ranging from small to larger ones. It is a stock home of various minerals and huge gas and oil fields.

The Arctic Ocean is the smallest of all the other oceans with a surface area of 13,895,000 square kilometers and a major portion of it lies in the Arctic Circle. Countries such as North America and the Eurasian countries are surrounded by the ocean. The Arctic Ocean is characterized by thick mountain ranges covered in snow. It is situated in the Northern Hemisphere. It has the lowest salinity in its water as there is a continuous inflow of freshwaters. Phytoplanktons are very common here.

The word Ocean can be interchanged with the word Sea. However, the sea refers to a saline water body that is surrounded by land masses either partly or wholly. The major sea in the world is:

1. The Caspian Sea.
2. The Black Sea.
3.  The Mediterranean Sea.
4. The Caribbean Sea.
5. The Red Sea.

Conclusion:

The oceans serve as a huge source of oxygen, i.e, it produces nearly half of the world’s oxygen level and also helps in absorbing carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere. They help in regulating the climate of the world and it also serves as an important source of marine or seafood.