OCEANSOCEANS

Atlantic Pacific Arctic Indian

CLICK ON ONE OF THE MAPS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CLICK ON ONE OF THE MAPS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE OCEANS OF THE WORLD OR LEARN MORE ABOUT OCEAN OCEANS OF THE WORLD OR LEARN MORE ABOUT OCEAN

GEOLOGY AND ECOSYSTEMS BELOW!GEOLOGY AND ECOSYSTEMS BELOW!

Virginia Science SOL 5.6: The student will investigate and understand characteristics of the ocean Virginia Science SOL 5.6: The student will investigate and understand characteristics of the ocean environment. Key concepts include: geological characteristics (continental shelf, slope, rise); environment. Key concepts include: geological characteristics (continental shelf, slope, rise);

physical characteristics (depth, salinity, major currents); and biological characteristics physical characteristics (depth, salinity, major currents); and biological characteristics (ecosystems).(ecosystems).

Geology

Ecosystems

Cool Ocean Links!

Atlantic OceanAtlantic Ocean• LocationLocation: between : between

Africa, Europe, and the Africa, Europe, and the Western HemisphereWestern Hemisphere

• SizeSize: 33,420,000 square : 33,420,000 square miles (2miles (2ndnd largest – 25%) largest – 25%)

• Average DepthAverage Depth: 12,881 : 12,881 ft.ft.

• SalinitySalinity: ranges from 33 : ranges from 33 to 37 parts per thousand to 37 parts per thousand by mass and varies with by mass and varies with latitude and season latitude and season

• Major currentsMajor currents: Gulf : Gulf Stream, Labrador Stream, Labrador Current, North Atlantic Current, North Atlantic Current, Canary CurrentCurrent, Canary Current

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Pacific OceanPacific Ocean• LocationLocation: between Asia, : between Asia,

Australia, and the Western Australia, and the Western HemisphereHemisphere

• SizeSize: 64,186,000 square miles : 64,186,000 square miles (largest – 37%)(largest – 37%)

• Average DepthAverage Depth: 15,215 ft.: 15,215 ft.

• SalinitySalinity: ranges from 33 to 37 : ranges from 33 to 37 parts per thousand by mass parts per thousand by mass and varies with latitude and and varies with latitude and season season

• Major CurrentsMajor Currents: Kuroshio, : Kuroshio, Alaskan, California, North Alaskan, California, North Equatorial, South Equatorial, Equatorial, South Equatorial, Brazil, Benguela, HumboldtBrazil, Benguela, Humboldt

Arctic OceanArctic Ocean

• LocationLocation: between Europe, : between Europe, Asia, and North America Asia, and North America mostly north of the Arctic mostly north of the Arctic CircleCircle

• SizeSize: 5,106,000 square : 5,106,000 square miles (smallest – 3%)miles (smallest – 3%)

• Average DepthAverage Depth: 3,953 ft.: 3,953 ft.• SalinitySalinity: ranges from 33 to : ranges from 33 to

37 parts per thousand by 37 parts per thousand by mass and varies with mass and varies with latitude and season latitude and season

• Major CurrentsMajor Currents: West Wind : West Wind Drift, Antarctic Circumpolar, Drift, Antarctic Circumpolar, Antarctic SubpolarAntarctic Subpolar

Indian OceanIndian Ocean• LocationLocation: between Africa, : between Africa,

Asia, and AustraliaAsia, and Australia

• SizeSize: 28,350,000 square : 28,350,000 square miles (3miles (3rdrd largest – 12%) largest – 12%)

• Average DepthAverage Depth: 13,002 ft.: 13,002 ft.

• SalinitySalinity: ranges from 33 to : ranges from 33 to 37 parts per thousand by 37 parts per thousand by mass and varies with mass and varies with latitude and season latitude and season

• Major CurrentsMajor Currents: North : North Equatorial, South Equatorial, Equatorial, South Equatorial, Mozambique, South Indian, Mozambique, South Indian, Agulhas, West AustraliaAgulhas, West Australia

The Ocean FloorThe Ocean Floor

•Continental Shelf:Continental Shelf: the shallow the shallow seabed surrounding a continent seabed surrounding a continent typically no more than 200 m deeptypically no more than 200 m deep•Continental Slope:Continental Slope: the steep the steep descent from the continental shelf to descent from the continental shelf to the ocean bottomthe ocean bottom•Continental Rise:Continental Rise: a large gentle a large gentle slope past the continental slope made slope past the continental slope made up of sedimentsup of sediments Next: Ocean Landforms

Ocean Ocean LandformsLandforms

• TrenchesTrenches

• Abyssal PlainAbyssal Plain

• IslandIsland

• Sea MountSea Mount

• GuyotGuyot

TrenchesTrenches

• Ocean trenches are the deepest part of Ocean trenches are the deepest part of the ocean. They are typically formed by the ocean. They are typically formed by subduction. They are typically found subduction. They are typically found around the edge of the Pacific Ocean around the edge of the Pacific Ocean and the northeastern Indian Ocean. and the northeastern Indian Ocean.

The deepest trench is the MARIANA TRENCH in the Pacific ocean

Click on the picture to find out more about the Mariana Trench and the creatures that have been found there!

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Mariana TrenchMariana Trench• LocationLocation: Pacific Ocean: Pacific Ocean• DepthDepth: 36,201 ft.: 36,201 ft.• Lowest region on Earth’s Lowest region on Earth’s

surfacesurface• The deepest point of the The deepest point of the

Mariana Trench is called Mariana Trench is called The Challenger Deep The Challenger Deep

• Characterized by darkness Characterized by darkness and high pressureand high pressure

TUBE WORMS

ANGLER FISH

VIPER FISHFANG TOOTH OR OGRE FISH

UMBRELLA MOUTH GULPER

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Abyssal PlainAbyssal Plain• Broad, relatively flat expanse of sea floor lying 2 to 4 miles below sea Broad, relatively flat expanse of sea floor lying 2 to 4 miles below sea

level. Abyssal plains are found in all the major oceans, and they level. Abyssal plains are found in all the major oceans, and they extend from bordering continental rises to mid-oceanic ridges. extend from bordering continental rises to mid-oceanic ridges. Abyssal plains are covered in a thick layer of sediment, and their Abyssal plains are covered in a thick layer of sediment, and their flatness is punctuated by rugged low abyssal hills and high sea flatness is punctuated by rugged low abyssal hills and high sea mounts.mounts. Source: Tiscali Reference.comSource: Tiscali Reference.com

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IslandIsland• An island is body of land An island is body of land

surrounded by water on all surrounded by water on all sides sides

• May be formed by: May be formed by: – being isolated from larger land being isolated from larger land

masses due to rising water levels masses due to rising water levels – When pieces of continental crust When pieces of continental crust

break off of a land mass and drift break off of a land mass and drift out to seaout to sea

– Volcanic activityVolcanic activity

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Sea MountSea Mount

• A A sea mountsea mount is a is a mountain rising from mountain rising from the seafloor that does the seafloor that does not reach to the not reach to the surface of the oceansurface of the ocean

• They are found in all They are found in all ocean basins, they ocean basins, they have a wide range of have a wide range of physical, geological, physical, geological, and chemical and chemical conditionsconditions

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GuyotGuyot

• A sea mount where A sea mount where the top has been the top has been flattened by flattened by weathering, wave weathering, wave action, or stream action, or stream erosion erosion

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Marine Food WebMarine Food Web

• All plants and animals living All plants and animals living in an area, or an in an area, or an ecosystemecosystem, , are part of a linked system are part of a linked system called a called a food chain or food food chain or food webweb. .

• Most of the animal life in the Most of the animal life in the ocean is found in three main ocean is found in three main areas: areas:

1. the 1. the SHALLOW BOTTOMSHALLOW BOTTOM near the shores; near the shores;

2.2. the the SUNLIT SURFACE SUNLIT SURFACE AREASAREAS of the oceans of the oceans

3.3. thethe OPEN OCEAN OPEN OCEAN, just , just beneath the surface beneath the surface waterswaters

LinksLinksWant to know more about oceans?Want to know more about oceans?

Check out these cool links!Check out these cool links!• The Ocean View The Ocean View WebquestWebquest• A worksheet to organize your research about oceaA worksheet to organize your research about ocea

nsns• AquademicsAquademics: Games for Kids: Games for Kids• Educational Films (streaming video)Educational Films (streaming video)• International Year of the Ocean links pageInternational Year of the Ocean links page• Office of Naval Research – OceanographyOffice of Naval Research – Oceanography• EPA Oceans and CoastsEPA Oceans and Coasts• Treasures @ SeaTreasures @ Sea• Under the SeaUnder the Sea

This presentation was designed by Lesley This presentation was designed by Lesley Hunley and Sarah Rybak, pre-service teachers Hunley and Sarah Rybak, pre-service teachers

in the College of William & Mary School of in the College of William & Mary School of Education, in the fall of 2005 for Instructional Education, in the fall of 2005 for Instructional

Technology and Design (EDUC 304).Technology and Design (EDUC 304).