Back

OCEANOGRAPHY
Lesson 1 - Page 5

Next 

Defining the limits of the world oceans is difficult. There is no beginning and no end. The south Atlantic connects with the south Pacific in the southern part of South America. The Antarctica Ocean circulates through all the larger body of oceans. The oceans are in fact, connected and communicate with each other. Water can virtually travel around the world as it moves from one area to another.

An ocean refers to the largest body of water. We generally think of three major oceans including the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Ocean. The Arctic Ocean has communication with the Atlantic and Pacific, while the Antarctica Ocean touches all three.

Each of the oceans is subdivided into areas that have distinct geologic or chemical areas and these are referred to as "a sea." The Mediterranean Sea for instance is physically confined by land, with only one outlet to the Atlantic Ocean. However, the Sargasso Sea in the western part of the Atlantic, is an area that is defined by its chemical make-up. 


Strait of Gibraltar, Atlantic Ocean
connection with Mediterranean Sea

   Back

[Back to Oceanography]  [Back to Earth Science]

Next