OCEANS AtlanticPacificArcticIndian CLICK ON ONE OF THE MAPS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE OCEANS OF THE WORLD OR LEARN MORE ABOUT OCEAN GEOLOGY AND ECOSYSTEMS BELOW! 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); physical characteristics (depth, salinity, major currents); and biological characteristics (ecosystems). Geology Ecosystems Cool Ocean Links!

Atlantic Ocean Location: between Africa, Europe, and the Western Hemisphere Location: between Africa, Europe, and the Western Hemisphere Size: 33,420,000 square miles (2 nd largest – 25%) Size: 33,420,000 square miles (2 nd largest – 25%) Average Depth: 12,881 ft. Average Depth: 12,881 ft. Salinity: ranges from 33 to 37 parts per thousand by mass and varies with latitude and season Salinity: ranges from 33 to 37 parts per thousand by mass and varies with latitude and season Major currents: Gulf Stream, Labrador Current, North Atlantic Current, Canary Current Major currents: Gulf Stream, Labrador Current, North Atlantic Current, Canary Current HOME

Pacific Ocean Location: between Asia, Australia, and the Western Hemisphere Location: between Asia, Australia, and the Western Hemisphere Size: 64,186,000 square miles (largest – 37%) Size: 64,186,000 square miles (largest – 37%) Average Depth: 15,215 ft. Average Depth: 15,215 ft. Salinity: ranges from 33 to 37 parts per thousand by mass and varies with latitude and season Salinity: ranges from 33 to 37 parts per thousand by mass and varies with latitude and season Major Currents: Kuroshio, Alaskan, California, North Equatorial, South Equatorial, Brazil, Benguela, Humboldt Major Currents: Kuroshio, Alaskan, California, North Equatorial, South Equatorial, Brazil, Benguela, Humboldt

Arctic Ocean Location: between Europe, Asia, and North America mostly north of the Arctic Circle Location: between Europe, Asia, and North America mostly north of the Arctic Circle Size: 5,106,000 square miles (smallest – 3%) Size: 5,106,000 square miles (smallest – 3%) Average Depth: 3,953 ft. Average Depth: 3,953 ft. Salinity: ranges from 33 to 37 parts per thousand by mass and varies with latitude and season Salinity: ranges from 33 to 37 parts per thousand by mass and varies with latitude and season Major Currents: West Wind Drift, Antarctic Circumpolar, Antarctic Subpolar Major Currents: West Wind Drift, Antarctic Circumpolar, Antarctic Subpolar

Indian Ocean Location: between Africa, Asia, and Australia Location: between Africa, Asia, and Australia Size: 28,350,000 square miles (3 rd largest – 12%) Size: 28,350,000 square miles (3 rd largest – 12%) Average Depth: 13,002 ft. Average Depth: 13,002 ft. Salinity: ranges from 33 to 37 parts per thousand by mass and varies with latitude and season Salinity: ranges from 33 to 37 parts per thousand by mass and varies with latitude and season Major Currents: North Equatorial, South Equatorial, Mozambique, South Indian, Agulhas, West Australia Major Currents: North Equatorial, South Equatorial, Mozambique, South Indian, Agulhas, West Australia

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

Ocean Landforms Ocean Landforms Trenches Trenches Trenches Abyssal Plain Abyssal Plain Abyssal Plain Abyssal Plain Island Island Island Sea Mount Sea Mount Sea Mount Sea Mount Guyot Guyot Guyot

Trenches Ocean trenches are the deepest part of the ocean. They are typically formed by subduction. They are typically found around the edge of the Pacific Ocean and the northeastern Indian Ocean. Ocean trenches are the deepest part of the ocean. They are typically formed by subduction. They are typically found around the edge of the Pacific Ocean and the northeastern Indian Ocean. The deepest trench is the MARIANA TRENCH in the Pacific oceanMARIANA TRENCH Click on the picture to find out more about the Mariana Trench and the creatures that have been found there! Back to Ocean Landforms

Mariana Trench Location: Pacific Ocean Location: Pacific Ocean Depth: 36,201 ft. Depth: 36,201 ft. Lowest region on Earth’s surface Lowest region on Earth’s surface The deepest point of the Mariana Trench is called The Challenger Deep The deepest point of the Mariana Trench is called The Challenger Deep Characterized by darkness and high pressure Characterized by darkness and high pressure TUBE WORMS ANGLER FISH VIPER FISH FANG TOOTH OR OGRE FISH UMBRELLA MOUTH GULPER Back to Ocean Landforms

Abyssal Plain 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 extend from bordering continental rises to mid-oceanic ridges. Abyssal plains are covered in a thick layer of sediment, and their flatness is punctuated by rugged low abyssal hills and high sea mounts. Source: Tiscali Reference.com 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 extend from bordering continental rises to mid-oceanic ridges. Abyssal plains are covered in a thick layer of sediment, and their flatness is punctuated by rugged low abyssal hills and high sea mounts. Source: Tiscali Reference.com Back to Ocean Landforms

Island An island is body of land surrounded by water on all sides An island is body of land surrounded by water on all sides May be formed by: May be formed by: –being isolated from larger land masses due to rising water levels –When pieces of continental crust break off of a land mass and drift out to sea –Volcanic activity Back to Ocean Landforms

Sea Mount A sea mount is a mountain rising from the seafloor that does not reach to the surface of the ocean A sea mount is a mountain rising from the seafloor that does not reach to the surface of the ocean They are found in all ocean basins, they have a wide range of physical, geological, and chemical conditions They are found in all ocean basins, they have a wide range of physical, geological, and chemical conditions Back to Ocean Landforms

Guyot A sea mount where the top has been flattened by weathering, wave action, or stream erosion A sea mount where the top has been flattened by weathering, wave action, or stream erosionsea mountsea mount Back to Ocean Landforms

Marine Food Web All plants and animals living in an area, or an ecosystem, are part of a linked system called a food chain or food web. All plants and animals living in an area, or an ecosystem, are part of a linked system called a food chain or food web. Most of the animal life in the ocean is found in three main areas: Most of the animal life in the ocean is found in three main areas: 1. the SHALLOW BOTTOM near the shores; 2.the SUNLIT SURFACE AREAS of the oceans 3.the OPEN OCEAN, just beneath the surface waters

Links Want to know more about oceans? Check out these cool links! The Ocean View Webquest The Ocean View Webquest The Ocean View Webquest The Ocean View Webquest A worksheet to organize your research about oceans A worksheet to organize your research about oceans A worksheet to organize your research about oceans A worksheet to organize your research about oceans Aquademics: Games for Kids Aquademics: Games for Kids Aquademics: Games for Kids Aquademics: Games for Kids Educational Films (streaming video) Educational Films (streaming video) Educational Films (streaming video) Educational Films (streaming video) International Year of the Ocean links page International Year of the Ocean links page International Year of the Ocean links page International Year of the Ocean links page Office of Naval Research – Oceanography Office of Naval Research – Oceanography Office of Naval Research – Oceanography Office of Naval Research – Oceanography EPA Oceans and Coasts EPA Oceans and Coasts EPA Oceans and Coasts EPA Oceans and Coasts Sea Sea Sea Sea Under the Sea Under the Sea Under the Sea Under the Sea

This presentation was designed by Lesley Hunley and Sarah Rybak, pre-service teachers in the College of William & Mary School of Education, in the fall of 2005 for Instructional Technology and Design (EDUC 304). Lesley HunleySarah Rybak College of William & Mary School of EducationLesley HunleySarah Rybak College of William & Mary School of Education