pacific ocean
the largest ocean in the world
atlantic ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is slowly getting wider—by about 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) per year
Indian ocean
The Indian Ocean is the world’s warmest ocean
arctic ocean
The Arctic Ocean is the world’s smallest and shallowest ocean
southern ocean
The Southern Ocean is the only ocean that completely circles a continent and flows entirely around the globe without being interrupted by land
salinity
Salinity is the concentration of dissolved salts in water, primarily sodium chloride
surface zone
the topmost layer of the ocean, extending from the surface down to approximately 200 meters
thermocline
A thermocline is a distinct layer within a body of water (or atmosphere) where the temperature changes rapidly with depth
deep zone
the largest part of the ocean, containing about 90% of its total volume
water cycle
the continuous movement of water as it changes between liquid, solid (ice), and gas (vapor) states across Earth’s surface, atmosphere, and underground.
evaporation
Evaporation is the process by which liquid water turns into water vapor (a gas)
condensation
Condensation is the process where water vapor (gas) cools and transforms into liquid water.
precipitation
Precipitation is the process where water, in either liquid or solid form, falls from the atmosphere to the Earth’s surface
continental shelf
The continental shelf is the shallow, submerged edge of a continent that extends from the shoreline to a sharp drop-off point known as the shelf break
continental slope
the steep, underwater transition zone that connects the shallow continental shelf to the deep ocean floor
continental rise
the final transition zone of the continental margin
abyssal plain
The abyssal plain is a vast, flat, sediment-covered area of the deep ocean floor, found at depths between 3,000 and 6,000 meters
mid-ocean range
A mid-ocean ridge is a massive underwater mountain range formed by plate tectonics
rift valley
a deep, narrow depression that runs along the central axis of a mid-ocean ridge
seamount
A seamount is a large underwater mountain that rises from the ocean floor but does not reach the water’s surface
ocean trench
a long, narrow, and extremely deep depression in the ocean floor
plankton
a diverse collection of organisms that live in the water column and are unable to swim effectively against currents
nekton
high-performance athletes of the ocean
benthos
Benthos refers to the community of organisms that live on, in, or near the seabed
