Oceans
Oceans are large bodies of salt water that surround Earth's continents and occupy the basins between them. The four major oceans of the world are the Atlantic, Arctic, Indian, and Pacific. These interconnected oceans are further divided into smaller regions of water called seas, gulfs, and bays. The combined oceans cover almost 71 percent of Earth's surface, or about 139,400,000 square miles (361,000,000 square kilometers).
Marine pollution is a major threat to any organism living in or depending upon the ocean. Human impact on coastal and open ocean habitats comes in many forms: nutrientloading from agricultural runoff and sewage discharges, toxic chemical inputs from industry and agriculture, petroleum spills, and inert solid wastes. While there…>> (read more)
Oceans in the News
Byline: Kelly Zito; Chronicle Staff Writer
An influential federal panel tasked this summer by President Obama with revitalizing the nation's coasts, oceans and the Great Lakes Thursday…>> (read more)
Why does the ocean still have all that water when it has all those sponges riving in it?
Lawrence A. Husick, Southeastern, Pa.
Dear Lawrence,…>> (read more)
Byline: David Perlman; Chronicle Science Editor
Two undersea instruments are operating now on the bottom of Monterey Bay as scientists seek better ways to detect earthquake signals…>> (read more)
Oceans Statistics
