The Atlantic Ocean, or Atlantic, is the second largest (after the Pacific) and the most developed among other water areas. From the east it is limited by the coast of South and North America, from the west - Africa and Europe, in the north - Greenland, in the south it merges with the Southern Ocean.
Distinctive features of the Atlantic: a small number of islands, complex bottom topography and highly rugged coastline.
Characteristics of the ocean
Area: 91.66 million sq. km, with 16% of the territory falling on seas and bays.
Volume: 329.66 million sq. km
Salinity: 35‰.
Depth: average - 3736 m, greatest - 8742 m (Puerto Rico Trench).
Temperature: in the very south and north - about 0°C, at the equator - 26-28°C.
Currents: conventionally there are 2 gyres - Northern (currents move clockwise) and Southern (counterclockwise). The gyres are separated by the Equatorial Intertrade Current.
Main currents of the Atlantic Ocean
Warm:
Northern trade wind - begins off the west coast of Africa, crosses the ocean from east to west and meets the Gulf Stream near Cuba.
Gulf Stream- the most powerful current in the world, which carries 140 million cubic meters of water per second (for comparison: all the rivers of the world carry only 1 million cubic meters of water per second). It originates near the coast of the Bahamas, where the Florida and Antilles currents meet. Having united, they give rise to the Gulf Stream, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean through the strait between Cuba and the Florida Peninsula. The current then moves north along the US coast. Approximately off the coast of North Carolina, the Gulf Stream turns east and enters the open ocean. After approximately 1,500 km, it meets the cold Labrador Current, which slightly changes the course of the Gulf Stream and carries it to the northeast. Closer to Europe, the current splits into two branches: Azores and North Atlantic.
Only recently it became known that 2 km below the Gulf Stream there is a reverse current flowing from Greenland to the Sargasso Sea. This thread ice water called the Anti-Gulf Stream.
North Atlantic- a continuation of the Gulf Stream, which washes the western coast of Europe and brings the warmth of southern latitudes, providing a mild and warm climate.
Antilles- begins east of the island of Puerto Rico, flows north and joins the Gulf Stream near the Bahamas. Speed - 1-1.9 km/h, water temperature 25-28°C.
Interpass countercurrent - current that encircles the globe at the equator. In the Atlantic, it separates the North Trade Wind and South Trade Wind Currents.
South Passat (or South Equatorial) - passes through the southern tropics. average temperature water - 30°C. When the South Trade Wind Current reaches the shores South America, it is divided into two arms: Caribbean, or Guiana (flows north to the coast of Mexico) and Brazilian— moving south along the coast of Brazil.
Guinean - located in the Gulf of Guinea. It flows from west to east and then turns south. Together with the Angolan and South Equatorial currents, it forms the cyclic current of the Gulf of Guinea.
Cold:
Lomonosov countercurrent - discovered by a Soviet expedition in 1959. It originates off the coast of Brazil and moves north. The 200 km wide stream crosses the equator and flows into the Gulf of Guinea.
Canary- flows from north to south, towards the equator along the coast of Africa. This wide stream (up to 1 thousand km) near Madeira and the Canary Islands meets the Azores and Portuguese currents. Approximately around 15°N latitude. joins the Equatorial Countercurrent.
Labrador - begins in the strait between Canada and Greenland. It flows south to the Newfoundland Bank, where it meets the Gulf Stream. The waters of the current carry cold from the Arctic Ocean, and along with the flow, huge icebergs are carried south. In particular, the iceberg that destroyed the famous Titanic was brought precisely by the Labrador Current.
Benguela- is born near the Cape of Good Hope and moves along the coast of Africa to the north.
Falkland (or Malvinas) branches off from the West Wind Current and flows north along the east coast of South America to the Gulf of La Plata. Temperature: 4-15°C.
Current of the westerly winds encircles the globe in the region of 40-50°S. The flow moves from west to east. In the Atlantic it branches off South Atlantic flow.
Underwater world of the Atlantic Ocean
The underwater world of the Atlantic is poorer in diversity than in the Pacific Ocean. This is due to the fact that the Atlantic Ocean was more frozen during ice age. But the Atlantic is richer in the number of individuals of each species.
Flora and fauna underwater world clearly distributed among climatic zones.
The flora is represented mainly by algae and flowering plants (Zostera, Poseidonia, Fucus). In northern latitudes, kelp predominates; in temperate latitudes, red algae predominates. Throughout the ocean, phytoplankton actively thrives at depths of up to 100 m.
The fauna is rich in species. Almost all species and classes of marine animals live in the Atlantic. Of the commercial fish, herring, sardine, and flounder are especially valued. There is an active catch of crustaceans and mollusks, and whaling is limited.
The tropical zone of the Atlantic amazes with its abundance. There are a lot of corals and a lot amazing views animals: turtles, flying fish, several dozen species of sharks.
The name of the ocean first appears in the works of Herodotus (5th century BC), who calls it the Sea of Atlantis. And in the 1st century AD. The Roman scientist Pliny the Elder writes about a vast expanse of water called Oceanus Atlanticus. But the official name “Atlantic Ocean” was established only in the 17th century.
The history of Atlantic exploration can be divided into 4 stages:
1. From antiquity to the 15th century. The first documents that talk about the ocean date back to the 1st millennium BC. The ancient Phoenicians, Egyptians, Cretans and Greeks knew the coastal zones of the water area well. Maps of those times have been preserved with detailed depth measurements and indications of currents.
2. Time of the Greats geographical discoveries(XV-XVII centuries). The development of the Atlantic continues, the ocean becomes one of the main trade routes. In 1498, Vasco de Gama, having circumnavigated Africa, paved the way to India. 1493-1501 - Columbus's three voyages to America. The Bermuda anomaly was identified, many currents were discovered, and detailed maps depths, coastal zones, temperatures, bottom topography.
Expeditions of Franklin in 1770, I. Kruzenshtern and Yu. Lisyansky of 1804-06.
3. XIX - first half of the XX century - the beginning of scientific oceanographic research. Chemistry, physics, biology, ocean geology are studied. A map of currents has been compiled, and research is being carried out to lay an underwater cable between Europe and America.
4. 1950s - present day. A comprehensive study of all components of oceanography is being carried out. Priority: climate research different zones, identification of global atmospheric problems, ecology, mining, ensuring ship traffic, seafood production.
In the center of the Belize Barrier Reef there is a unique underwater cave - the Great Blue Hole. Its depth is 120 meters, and at the very bottom there is a whole gallery of smaller caves connected by tunnels.
The Atlantic is home to the only sea in the world without shores - the Sargasso. Its boundaries are formed by ocean currents.
Here is one of the most mysterious places on the planet: Bermuda Triangle. The Atlantic Ocean is also home to another myth (or reality?) - the continent of Atlantis.
Atlantic Ocean is a “plot” of the water area of the World Ocean, which is south side borders Europe and Africa, with western South and North America. A huge mass of salt water, beautiful views, rich flora and fauna, hundreds of beautiful islands - this is all called the Atlantic Ocean.
Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean is considered the second largest component of our planet (in first place is ). The coastline is clearly divided into water areas: seas, bays. total area Atlantic Ocean , the river basins that flow into it are about 329.7 million km³ (this is 25% of the waters of the World Ocean).
The name of the ocean - Atlantis - was first found in the works of Herodotus (5th century BC). Then the prototype modern name recorded in the works of Pliny the Elder (1st century AD). It sounds like Oceanus Atlanticus, translated from ancient Greek as the Atlantic Ocean.
There are several versions of the etymology of the name of the ocean:
- in honor of the mythological titan Atlas (Atlas, which holds the entire vault of heaven);
- from the name of the Atlas Mountains (they are located in northern Africa);
- in honor of the mysterious and legendary continent of Atlantis. I immediately suggest you most interesting video— film “Battle of Civilizations - Find Atlantis”
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These are the versions and assumptions put forward about Atlantis and the mysterious Atlantean race.
As for the history of the formation of the ocean, scientists are sure that it arose due to the breakup of the missing supercontinent Pangea. It included 90% of the continental crust of our planet.
Atlantic Ocean on the world map
Every 600 million years, continental blocks unite, only to split apart again over time. It was as a result of this process that 160 thousand years ago arose Atlantic Ocean. Map currents shows that ocean waters move under the influence of cold and warm currents. 
These are all the main currents of the Atlantic Ocean.
Atlantic Ocean Islands
The most large islands The Atlantic Ocean are Ireland, Great Britain, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Haiti, Newfoundland. They are located in the northern sector of the ocean. Their total area equals 700 t.km 2. Several groups of smaller islands are located in the eastern part of the ocean: Canary Islands, . On the western side are the groups of the Lesser Antilles. Their archipelago creates a unique arc of land that surrounds the eastern sector of the waters.
One cannot fail to mention one of the most beautiful islands of the Atlantic -.
Atlantic Ocean water temperature
The waters of the Atlantic Ocean are colder than the Pacific Ocean (due to the large extent of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge). The average surface water temperature is +16.9, but it varies depending on the season. In February in the northern part of the water area and in August in the southern part the highest low temperature, and the highest is observed in other months.
Atlantic ocean depth
What is the depth of the Atlantic Ocean? The maximum depth of the Atlantic Ocean reaches 8742 m (recorded in the Puerto Rico Trench at 8742 m), and the average depth is 3736 m. The Puerto Rico Trench is located on the border of the ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Its length along the slopes of the Antilles range is 1200 km.
The area of the Atlantic Ocean is 91.66 million km². And a quarter of this territory falls on its seas. Here .
Atlantic Ocean: sharks and more
The underwater world of the Atlantic Ocean will amaze the imagination of any person with its richness and diversity. It is a unique ecosystem that unites many species of plants and animals.
The flora of the Atlantic Ocean is represented mainly by bottom vegetation (phytobenthos): green, red, brown algae, kelp, flowering plants such as poseidonia, philospadix.
Without exaggeration, the Sargasso Sea, located in the Atlantic Ocean between 20° and 40° north latitude and 60° west longitude, can be called a unique natural miracle. On the surface of 70% of its water surface there are always brown algae - sargassum.
But most of the surface of the Atlantic Ocean is covered with phytoplankton (these are single-celled algae). Its mass, depending on the area, varies from 1 to 100 mg/m3.
Inhabitants of the Atlantic Ocean beautiful and mysterious, because many of their species have not been fully studied. Lives in cold and temperate waters a large number of various representatives of underwater fauna. For example, pinnipeds, whales, perch, flounder, cod, herring, shrimp, crustaceans, mollusks. Many animals are bipolar, that is, they have adapted to a comfortable existence in both cold and temperate zones (turtles, crabs, jellyfish, fur seals, whales, seals, mussels).
A special class consists of the inhabitants of the deep waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Corals, sponges, and echinoderm fish species amaze and impress the human eye.
What sharks are in the Atlantic Ocean Can they pay a visit to an unwary tourist? The number of species that live in the Atlantic exceeds a dozen. The most common are white, soup, blue, reef, basking, and sand sharks. But cases of attacks on people do not happen very often, and if they do happen, it is more often due to the provocations of the people themselves.
The first officially recorded shark attack on a human occurred on July 1, 1916, to Charles Van Sant on a New Jersey beach. But even then, residents of the resort town perceived this incident as an accident. Such tragedies began to be registered only in 1935. But shark scientists Nichols, Murphy and Lucas did not take the attacks lightly and began to intensively search for their specific causes. As a result, they created their “Year of the Shark” theory. She claimed that the attacks were motivated by a large migration of sharks. Since the beginning of 2013, according to the International Register of Shark Attacks, 55 cases of predator attacks on humans have been recorded in the world, 10 of which were fatal.
Bermuda Triangle
A message about the Atlantic Ocean for children can be used in preparation for the lesson. A story about the Atlantic Ocean for children can be supplemented with interesting facts.
Report on the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean second by size ocean on our planet. The name probably originated from the legendary lost continent of Atlantis.
In the west it is limited by the shores of North and South America, in the east by the shores of Europe and Africa to Cape Agulhas.
The area of the Atlantic Ocean with its seas is 91.6 million km2, the average depth is 3332 m.
Maximum depth - 8742 m in the trench Puerto Rico.
The Atlantic Ocean is located in almost all climate zones except the Arctic, but its largest part lies in the areas of equatorial, subequatorial, tropical and subtropical climates.
A distinctive feature of the Atlantic Ocean is a small number of islands, as well as the complex bottom topography, which forms many pits and gutters.
Well expressed in the Atlantic Ocean currents, directed almost in the meridional direction. This is due to the large elongation of the ocean from north to south and the outlines of its coastline. The most famous warm current Gulf Stream and its continuation - North Atlantic flow.
Salinity of Atlantic Ocean waters generally higher than the average salinity of the waters of the World Ocean, and the organic world is poorer in terms of biodiversity compared to Pacific Ocean.
The Atlantic is an important sea route connecting Europe and North America. The shelves of the North Sea and the Gulf of Mexico are places of oil production.
Plants include a wide range of green, brown and red algae.
The total number of fish species exceeds 15 thousand, the most common families being nanothenia and white-blooded pike. Large mammals are most widely represented: cetaceans, seals, fur seals, etc. The amount of plankton is insignificant, which causes migration of whales to feeding fields to the north or to temperate latitudes, where there is more of it.
Almost half of the world's fish catch is caught in the seas of the Atlantic Ocean. Today, unfortunately, the stocks of Atlantic herring and cod, sea bass and other fish species have sharply decreased. Today the problem of preserving biological and mineral resources is particularly acute.
We hope the information presented about the Atlantic Ocean has helped you. You can supplement the report on the Atlantic Ocean through the comment form.
The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest and deepest. Its area is 91.7 million km2. The average depth is 3597 m, and the maximum is 8742 m. The length from north to south is 16,000 km.
Geographical location of the Atlantic Ocean
The ocean extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the coast of Antarctica in the south. In the south, the Drake Passage separates the Atlantic Ocean from the Pacific Ocean. Feature Atlantic Ocean - many inland and marginal seas in the Northern Hemisphere, the formation of which is mainly associated with tectonic movements of lithospheric plates. (Use the map “Structure of the Earth’s Crust” to identify the lithospheric plates within which the ocean is located.) The largest of the seas: Baltic, Black, Azov, Irish, Northern, Sargasso, Norwegian, Mediterranean. There are more than 10 seas in the Atlantic Ocean. (Find on physical map Sargasso and Mediterranean seas, compare their natural features.)
The Atlantic Ocean and its seas wash five continents. More than 70 states (home to over 2 billion people) and 70% of the world's largest cities are located on its shores. Therefore, the most important sea shipping routes pass along the Atlantic. The ocean is called “the element that unites peoples.”
Bottom relief The Atlantic Ocean, according to scientists, is the youngest and more leveled. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge extends over 18,000 km from north to south of the ocean. Along the ridge there is a rift system where the largest volcanic island, Iceland, was formed. Within the Atlantic Ocean, depths of 3000-6000 m prevail. Unlike the Pacific Ocean, there is little deep sea trenches. The deepest is Puerto Rico (8742 m) in the Caribbean Sea. Within the ocean there is a well-defined shelf zone, especially in the Northern Hemisphere off the coast of North America and Europe.
Atlantic Ocean Climate
The ocean is found in almost all geographical zones. This determined the diversity of its climate. In the north, near the island of Iceland, an area of low pressure is formed over the ocean, which is called the Icelandic Low. The dominant winds over the ocean in tropical and subequatorial latitudes are trade winds, and in temperate latitudes they are westerly winds. Differences in atmospheric circulation cause uneven distribution of precipitation. (Refer to the Annual Precipitation map for the distribution of precipitation in the Atlantic Ocean.) Average Temperature surface waters in the Atlantic Ocean is +16.5 °C. The ocean has the most saline surface waters, with an average salinity of 35.4‰. The salinity of surface waters varies greatly between the north and south.
The maximum salinity reaches 36-37 ‰ and is typical for tropical areas with low annual precipitation and strong evaporation. The decrease in salinity in the north and south of the ocean (32-34 ‰) is explained by the melting of icebergs and floating sea ice.
Currents in the Atlantic Ocean act as powerful carriers of thermal energy. Two systems of currents have formed in the ocean: clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere. In the tropical latitudes of the ocean, trade winds cause powerful surface currents from east to west on both sides of the equator - the North Trade Wind and South Trade Wind Currents. Crossing the ocean, these currents have a warming effect on the eastern shores of North and South America. The powerful warm Gulf Stream (“Gulf Current”) originates in the Gulf of Mexico and reaches the islands of Novaya Zemlya. The Gulf Stream carries 80 times more water than all the rivers on the globe. The thickness of its flow reaches 700-800 m. This mass of warm water with temperatures up to +28 ° C moves at a speed of about 10 km/h. North of 40° N. w. The Gulf Stream turns to the shores of Europe, and here it is called the North Atlantic Current. The water temperature of the current is higher than in the ocean. Therefore, warmer and more humid air masses dominate the current and cyclones form. Cooling effect on western shores Africa is exerted by the Canary and Benguela currents, and on East Coast North America - the cold Labrador Current. The eastern shores of South America are washed by the warm Brazilian Current.
The ocean is characterized by rhythmically repeating ebbs and flows. The highest tidal wave in the world reaches 18 m in the Bay of Fundy off the coast.
Natural resources and environmental problems of the Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is rich in diverse mineral resources. The most large deposits oil and gas have been explored in the shelf zone off the coast of Europe (North Sea region), America ( Gulf of Mexico, Maracaibo Lagoon) etc. (Fig. 43). Phosphorite deposits are significant; ferromanganese nodules are less common.
Organic world Atlantic Ocean in terms of the number of species it is poorer than the Pacific and Indian Oceans, but is characterized by higher productivity.
The tropical part of the ocean has the greatest diversity of the organic world; the number of fish species is measured in tens of thousands. These are tuna, mackerel, sardines. In temperate latitudes, herring, cod, haddock, and halibut are found in large quantities. Jellyfish, squid, octopuses are also inhabitants of the ocean. Large marine mammals (whales, pinnipeds) live in cold waters, different kinds fish (herring, cod), crustaceans. The main fishing areas are the northeast off the coast of Europe and the northwest off the coast of North America. The wealth of the ocean is brown and red algae, kelp.
In terms of economic use, the Atlantic Ocean ranks first among other oceans. The use of the ocean plays a major role in the economic development of many countries around the world (Fig. 44).
The expanses of the Atlantic Ocean are most polluted with oil and petroleum products. In modern ways Water purification is carried out, and the discharge of production waste is prohibited.
The peculiarities of the geographical location of the Atlantic Ocean are its great elongation from north to south, the presence of internal and marginal seas. The Atlantic Ocean plays a leading role in international economic relations. For five centuries it has occupied first place in world shipping.
Atlantic ocean map
Ocean area – 91.6 million sq. km;
Maximum depth – Puerto Rico Trench, 8742 m;
Number of seas – 16;
The most big seas– Sargasso Sea, Caribbean Sea, Mediterranean Sea;
The largest gulf is the Gulf of Mexico;
The largest islands are Great Britain, Iceland, Ireland;
The strongest currents:
- warm - Gulf Stream, Brazilian, North Passat, South Passat;
- cold - Bengal, Labrador, Canary, Western Winds.
The Atlantic Ocean occupies the entire space from subarctic latitudes to Antarctica. In the southwest it borders on the Pacific Ocean, in the southeast on the Indian Ocean and in the north on the Arctic Ocean. In the northern hemisphere, the coastline of the continents that are washed by the waters of the Arctic Ocean is greatly indented. There are many inland seas, especially in the east.
The Atlantic Ocean is considered a relatively young ocean. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which stretches almost strictly along the meridian, divides the ocean floor into two approximately equal parts. In the north, individual peaks of the ridge rise above the water in the form of volcanic islands, the largest of which is Iceland.
The shelf part of the Atlantic Ocean is not large - 7%. The greatest width of the shelf, 200 – 400 km, is in the area of the North and Baltic seas.
The Atlantic Ocean is found in all climate zones, but most of it is in tropical and temperate latitudes. The climatic conditions here are determined by trade winds and westerly winds. The winds reach their greatest strength in the temperate latitudes of the southern Atlantic Ocean. In the region of the island of Iceland there is a center for the generation of cyclones, which significantly affect the nature of the entire Northern Hemisphere.
Average surface water temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean are significantly lower than in the Pacific. This is due to the influence of cold waters and ice that come from the Arctic Ocean and Antarctica. In high latitudes there are many icebergs and drifting ice floes. In the north, icebergs slide from Greenland, and in the south from Antarctica. Nowadays, the movement of icebergs is monitored from space by artificial satellites of the earth.
Currents in the Atlantic Ocean have a meridional direction and are characterized by strong activity in the movement of water masses from one latitude to another.
The organic world of the Atlantic Ocean is poorer in species composition than that of the Pacific. This is explained by geological youth and cooler climatic conditions. But despite this, the reserves of fish and other marine animals and plants in the ocean are quite significant. The organic world is richer in temperate latitudes. More favorable conditions for living of many species of fish have developed in the northern and northwestern parts ocean, where there are fewer flows of warm and cold currents. Here the following products are of industrial importance: cod, herring, sea bass, mackerel, capelin.
Stand out for their originality natural complexes individual seas and the inflow of the Atlantic Ocean. This is especially true of the inland seas: Mediterranean, Black, Northern and Baltic. The Sargasso Sea, unique in its nature, is located in the northern subtropical zone. The giant sargassum algae that the sea is rich in made it famous.
The Atlantic Ocean has important sea routes that connect New World with the countries of Europe and Africa. The Atlantic coast and islands are home to world-famous recreation and tourism areas.
The Atlantic Ocean has been explored since ancient times. Since the 15th century, the Atlantic Ocean has become the main waterway of mankind and does not lose its importance today. The first period of ocean exploration lasted until the middle of the 18th century. It was characterized by the study of the distribution of ocean waters and the establishment of ocean boundaries. A comprehensive study of the nature of the Atlantic began with late XIX centuries.
The nature of the ocean is now being studied with more than 40 scientific ships from different countries peace. Oceanologists carefully study the interaction of the ocean and the atmosphere, observe the Gulf Stream and other currents, and the movement of icebergs. The Atlantic Ocean is no longer able to independently restore its biological resources. Preserving its nature today is an international matter.
Choose from one of the unique Atlantic Ocean locations and... Google maps take an exciting journey.
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