Zonal natural complexes of the Atlantic Ocean. Natural complexes of the Atlantic Ocean. Question: HELP!types of economic activities in the Atlantic Ocean

1. What influence does its geographical location and size have on the nature of the Atlantic Ocean?

The meridional extent of the Atlantic Ocean determines the difference in its nature by latitude. The north of the ocean is strongly influenced by the Arctic, and the south by the Antarctic; The ocean lies in almost all climate zones. The differences in longitude are not so great, since, unlike the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic is much narrower. The nature and climate of the ocean coasts are strongly influenced by sea ​​currents, especially the Golf Stream and the North Atlantic.

2. Identify natural complexes in the ocean in which latitudinal zoning is manifested, and complexes formed under the influence of land. Explain their features. Individual natural complexes in the ocean can be identified using the boundaries of climatic zones as a basis. The seas of the Atlantic Ocean are divided into separate natural complexes, the most interesting of which is the natural complex of the Sargasso Sea.

3. Write a description of the nature of the Mediterranean Sea.

On a contour map, identify all the seas of the Atlantic Ocean, including the Mediterranean Sea. Using school atlas maps, determine the features of their geographical location, climatic characteristics, forms of economic use by humans and other features of nature and economy.

4. Which parts of the Atlantic Ocean are particularly polluted? Why?

Economic activity contributes to the pollution of Atlantic waters. The degree of pollution depends on the intensity of use of the ocean's natural resources. The coastal waters of the ocean are the most polluted. Severe water pollution is observed in areas through which sea transport routes pass.

  • write a description of the nature of the Mediterranean Sea
  • which parts of the Atlantic Ocean are especially polluted why?
  • what influence does its geographical location and size have on the nature of the Atlantic Ocean?
  • what impact does it have on the nature of the Atlantic Ocean?
  • description of the nature of the Mediterranean Sea

Atlantic Ocean is the second largest in the world, being approximately half the size of the Pacific Ocean.

It is bounded in the north by Greenland and Iceland, in the east by Africa and Europe, in the west by North and South America, and in the south by Antarctica.

It is easy to notice that the ocean washes the shores of almost all continents, and has a noticeably elongated shape.

Characteristics of the Atlantic Ocean

The area of ​​the Atlantic Ocean exceeds 91 million km2, and this is a lot.

HELP!types of economic activities in the Atlantic Ocean

Its depth is also impressive: the maximum is 8742 meters, and the average is about 3600 meters. Due to this, the volume of its waters is very large - 329.6 million km3. This is a quarter of the water reserves of the World Ocean.

Brief information:

  • — The bottom of the Atlantic Ocean is very uneven, and has many faults, depressions and small mountains.

    And from north to south, the Mid-Atlantic Ridge runs along the central part of the ocean floor; it divides the ocean into western and eastern parts (they are almost equal to each other). Earthquakes and underwater volcanic eruptions are observed in the area of ​​the ridge.

  • — Seas, bays and straits occupy about 16% of the area of ​​the Atlantic Ocean (14.7 million km2).
  • — There are relatively few islands in the ocean, about a thousand.
  • — Due to the large length of the reservoir, as well as atmospheric circulation and ocean currents The Atlantic Ocean includes all the climate zones of the planet.

    Generally, average temperature in its vastness in summer it is 20 °C, and in winter - from 0 to 10 °C. As you move north from the equator, the temperature drops noticeably.

  • — Water salinity ranges from 34‰ (at the equator) to 39‰ (in the Mediterranean Sea). Although in areas where rivers flow into the ocean, this figure can be halved.
  • — Floating ice on the surface of the ocean is formed only in its northern and southern parts, since they are close to the poles of the planet.
  • — The diversity of flora and fauna of the Atlantic Ocean is very great, but it can also boast of the number of living organisms.

    Thanks to this, the ocean feeds a huge number of people. But this leads to a noticeable reduction in representatives of the animal world. That is why a limit on fish catch has been set, and other similar restrictions have been introduced.

  • — In the Atlantic Ocean, mineral extraction takes place (oil, gas, iron ore, sulfur and many others). This leads to gradual pollution of its waters.
  • — The Atlantic Ocean got its name thanks to the ancient Greek myth about Atlas, a mighty titan who holds the firmament on his shoulders.
  • — The famous Bermuda Triangle is located in the Atlantic Ocean.

    Many ships and planes have indeed disappeared in that area, but there are scientific justification these incidents. However, no one knows for sure what actually happened.

Atlantic Ocean: biogeocenosis and environmental problems

regular and accidental discharges; according to the second: their chemical composition and physical state.

Every year, up to 1.5 million tons of oil and petroleum products, a huge amount of various acids and salts, millions of tons, enter the Atlantic Ocean and its seas solids(container, paper, glass, plastic, polyethylene, etc.).

At the bottom, radioactive waste is buried in special containers. Thermal pollution of the Atlantic (especially its northern part) is also significant due to the discharge of hot and warm water from industrial wastewater and thermal power plants. In addition, there is indirect pollution of the ocean, which occurs during the construction of dams and reservoirs.

At the same time, the volume of river flow changes, the solid flow of rivers changes, and the chemical and mechanical composition of suspensions entering the ocean waters changes. 1). In connection with the current situation, a number of scientists from European countries North America are engaged in the study and development of maximum permissible pollution standards and concentrations of certain substances.

The creation of regulations and the development of technical systems for wastewater treatment lead to certain positive results. In the USA, Canada, France and Great Britain, special services have been created and operate to combat the consequences of emergency oil spills. The oil slick is localized along the perimeter with special floating barriers, and then either scooped up or helps the oil lumps settle to the bottom using chemicals. These measures are necessary, as the Atlantic Ocean has the largest tanker loading - 38% of all oil shipments (Indian Ocean - 34%, Pacific Ocean — 28%).

Most oil transportation occurs on international routes off the coast of Western and Southern Europe. For example, the concentration of oil in the North Sea is 0.1-0.5 mg/l, the Gulf Stream zone is up to 1 mg/l. In 1972, the UN held a Conference on Environmental Problems, at which it was decided to conduct research on oil pollution in the World Ocean, including the Atlantic Ocean.

From 175 to 1978, the International Oceanographic Commission and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) organized expeditions by scientists from 25 countries. More than 100 thousand visual observations were carried out, more than 5 thousand were taken.

water and soil samples. The conclusion was that in all areas there is dispersed oil in a meter-thick layer. Problems of ocean protection were also raised in the 1987 report of the International Commission on the Environment (ICE) “Our Common Future”. In recent years, international organizations have initiated the creation of aquatic protected areas: national parks, reserves, nature reserves.

The creation and expansion of national protected areas contributes to the formation and development of public structures protection of aquatic objects. So far there are few of them, but the prospects are encouraging, since the need to establish a special regime for the protection of certain water areas is based on people’s conscious attitude towards the riches of the ocean.

The main criteria for the creation of protected aquatic areas are: the nature and main purpose of the mode of use of this object (absolute withdrawal from economic exploitation in the interests of science and culture) or partial use for recreation, reproduction of natural resources; degree of complexity of the protected object (natural complex as a whole or any of the natural resources); duration of the established restrictive regime.

Currently known in the Atlantic Ocean; nautical national park Everglades (Florida), Jefferson Marine Park, Buck Island Region National Park, where coral flora and fauna are protected. A number of territories in the Mediterranean Sea are being prepared, in particular, the island of Media (Spain), the Cote d'Azur of France is being protected.

It is planned to create aquatic reserves in Great Britain and Denmark. For more than 25 years, the Assate Island National Seashore has existed to protect the barrier reef and its inhabitants. The Cahuanta Reef has been declared a natural monument in Costa Rica. In the countries of South America, they are just beginning to create marine and underwater reserves. In Venezuela, it is planned to establish 5 coastal national parks and 18 reserves. Since 1940, there have been 4 lobster reserves off the coast of South Africa (in Table Bay near Cape Town).

Reserves are being created off Robben Island and in St. Helens Bay. List of used literature: 1. Zirgoffer A Atlantic Ocean and its seas Moscow, 1975 2. Atlantic Ocean (Nature and Natural resources World Ocean) M., 77 3.

Atlantic Ocean (series geography of the World Ocean) L., 84 4. Gorsky N.N.

Economic activities in the Atlantic Ocean

Secrets of the ocean. M., 1968.
Atlantic Ocean: biogeocenosis and environmental problems

Moderator of the site RESURS.KZ

Economic use of the Atlantic Ocean

Among them, maritime transport is of greatest importance, followed by underwater oil and gas production, and only then by fishing and use of biological resources.

On the shores of the Atlantic there are more than 70 coastal countries with a population of over 1.3 billion people. Many transoceanic routes with large volumes of freight and passenger traffic pass through the ocean.

The most significant ports in the world in terms of cargo turnover are located on the coasts of the ocean and its seas.

Already explored mineral resources ocean - are significant (examples are given above). However, oil and gas fields are currently being intensively developed on the shelf of the North and Caribbean Seas, in the Bay of Biscay. Many countries that previously did not have significant reserves of these types of mineral raw materials are now experiencing economic growth due to their production (England, Norway, the Netherlands, Mexico, etc.).

The biological resources of the ocean have been intensively used for a long time.

However, due to overfishing of a number of valuable commercial fish species, in recent years the Atlantic is inferior to the Pacific Ocean in the production of fish and seafood.

Intensive human economic activity in the Atlantic Ocean and its seas causes a noticeable deterioration natural environment- both in the ocean (water and air pollution, decrease in stocks of commercial fish species), and on the coasts.

Economic use of the Atlantic Ocean Wikipedia
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HELP!types economic activity in the Atlantic Ocean

Answers:

The Atlantic Ocean represents all types of human economic activity in marine areas.

Among them, maritime transport is of greatest importance, followed by underwater oil and gas production, and only then by fishing and use of biological resources. On the shores of the Atlantic there are more than 70 coastal countries with a population of over 1.3 billion people. Many transoceanic routes with large volumes of freight and passenger traffic pass through the ocean. The most significant ports in the world in terms of cargo turnover are located on the coasts of the ocean and its seas. The already explored mineral resources of the ocean are significant (examples are given above).

However, oil and gas fields are currently being intensively developed on the shelf of the North and Caribbean Seas, in the Bay of Biscay.

Question: HELP!types of economic activities in the Atlantic Ocean

Many countries that previously did not have significant reserves of these types of mineral raw materials are now experiencing economic growth due to their production (England, Norway, the Netherlands, Mexico, etc.). The biological resources of the ocean have been intensively used for a long time.

However, due to overfishing of a number of valuable commercial fish species, in recent years the Atlantic is inferior to the Pacific Ocean in the production of fish and seafood. Intensive human economic activity in the Atlantic Ocean and its seas causes a noticeable deterioration of the natural environment - both in the ocean (water and air pollution, decrease in stocks of commercial fish species) and on the coasts.

In particular, recreational conditions on the ocean shores are deteriorating. In order to prevent further and reduce existing pollution of the natural environment of the Atlantic Ocean, scientific recommendations are being developed and international agreements are being concluded on rational use ocean resources.

Detailed solution to paragraph § 16 on geography for 7th grade students, authors Korinskaya V.A., Dushina I.V., Shchenev V.A. 2017

Questions and assignments.

1. What influence does its geographical location and size have on the nature of the Atlantic Ocean?

A gigantic mountain range stretches across the entire Atlantic. In one place it comes to the surface - this is the island of Iceland. The ridge divides the ocean floor into two almost equal parts. Vast shelves adjoin the coasts of Europe and North America. The Atlantic Ocean lies in all climate zones. The widest part of the ocean lies in tropical and temperate latitudes. Trade winds and westerly winds of temperate latitudes blow in these latitudes. In winter, storms often occur in temperate latitudes; in the Southern Hemisphere, they rage in all seasons of the year. Temperature surface waters lower than in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. This is explained by the cooling influence of water and ice carried out from the Arctic Ocean and Antarctica, as well as intense mixing of water masses. Noticeable differences between water and air temperatures in several areas of the Atlantic cause the formation of strong fogs. The salinity of water masses in some areas of the ocean is higher than average, since a significant part of the evaporated moisture, due to the relative narrowness of the ocean, is transported by winds to neighboring continents. Currents in the Atlantic have a meridional rather than latitudinal direction. The reasons for this are the large elongation of the ocean from north to south and the outline of the coastline. Currents in the Atlantic more actively transport input masses, and with them heat and cold, from one latitude to another. The ocean is characterized by numerous icebergs and floating sea ice.

2. Identify natural complexes in the Atlantic Ocean in which latitudinal zoning is manifested, and complexes formed under the influence of land. Explain their features.

The Atlantic Ocean has almost all natural zones. Within them there are natural complexes of seas and bays (Mediterranean, Northern, Baltic and other seas). By their nature they differ from the complexes of the open ocean. In the northern subtropical zone there is the Sargasso Sea, unique in its nature - a sea without shores. Its boundaries are formed by currents. The waters of this sea have high salinity (up to 37%) and temperature.

3. Write a description of the nature of the Mediterranean Sea.

The land adjacent to the shores of the Mediterranean Sea in Eurasia and Africa is distinguished by the unity of natural and cultural landscapes. This is the monotony of nature and conditions of economic activity around one of the largest seas The land was noted by geographers a very long time ago and gave rise to the introduction of the geographical concept of “Mediterranean”, or “Middle-earth”. The peculiarities and originality of the natural conditions of the Mediterranean are determined primarily by the subtropical climate with dry summers and wet winters. Nowhere else on Earth is this type of climate so widespread and so pronounced as on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, which is why it is called Mediterranean. Climate features determine the uniqueness of the entire natural complex. They determine the nature of runoff and hydrological conditions, the course of soil-forming processes and the formation of a special genetic type of brown soils. A special type of vegetation with clear features of adaptation to summer dryness is also associated with the Mediterranean climate. The Mediterranean Sea cuts into the land between the continents of Europe, Africa and Asia. In the northeast, the Mediterranean Sea is connected by the Dardanelles Strait with the waters of the Sea of ​​Marmara, then through the Bosporus Strait with the Black Sea. In the southeast it connects to the Red Sea through the Suez Canal. total area The Mediterranean Sea is 2.5 million square kilometers, the volume of water is 3.8 million cubic meters. km. The Mediterranean Sea has an average depth of 1,541 meters, and the deepest point is at 5,121 meters. The coastline of the Mediterranean Sea is mainly leveled on mountainous shores, and on low shores it is of the lagoon-estuary type. The largest bays of the Mediterranean Sea: Taranto, Lyon, Valencia, Genoa, Sidra and Gabes. Most large islands: Sicily, Corsica, Balearic Islands, Sardinia, Crete and Cyprus. Flow into the Mediterranean Sea big rivers: Tiber, Nile, Ebro, Po and Rhone. The total annual flow is approximately 430 cubic kilometers. The Mediterranean Sea has very little phyto- and zooplankton, but a lot of algae, such as peridinea and diatoms. The waters are home to approximately 550 species of fish, including herring, anchovy, mackerel, tuna, mullet, coryphen, bonito and horse mackerel.

4. Which parts of the Atlantic Ocean are the most polluted? Tell me why?

The Atlantic Ocean shelves are rich in oil deposits and other minerals. Thousands of wells have been drilled offshore the Gulf of Mexico and the North Sea. Due to the growth of cities, the development of shipping in many seas and in the ocean itself, a deterioration in natural conditions has recently been observed. The waters and air are polluted, and conditions for recreation on the shores of the ocean and its seas have deteriorated. For example, the North Sea is covered with many kilometers of oil slicks. Off the coast of North America, the oil film is hundreds of kilometers wide. The Mediterranean Sea is one of the most polluted on Earth. The Atlantic is no longer able to clean itself of waste on its own. The fight against pollution in this ocean is an international matter. Treaties have already been concluded that prohibit the dumping of hazardous waste into the ocean.

5. What role does the Atlantic Ocean play in the life of humanity?

Of all the oceans, the Atlantic occupies the most important place in the life of mankind. This happened historically. The most important sea routes pass through the Atlantic. Since time immemorial, the Atlantic Ocean has been a place of intensive fishing and hunting. Whaling in the Bay of Biscay was carried out as early as the 9th–12th centuries. Natural conditions The Atlantic is favorable for the development of life, which is why it is the most productive of all the oceans. Most of the fish catch and production of other marine products occurs in the northern part of the ocean. The Atlantic Ocean shelves are rich in oil and other mineral deposits. Thousands of wells have been drilled offshore the Gulf of Mexico and the North Sea.

6. What is unique about the geographic location of the Arctic Ocean? How does it affect his nature?

The Arctic Ocean is the smallest of the Earth's oceans. It is the shallowest. The ocean is located in the center of the Arctic, which occupies the entire space around the North Pole, including the ocean, adjacent parts of the continents, islands and archipelagos. A significant part of the ocean area is made up of seas, most of which are marginal and only one is internal. There are many islands in the ocean located near the continents. The ocean is surrounded by land on almost all sides, which determines the features of its nature - climate, hydrological regime. The boundaries of the Arctic Ocean run from the Scandinavian Peninsula (62° N), to the Shetland and Faroe Islands, along the Danish, Davis and Bering Channels, through which its waters connect with the waters of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

The ocean coastline is highly dissected; It contains nine seas, which account for half of the total ocean surface. Many separate islands and archipelagos (Greenland, Spitsbergen, Franz Josef Land, Novaya Zemlya).

8. How can we explain that the air over the Arctic Ocean is warmer than over Antarctica?

Although Antarctica receives about 7% more solar heat in summer than the Arctic, the climate in the Arctic is significantly warmer than in the South Polar region. There are several reasons to explain this seemingly strange phenomenon. One of them is the free communication of the Arctic Ocean with the Atlantic Ocean in the vast area between Greenland and the northern tip of Europe. The warm waters of the Atlantic, including the powerful Gulf Stream, freely penetrating under the Arctic ice, transfer a colossal amount of heat to the Arctic, thereby significantly softening its climate. In addition, along with fresh water the largest rivers of Eurasia and North America flowing into the Arctic Ocean, the Arctic all year round receives additional heat, which Antarctica is deprived of. But, perhaps, one of the main reasons for the Antarctic cold is that the continent that exists at the South Pole is the highest of all six on Earth. The average height of the Antarctic continent is more than 2,000 m, while the next highest Eurasia has average height only about 900 m. This fact is explained by the fact that the continental rocks of Antarctica are covered with a thick layer of ice, the average thickness of which is approximately 1,800 m. Whereas in the Central Arctic, the surface height of the ice fields of the Arctic Ocean is a few meters, which practically corresponds to sea level . Due to the difference in altitude alone, Antarctica should be colder than the Arctic by an average of about 13°C, and at the top of the ice dome - by as much as 25–28°C, since the air temperature in the atmosphere decreases by 6.5°C with every kilometer of altitude.

9. What natural complexes are distinguished in the Arctic Ocean? Why?

The Arctic Ocean is located within the northern Arctic natural zone of the World Ocean. The seas of the ocean lie in the northern subpolar zone. 1. The Northern Polar Belt is a unique water complex. During the year, most of the surface is covered with drifting ice. Wind, currents and tides cause the movement of ice, piles of ice are formed - hummocks up to 10–12 m high. This belt is not very suitable for life. Only seals live on its outskirts , walruses, polar bears. 2. The subarctic zone covers parts of the ocean adjacent to the land; their nature is not so harsh. In summer, the water off the coast is free of ice, and is also very desalinated by river waters. In the water areas where warm waters penetrate, there is a lot of plankton and fish.

10. Identify the main types of economic activity in the Atlantic and Arctic oceans.

The Atlantic Ocean represents all types of human economic activity in marine areas. Among them, maritime transport is of greatest importance, followed by underwater oil and gas production, and only then by fishing and use of biological resources. On the shores of the Atlantic there are more than 70 coastal countries with a population of over 1.3 billion people. Many transoceanic routes with large volumes of freight and passenger traffic pass through the ocean. The most significant ports in the world in terms of cargo turnover are located on the coasts of the ocean and its seas. The already explored mineral resources of the ocean are significant (examples are given above). However, oil and gas fields are currently being intensively developed on the shelf of the North and Caribbean Seas, in the Bay of Biscay. Many countries that previously did not have significant reserves of these types of mineral raw materials are now experiencing economic growth due to their production (England, Norway, the Netherlands, Mexico, etc.).

The biological resources of the ocean have been intensively used for a long time. However, due to overfishing of a number of valuable commercial fish species, in recent years the Atlantic is inferior to the Pacific Ocean in the production of fish and seafood. Intensive human economic activity in the Atlantic Ocean and its seas causes a noticeable deterioration of the natural environment - both in the ocean (water and air pollution, reduction in stocks of commercial fish species) and on the coasts. In particular, recreational conditions on the ocean shores are deteriorating. In order to prevent further and reduce existing pollution of the natural environment of the Atlantic Ocean, scientific recommendations are being developed and international agreements are being concluded on the rational use of ocean resources.

The Arctic Ocean is of exceptional importance for the countries whose shores are washed by its waters. The harsh nature of the ocean makes it difficult to search for minerals. But oil deposits have already been explored and natural gas on the shelf of the Kara and Barents seas, off the coast of Alaska and Canada. The biological wealth of the ocean is small. In the Atlantic region they fish and obtain seaweed, and hunt seals. Whale production in the ocean is strictly limited. The development of the Northern Sea Route began only in the 30s. XX century The Northern Sea Route (abbreviated NSR) is the main shipping route in the Arctic, which significantly reduces the distances between European and Far Eastern ports. The NSR plays a huge role in the development of Siberia. Equipment and food are transported to Siberia along this route, and timber and ore are exported. Navigation lasts from 2 to 4 months, and in some areas with the help of icebreakers its duration is longer. To ensure the operation of the Northern Sea Route, special services have been created in our country: polar aviation, a whole network of meteorological stations on the coast and on drifting ice floes.

11. What professions should polar explorers have?

The Arctic Ocean is studied by people who are called by the expressive word “polar explorers”. Belonging to polar explorers is determined not only by profession, but also by geographical area of ​​activity. Despite the fact that a person is armed with powerful technology, working in the Arctic Ocean is difficult and dangerous. Polar explorers are characterized not only by courage and courage, endurance and hard work, but also by high professional skills. Geographer, meteorologist, doctor.

Detailed solution to paragraph § 16 on geography for 7th grade students, authors Korinskaya V.A., Dushina I.V., Shchenev V.A. 2017

Questions and assignments.

1. What influence does its geographical location and size have on the nature of the Atlantic Ocean?

A gigantic mountain range stretches across the entire Atlantic. In one place it comes to the surface - this is the island of Iceland. The ridge divides the ocean floor into two almost equal parts. Vast shelves adjoin the coasts of Europe and North America. The Atlantic Ocean lies in all climate zones. The widest part of the ocean lies in tropical and temperate latitudes. Trade winds and westerly winds of temperate latitudes blow in these latitudes. In winter, storms often occur in temperate latitudes; in the Southern Hemisphere, they rage in all seasons of the year. Surface water temperatures are lower than those in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. This is explained by the cooling influence of water and ice carried out from the Arctic Ocean and Antarctica, as well as intense mixing of water masses. Noticeable differences between water and air temperatures in several areas of the Atlantic cause the formation of strong fogs. The salinity of water masses in some areas of the ocean is higher than average, since a significant part of the evaporated moisture, due to the relative narrowness of the ocean, is transported by winds to neighboring continents. Currents in the Atlantic have a meridional rather than latitudinal direction. The reasons for this are the large elongation of the ocean from north to south and the outline of the coastline. Currents in the Atlantic more actively transport input masses, and with them heat and cold, from one latitude to another. The ocean is characterized by numerous icebergs and floating sea ice.

2. Identify natural complexes in the Atlantic Ocean in which latitudinal zoning is manifested, and complexes formed under the influence of land. Explain their features.

The Atlantic Ocean has almost all natural zones. Within them there are natural complexes of seas and bays (Mediterranean, Northern, Baltic and other seas). By their nature they differ from the complexes of the open ocean. In the northern subtropical zone there is the Sargasso Sea, unique in its nature - a sea without shores. Its boundaries are formed by currents. The waters of this sea have high salinity (up to 37%) and temperature.

3. Write a description of the nature of the Mediterranean Sea.

The land adjacent to the shores of the Mediterranean Sea in Eurasia and Africa is distinguished by the unity of natural and cultural landscapes. This uniformity of nature and conditions of economic activity around one of the largest seas on Earth was noted by geographers a very long time ago and gave rise to the introduction of the geographical concept of “Mediterranean”, or “Middle-earth”. The peculiarities and originality of the natural conditions of the Mediterranean are determined primarily by the subtropical climate with dry summers and wet winters. Nowhere else on Earth is this type of climate so widespread and so pronounced as on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, which is why it is called Mediterranean. Climate features determine the uniqueness of the entire natural complex. They determine the nature of runoff and hydrological conditions, the course of soil-forming processes and the formation of a special genetic type of brown soils. A special type of vegetation with clear features of adaptation to summer dryness is also associated with the Mediterranean climate. The Mediterranean Sea cuts into the land between the continents of Europe, Africa and Asia. In the northeast, the Mediterranean Sea is connected by the Dardanelles Strait with the waters of the Sea of ​​Marmara, then through the Bosporus Strait with the Black Sea. In the southeast it connects to the Red Sea through the Suez Canal. The total area of ​​the Mediterranean Sea is 2.5 million square kilometers, the volume of water is 3.8 million cubic meters. km. The Mediterranean Sea has an average depth of 1,541 meters, and the deepest point is at 5,121 meters. The coastline of the Mediterranean Sea is mainly leveled on mountainous shores, and on low shores it is of the lagoon-estuary type. The largest bays of the Mediterranean Sea: Taranto, Lyon, Valencia, Genoa, Sidra and Gabes. The largest islands: Sicily, Corsica, Balearic Islands, Sardinia, Crete and Cyprus. Large rivers flow into the Mediterranean Sea: Tiber, Nile, Ebro, Po and Rhone. The total annual flow is approximately 430 cubic kilometers. The Mediterranean Sea has very little phyto- and zooplankton, but a lot of algae, such as peridinea and diatoms. The waters are home to approximately 550 species of fish, including herring, anchovy, mackerel, tuna, mullet, coryphen, bonito and horse mackerel.

4. Which parts of the Atlantic Ocean are the most polluted? Tell me why?

The Atlantic Ocean shelves are rich in oil deposits and other minerals. Thousands of wells have been drilled offshore the Gulf of Mexico and the North Sea. Due to the growth of cities, the development of shipping in many seas and in the ocean itself, a deterioration in natural conditions has recently been observed. The waters and air are polluted, and conditions for recreation on the shores of the ocean and its seas have deteriorated. For example, the North Sea is covered with many kilometers of oil slicks. Off the coast of North America, the oil film is hundreds of kilometers wide. The Mediterranean Sea is one of the most polluted on Earth. The Atlantic is no longer able to clean itself of waste on its own. The fight against pollution in this ocean is an international matter. Treaties have already been concluded that prohibit the dumping of hazardous waste into the ocean.

5. What role does the Atlantic Ocean play in the life of humanity?

Of all the oceans, the Atlantic occupies the most important place in the life of mankind. This happened historically. The most important sea routes pass through the Atlantic. Since time immemorial, the Atlantic Ocean has been a place of intensive fishing and hunting. Whaling in the Bay of Biscay was carried out as early as the 9th–12th centuries. The natural conditions of the Atlantic are favorable for the development of life, therefore it is the most productive of all the oceans. Most of the fish catch and production of other marine products occurs in the northern part of the ocean. The Atlantic Ocean shelves are rich in oil and other mineral deposits. Thousands of wells have been drilled offshore the Gulf of Mexico and the North Sea.

6. What is unique about the geographic location of the Arctic Ocean? How does it affect his nature?

The Arctic Ocean is the smallest of the Earth's oceans. It is the shallowest. The ocean is located in the center of the Arctic, which occupies the entire space around the North Pole, including the ocean, adjacent parts of the continents, islands and archipelagos. A significant part of the ocean area is made up of seas, most of which are marginal and only one is internal. There are many islands in the ocean located near the continents. The ocean is surrounded by land on almost all sides, which determines the features of its nature - climate, hydrological regime. The boundaries of the Arctic Ocean run from the Scandinavian Peninsula (62° N), to the Shetland and Faroe Islands, along the Danish, Davis and Bering Channels, through which its waters connect with the waters of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

The ocean coastline is highly dissected; It contains nine seas, which account for half of the total ocean surface. Many separate islands and archipelagos (Greenland, Spitsbergen, Franz Josef Land, Novaya Zemlya).

8. How can we explain that the air over the Arctic Ocean is warmer than over Antarctica?

Although Antarctica receives about 7% more solar heat in the summer than the Arctic, the Arctic's climate is significantly warmer than the South Polar region. There are several reasons to explain this seemingly strange phenomenon. One of them is the free communication of the Arctic Ocean with the Atlantic Ocean in the vast area between Greenland and the northern tip of Europe. The warm waters of the Atlantic, including the powerful Gulf Stream, freely penetrating under the Arctic ice, transfer a colossal amount of heat to the Arctic, thereby significantly softening its climate. In addition, together with the fresh water of the largest rivers of Eurasia and North America flowing into the Arctic Ocean, the Arctic receives an additional amount of heat all year round, which the Antarctic is deprived of. But, perhaps, one of the main reasons for the Antarctic cold is that the continent that exists at the South Pole is the highest of all six on Earth. The average height of the Antarctic continent is more than 2,000 m, while the next highest Eurasia has an average height of only about 900 m. This fact is explained by the fact that the continental rocks of Antarctica are covered with a thick layer of ice, the average thickness of which is approximately 1,800 m. Then how in the Central Arctic the height of the surface of the ice fields of the Arctic Ocean is a few meters, which practically corresponds to sea level. Due to the difference in altitude alone, Antarctica should be colder than the Arctic by an average of about 13°C, and at the top of the ice dome - by as much as 25–28°C, since the air temperature in the atmosphere decreases by 6.5°C with every kilometer of altitude.

9. What natural complexes are distinguished in the Arctic Ocean? Why?

The Arctic Ocean is located within the northern Arctic natural zone of the World Ocean. The seas of the ocean lie in the northern subpolar zone. 1. The Northern Polar Belt is a unique water complex. During the year, most of the surface is covered with drifting ice. Wind, currents and tides cause the movement of ice, piles of ice are formed - hummocks up to 10–12 m high. This belt is not very suitable for life. Only seals live on its outskirts , walruses, polar bears. 2. The subarctic zone covers parts of the ocean adjacent to the land; their nature is not so harsh. In summer, the water off the coast is free of ice, and is also very desalinated by river waters. In the water areas where warm waters penetrate, there is a lot of plankton and fish.

10. Identify the main types of economic activity in the Atlantic and Arctic oceans.

The Atlantic Ocean represents all types of human economic activity in marine areas. Among them, maritime transport is of greatest importance, followed by underwater oil and gas production, and only then by fishing and use of biological resources. On the shores of the Atlantic there are more than 70 coastal countries with a population of over 1.3 billion people. Many transoceanic routes with large volumes of freight and passenger traffic pass through the ocean. The most significant ports in the world in terms of cargo turnover are located on the coasts of the ocean and its seas. The already explored mineral resources of the ocean are significant (examples are given above). However, oil and gas fields are currently being intensively developed on the shelf of the North and Caribbean Seas, in the Bay of Biscay. Many countries that previously did not have significant reserves of these types of mineral raw materials are now experiencing economic growth due to their production (England, Norway, the Netherlands, Mexico, etc.).

The biological resources of the ocean have been intensively used for a long time. However, due to overfishing of a number of valuable commercial fish species, in recent years the Atlantic is inferior to the Pacific Ocean in the production of fish and seafood. Intensive human economic activity in the Atlantic Ocean and its seas causes a noticeable deterioration of the natural environment - both in the ocean (water and air pollution, reduction in stocks of commercial fish species) and on the coasts. In particular, recreational conditions on the ocean shores are deteriorating. In order to prevent further and reduce existing pollution of the natural environment of the Atlantic Ocean, scientific recommendations are being developed and international agreements are being concluded on the rational use of ocean resources.

The Arctic Ocean is of exceptional importance for the countries whose shores are washed by its waters. The harsh nature of the ocean makes it difficult to search for minerals. But oil and natural gas deposits have already been explored on the shelf of the Kara and Barents Seas, off the coast of Alaska and Canada. The biological wealth of the ocean is small. In the Atlantic region they fish and obtain seaweed, and hunt seals. Whale production in the ocean is strictly limited. The development of the Northern Sea Route began only in the 30s. XX century The Northern Sea Route (abbreviated NSR) is the main shipping route in the Arctic, which significantly reduces the distances between European and Far Eastern ports. The NSR plays a huge role in the development of Siberia. Equipment and food are transported to Siberia along this route, and timber and ore are exported. Navigation lasts from 2 to 4 months, and in some areas with the help of icebreakers its duration is longer. To ensure the operation of the Northern Sea Route, special services have been created in our country: polar aviation, a whole network of meteorological stations on the coast and on drifting ice floes.

11. What professions should polar explorers have?

The Arctic Ocean is studied by people who are called by the expressive word “polar explorers”. Belonging to polar explorers is determined not only by profession, but also by geographical area of ​​activity. Despite the fact that a person is armed with powerful technology, working in the Arctic Ocean is difficult and dangerous. Polar explorers are characterized not only by courage and courage, endurance and hard work, but also by high professional skills. Geographer, meteorologist, doctor.

The Atlantic Ocean stretches from north to south for 16 thousand km from subarctic to Antarctic latitudes. The ocean is wide in the northern and southern parts, narrowing in equatorial latitudes to 2900 km. In the north it communicates with the Arctic Ocean, and in the south it is widely connected with the Pacific and Indian Oceans. It is limited by the shores of North and South America in the west, Europe and Africa in the east, and Antarctica in the south.

The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest among the planet's oceans. The ocean coastline in the northern hemisphere is heavily dissected by numerous peninsulas and bays. There are many islands near the continents, internal and marginal seas. The Atlantic includes 13 seas, which occupy 11% of its area.

Geographical location of the Atlantic Ocean Wikipedia
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Name the objects of geographical location Atlantic Ocean Cape Galinas Guiana Current Mount Aconcagua 5. Lake Titicaca 6.

Amazon River 7. Orinoco River 8. La Plata Bay 9. Cape Horn.

Picture 3 from the presentation “Children’s trip to famous places of the world”

Dimensions: 342 x 372 pixels, format: jpg. To download a free picture for the lesson, right-click on the image and click “Save image as...”. To display pictures in the lesson, you can also download for free the presentation “Children’s on famous places of the world.ppt” in its entirety with all the pictures in a zip archive. The archive size is 638 KB.

“Sea Ocean” - THE ANIMAL WORLD OF THE SEAS AND OCEANS IS VERY DIVERSE Mammals, shellfish, fish, and viruses live there. Seas and oceans. 1,000,000 million! For example, the largest mammal on earth lives... in the sea! THERE ARE MOUNTAINS UNDERWATER! THE SEA HEALS We go to the sea to swim and relax.

“Exploring the World Ocean” - At the bottom of the ocean there are many remains of ancient organisms that are millions of years old. Life is possible on our planet without light and oxygen. Therefore, we decided to sail on: Why is life possible on other planets? The submariners answered... We are attracted to the ocean because: Can similar organisms live on other planets?

“Sea Ocean” - Mark it on the outline map. Black, Mediterranean, Norwegian, Northern Baltic Caribbean. § 24 teach; page 73 of the textbook: tasks 1,2,5 (written in a notebook), task 4 in a contour map. Parts of the World Ocean. Barents Kara Laptev Chukotka East Siberian and other peninsulas. Bays: Bengal, Guinea, Hudson, Mexico, Great Australian.

“The World Ocean and Parts of the World Ocean” - Based on the properties of water, characteristics of currents, types of organisms. A bay is a part of the ocean, sea, protruding into the land. Africa 30.3 million sq. km. Seas. Working with a map (name geographical objects). North America 24.2 million sq. km. Note to the erudite. The continent is a huge piece of land, washed on all sides by water.

“Atlantic Ocean” - A giant ridge stretches across the entire Atlantic, almost along the meridian. Economically developed countries lie on both sides of the ocean. Vast shelves adjoin the coasts of Europe and North America. Atlantic Ocean. Lesson plan. Geographical position. Features of the nature of the ocean. The Atlantic reaches its greatest width in temperate latitudes and narrows towards the equator.

“The World Ocean Lesson” - There is water all around, but drinking is a problem. River. Baikal is the deepest lake in the world. Everything in the world reflects... Waterfalls. A stream of snow falling from the top of a mountain. Rockfall is different. Annotation. We are accustomed to the fact that water is always our companion! Checking homework. This lesson corresponds to the psychological and age characteristics of children.

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In the Atlantic Ocean, all zonal complexes are distinguished - natural zones, except for the North Polar. The waters of the northern subpolar zone are rich in life. It is especially developed on the shelves off the coasts of Iceland, Greenland and the Labrador Peninsula. The temperate zone is characterized by intense interaction between cold and warm waters; its waters are the most productive areas of the Atlantic. Vast areas of warm waters of two subtropical, two tropical and equatorial zones are less productive than the waters of the northern temperate zone.

In the northern subtropical zone, a special natural aquatic complex of the Sargasso Sea stands out.

It is characterized by high water salinity (up to 37.5 ppm) and low bioproductivity. In the clear, pure blue water, brown algae grow - sargassum, which gives the name to the water area.

In the temperate zone of the southern hemisphere, as in the northern, natural complexes are rich in life in areas where waters with different temperatures and water densities mix. The sub-Antarctic and Antarctic belts are characterized by seasonal and permanent ice phenomena, which affect the composition of the fauna (krill, cetaceans, nototheniid fish).

Natural complexes of the Atlantic Ocean Wikipedia
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North Atlantic Ocean

Borders and coastline. The Atlantic Ocean is divided into northern and southern parts, the border between which is conventionally drawn along the equator. From an oceanographic point of view, however, the southern part of the ocean should include the equatorial countercurrent, located at 5-8? north latitude The northern border is usually drawn along the Arctic Circle. In some places this boundary is marked by underwater ridges.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the Atlantic Ocean has a highly indented coastline. Its relatively narrow northern part is connected to the Arctic Ocean by three narrow straits. In the northeast, the 360 ​​km wide Davis Strait (at the latitude of the Arctic Circle) connects it with the Baffin Sea, which belongs to the Arctic Ocean. In the central part, between Greenland and Iceland, there is the Denmark Strait, at its narrowest point only 287 km wide. Finally, in the northeast, between Iceland and Norway, there is the Norwegian Sea, approx. 1220 km. In the east, two water areas protruding deeply into the land are separated from the Atlantic Ocean. The more northern of them begins with the North Sea, which to the east passes into the Baltic Sea with the Gulf of Bothnia and the Gulf of Finland. To the south there is a system of inland seas - the Mediterranean and the Black - with a total length of approx. 4000 km. In the Strait of Gibraltar, which connects the ocean with the Mediterranean Sea, there are two oppositely directed currents, one below the other. The current moving from the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean occupies a lower position, since Mediterranean waters, due to more intense evaporation from the surface, are characterized by greater salinity and, consequently, greater density.

In the tropical zone in the southwest of the North Atlantic are the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, connected to the ocean by the Strait of Florida. The coast of North America is indented by small bays (Pamlico, Barnegat, Chesapeake, Delaware and Long Island Sound); to the northwest are the Bays of Fundy and St. Lawrence, the Strait of Belle Isle, Hudson Strait and Hudson Bay.

Islands. The largest islands are concentrated in the northern part of the ocean; these are the British Isles, Iceland, Newfoundland, Cuba, Haiti (Hispaniola) and Puerto Rico. On the eastern edge of the Atlantic Ocean there are several groups of small islands - the Azores, Canary Islands, and Cape Verde. Similar groups exist in the western part of the ocean. Examples include the Bahamas, Florida Keys and Lesser Antilles. The Greater and Lesser Antilles archipelagos form an island arc surrounding the eastern Caribbean Sea. In the Pacific Ocean, such island arcs are characteristic of areas of crustal deformation. Deep-sea trenches are located along the convex side of the arc.

Bottom relief. The Atlantic Ocean basin is bordered by a shelf, the width of which varies. The shelf is cut through by deep gorges - the so-called. underwater canyons. Their origin is still controversial. One theory is that the canyons were cut by rivers when sea levels were lower than they are today. Another theory connects their formation with the activity of turbidity currents. It has been suggested that turbidity currents are the main agent responsible for the deposition of sediment on the ocean floor and that they are the ones that cut submarine canyons.

The bottom of the North Atlantic Ocean has a complex, rugged topography formed by a combination of underwater ridges, hills, basins and gorges. Most of the ocean floor, from a depth of about 60 m to several kilometers, is covered with thin, silty sediments of a dark blue or bluish-green color. Relatively small area occupy rocky outcrops and areas of gravel-pebble and sandy deposits, as well as deep-sea red clays.

Telephone and telegraph cables were laid on the shelf in the North Atlantic Ocean to connect North America with Northwestern Europe. Here, the area of ​​the North Atlantic shelf is home to industrial fishing areas that are among the most productive in the world.

In the central part of the Atlantic Ocean, almost repeating the contours of the coastlines, there is a huge underwater mountain range approx. 16 thousand km, known as the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. This ridge divides the ocean into two approximately equal parts. Most of the peaks of this underwater ridge do not reach the ocean surface and are located at a depth of at least 1.5 km. Some of the highest peaks rise above ocean level and form the islands - the Azores in the North Atlantic and Tristan da Cunha - in the South. In the south, the ridge skirts the coast of Africa and continues further north into the Indian Ocean.

A rift zone stretches along the axis of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

Currents. Surface currents in the North Atlantic Ocean move clockwise. The main elements of this large system are the northward warm Gulf Stream, as well as the North Atlantic, Canary and North Trade Wind (Equatorial) Currents. The Gulf Stream follows from the Strait of Florida and the island. Cuba north along the US coast and approximately 40? north latitude deviates to the northeast, changing its name to the North Atlantic Current. This current is divided into two branches, one of which follows northeast along the coast of Norway and further into the Arctic Ocean. It is thanks to it that the climate of Norway and all of northwestern Europe is much warmer than would be expected at latitudes corresponding to the area extending from Nova Scotia to southern Greenland. The second branch turns south and further southwest along the coast of Africa, forming the cold Canary Current. This current moves southwest and joins the North Trade Wind Current, which heads west towards the West Indies, where it merges with the Gulf Stream. To the north of the North Trade Wind Current there is an area of ​​stagnant waters, teeming with algae, known as the Sargasso Sea. The cold Labrador Current runs along the North Atlantic coast of North America from north to south, coming from Baffin Bay and the Labrador Sea and cooling the shores of New England.

South Atlantic Ocean

Borders and coastline. Some experts refer to the Atlantic Ocean in the south all the water space up to the Antarctic ice sheet; others take the southern limit of the Atlantic to be an imaginary line connecting Cape Horn in South America with the Cape of Good Hope in Africa. The coastline in the southern part of the Atlantic Ocean is much less indented than in the northern part; there are also no inland seas through which the influence of the ocean could penetrate deep into the continents of Africa and South America. The only large bay on the African coast is the Gulf of Guinea. On the coast of South America, large bays are also few in number. The southernmost tip of this continent, Tierra del Fuego, has an indented coastline bordered by numerous small islands.

There are no large islands in the southern part of the Atlantic Ocean, but there are isolated isolated islands, such as Fernando de Noronha, Ascension, Sao Paulo, St. Helena, the Tristan da Cunha archipelago, and in the extreme south - Bouvet, South Georgia , South Sandwich, South Orkney, Falkland Islands.

Bottom relief. In addition to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, there are two main submarine mountain ranges in the South Atlantic. The whale ridge extends from the southwestern tip of Angola to the island. Tristan da Cunha, where it joins the Mid-Atlantic. The Rio de Janeiro Ridge stretches from the Tristan da Cunha Islands to the city of Rio de Janeiro and consists of groups of individual underwater hills.

Currents. The major current systems in the South Atlantic Ocean move counterclockwise. The South Trade Wind Current is directed to the west. At the ledge east coast In Brazil, it is divided into two branches: the northern one carries water along the northern coast of South America to the Caribbean, and the southern one, the warm Brazilian Current, moves south along the coast of Brazil and joins the Western Winds Current, or Antarctic Current, which heads east and then to northeast. Part of this cold current separates and carries its waters north along the African coast, forming the cold Benguela Current; the latter eventually joins the South Trade Wind Current. The warm Guinea Current moves south along the coast of Northwest Africa into the Gulf of Guinea.

Due to the high solar activity observed in recent years off the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, the frequency of tropical hurricanes has increased significantly. In 2005, three hurricanes hit the southern coast of the United States - Katrina, Rita and Emily, the first of which caused enormous damage to the city of New Orleans.

The surface current system of the Atlantic Ocean in general outline repeats their circulation in the Pacific Ocean.

In sub-equatorial latitudes there are two trade wind currents - the Northern Trade Wind and the Southern Trade Wind, moving from east to west. Between them, the Intertrade Countercurrent moves east. The Northern Trade Wind Current passes near 20° N latitude. and off the coast of North America it gradually deviates to the north. The Southern Trade Wind Current, passing south of the equator from the coast of Africa to the west, reaches the eastern protrusion of the South American continent and at Cape Cabo Branco it divides into two branches running along the coast of South America. Its northern branch (Guiana Current) reaches the Gulf of Mexico and, together with the North Trade Wind Current, takes part in the formation of the system of warm currents of the North Atlantic. The southern branch (Brazilian Current) reaches 40° S, where it meets a branch of the circumpolar current of the Western Winds - the cold Falkland Current. Another branch of the Western Winds current, carrying relatively cold waters to the north, enters the Atlantic Ocean off the southwestern coast of Africa. This Benguela Current is an analogue of the Peruvian Current of the Pacific Ocean. Its influence can be traced almost to the equator, where it flows into the South Trade Wind Current, closing the southern Atlantic gyre and significantly reducing the temperature of surface waters off the coast of Africa.

The overall pattern of surface currents in the North Atlantic is much more complex than in the southern part of the ocean, and also differs significantly from the system of currents in the northern part of the Pacific Ocean.

A branch of the North Trade Wind Current, strengthened by the Guiana Current, penetrates through the Caribbean Sea and the Yucatan Strait into the Gulf of Mexico, causing a significant increase in water levels there compared to the ocean. As a result, a powerful waste current arises, which, rounding Cuba, emerges through the Strait of Florida into the ocean called the Gulf Stream (“stream from the gulf”). This is how the greatest system of warm surface currents in the World Ocean arises off the southeastern coast of North America.

Gulf Stream at 30°N. and 79°W merges with the warm Antilles Current, which is a continuation of the North Trade Wind Current. Next, the Gulf Stream passes along the edge of the continental shelf to approximately 36°N. At Cape Hatteras, deviating under the influence of the Earth's rotation, it turns east, skirting the edge of the Great Newfoundland Bank, and goes to the shores of Europe under the name of the North Atlantic Current, or “Gulf Stream Drift”.

When leaving the Strait of Florida, the width of the Gulf Stream reaches 75 km, depth - 700 m, and current speed - from 6 to 30 km/h. The average surface water temperature is 26 °C. After merging with the Antilles Current, the width of the Gulf Stream increases 3 times, and the water flow is 82 million m3/s, i.e. 60 times the flow of all rivers on the globe.

North Atlantic Current at 50°N. and 20°W is divided into three branches. The northern (Irminger Current) is directed towards the southern and western shores Iceland, and then goes around the southern coast of Greenland. The main middle branch continues to move northeast, towards the British Isles and the Scandinavian Peninsula, and goes into the Arctic Ocean called the Norwegian Current. The width of its stream north of British Isles reaches 185 km, depth - 500 m, current speed - from 9 to 12 km per day. The surface water temperature is 7... 8 °C in winter and 11... 13 °C in summer, which is on average 10 °C higher than at the same latitude in the western part of the ocean. The third, southern, branch penetrates the Bay of Biscay and continues south along the Iberian Peninsula and the northeastern coast of Africa in the form of the cold Canary Current. Flowing into the North Trade Wind Current, it closes the subtropical gyre of the North Atlantic.

The northwestern part of the Atlantic Ocean is mainly influenced by cold waters coming from the Arctic, and different hydrological conditions develop there. In the area of ​​the island of Newfoundland, the cold waters of the Labrador Current move towards the Gulf Stream, pushing the warm waters of the Gulf Stream away from the northeastern coast of North America. In winter, the waters of the Labrador Current are 5...8 °C colder than the Gulf Stream; all year round their temperature does not exceed 10 °C; they form a so-called “cold wall”. The convergence of warm and cold waters promotes the development of microorganisms in the upper layer of water and, consequently, the abundance of fish. The Great Newfoundland Bank is especially famous in this regard, where cod, herring, and salmon are caught.

To approximately 43°N. The Labrador Current carries icebergs and sea ice, which, combined with the fogs characteristic of this part of the ocean, pose a great danger to shipping. A tragic illustration is the disaster of the Titanic, which sank in 1912 800 km southeast of Newfoundland.

The water temperature on the surface of the Atlantic Ocean, as in the Pacific, is generally lower in the southern hemisphere than in the northern. Even at 60° N latitude. (with the exception of the northwestern regions), the temperature of surface waters fluctuates throughout the year from 6 to 10 °C. In the southern hemisphere at the same latitude it is close to 0 °C and in the eastern part it is lower than in the western.

The warmest surface waters of the Atlantic (26...28 °C) are confined to the zone between the equator and the Northern Tropic. But even these maximum values ​​do not reach the values ​​observed at the same latitudes in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

The salinity of the surface waters of the Atlantic Ocean is much more varied than in other oceans. The highest values ​​(36-37% o - the maximum value for the open part of the World Ocean) are characteristic of subtropical regions with low annual precipitation and strong evaporation. High salinity is also associated with the influx of salt water from the Mediterranean Sea through the shallow Strait of Gibraltar. On the other hand, large areas of the water surface have average oceanic and even low salinity. This is due to large amounts of atmospheric precipitation (in equatorial regions) and the desalination effect of large rivers (Amazon, La Plata, Orinoco, Congo, etc.). In high latitudes, a decrease in salinity to 32-34% o, especially in summer, is explained by the melting of icebergs and floating sea ice.

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The second largest Atlantic Ocean is located mostly in the Western Hemisphere and is limited by the shores of North and South America, Europe, Africa and Antarctica. Its border with Indian Ocean Conventionally, it is carried out along the meridian of Cape Agulhas (about 20° E). The ocean coastline in the northern hemisphere is heavily dissected by peninsulas and bays; in the southern hemisphere, the shores are slightly indented. An important feature of the ocean is the presence of Mediterranean seas, extending thousands of kilometers into the continents (Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean and Mediterranean seas). There are 13 seas in the ocean; they occupy 11% of its area.

Bottom relief
A narrow continental shelf stretches along the coast, but the shelf area of ​​the Atlantic Ocean is larger than that of the Pacific Ocean. The continental slope is steep, indented by submarine canyons. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge stretches across the entire ocean almost in the middle, cut by transverse faults into separate segments. The height of the ridge is 2 km. In its axial part there is a deep rift valley, to which the active volcanoes. On both sides of the ridge there are basins with a relatively flat bottom, separated by uplifts.

Mineral resources
The North Sea shelf, in the Venezuelan, Mexican, Guinea and Biscay bays are rich in oil. Phosphorite deposits were discovered in the area of ​​rising deep waters off the tropical coast of North Africa. Placer tin was discovered near the coasts of Great Britain and Florida, and diamonds were discovered off the coast of South-West Africa. Reserves of ferromanganese nodules have been found off the coast of Newfoundland and Florida. IN Gulf of Mexico sulfur is being mined.

Climate
The Atlantic Ocean is located in all climate zones of the Earth.

Over the ocean, 4 main centers of atmospheric action are formed - the Icelandic and Antarctic lows, the North Atlantic and South Atlantic highs, with which westerly winds of moderate latitudes are associated (the strongest in the Southern Hemisphere - the “roaring forties”). The northern tropical hurricanes are characterized by the so-called West Indian hurricanes. Numerous icebergs and floating sea ice from the Arctic Ocean and off the coast of Antarctica - distinguishing feature ocean

Currents
Due to the strong elongation of the Atlantic Ocean from north to south, meridional water flows are more developed in it than latitudinal ones. In the Atlantic, as in the Pacific, two rings of surface currents are formed, but meridional currents predominate here. In the Northern Hemisphere, the warm Northern Trade Wind, Gulf Stream, North Atlantic and cold Canary Currents form a clockwise movement of water. In the Southern Hemisphere, the warm Southern Trade Wind, Brazilian and cold currents of the Western Winds and Benguela rotate the waters counterclockwise.

Currents have a significant influence on the temperature distribution of surface waters. The northern half of the ocean is warmer than the southern half and the temperature difference reaches 6 °C.

The average temperature of surface waters is slightly lower (16.5 °C) than in the Pacific Ocean. The cooling effect is exerted by the waters and ice of the Arctic Ocean and Antarctica. Due to the relative narrowness of the ocean, a significant part of the evaporated moisture is transferred to neighboring continents, so the salinity of surface waters in the Atlantic Ocean is high.

Organic world
The Atlantic Ocean is poorer in species of organisms than the Pacific Ocean (only 200 thousand species of plants and animals). However, its productivity is extremely high. More varied organic world tropical regions, but by the number of organisms (not species) and biomass, temperate regions are distinguished. A significant mass of plankton consists of crustaceans, among them krill, the main food product of baleen whales, is especially abundant off the coast of Antarctica. In the tropical zone, bottom vegetation consists of green and red algae; in extratropical areas, brown algae predominate in the northern part and red algae in the southern part. The Atlantic Ocean produces 2/5 of the world's fish catch (herring, hake, sea bass, tuna, cod).

Natural complexes
In the Atlantic Ocean, all natural zones are distinguished, except for the North Polar. The waters of the northern subpolar zone are rich in life. It is especially developed on the shelves off the coast of Greenland and Labrador. The temperate zone is characterized by intense interaction between cold and warm waters, and they are also rich in organisms. These are the most fishy areas of the Atlantic. Vast areas of warm waters of two subtropical, two tropical and equatorial zones are less productive than the waters of the northern temperate zone. In the northern subtropical zone, a special natural aquatic complex of the Sargasso Sea stands out. It is characterized by high water salinity - up to 37.5 ‰ and low productivity. The water is clear, pure blue. Brown algae, Sargassum, which gives the name to the water area, grows in it.

In the temperate zone of the Southern Hemisphere, there are (as in the northern) complexes where waters of different temperatures and densities mix. These areas are rich in life. The complexes of the subantarctic and antarctic belts are characterized by seasonal ice phenomena.

Lecture added 03/07/2014 at 14:34:40

1.) Between what continents is the ocean located, what other oceans is it connected to,

2.) How is the ocean located relative to the equator, tropics, polar circles, prime median

3.In all climate zones

2. The Atlantic Ocean is divided into northern and southern parts, the border between which is conventionally drawn along the equator.

2) The Atlantic Ocean crosses the equator, the northern and southern tropics, crosses a little, s.p. circle, s.p. circle (if you don’t take into account South ocean because some teachers don’t count it), it is crossed by the zero meridian

3) located in all climatic zones except the Arctic, Antarctic and sub-Antarctic in the south (again, excluding the Southern Ocean)

Both tropics cross the ocean
The northern border is usually drawn along the Arctic Circle.
Bordered by the Arctic Ocean along the Antarctic Circle
From the prime meridian - in the west.

1) The Atlantic Ocean is located between Eurasia, America, South America, Africa and from the south touches Antarctica.The Atlantic Ocean is connected to all oceans Pacific (west), Indian (east), southern (south) and northern ice (north) oceans

1.North America, South America, Africa, Eurasia

The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest and youngest ocean on Earth, distinguished by its unique topography and natural features.

The best resorts are located on its shores, and the richest resources are hidden in its depths.

History of the study

Long before our era, the Atlantic was an important trade, economic and military route. The ocean was named after the ancient Greek mythological hero - Atlas. It was first mentioned in the writings of Herodotus.

Christopher Columbus's voyages

Over the course of many centuries, new straits and islands were opened, and disputes were fought over maritime territory and ownership of the islands. But he still discovered the Atlantic, leading the expedition and discovering most of the geographical objects.

Antarctica, and at the same time the southern border of sea waters, was discovered by Russian researchers F.F. Bellingshausen and M.P. Lazarev.

Characteristics of the Atlantic Ocean

The ocean area is 91.6 million km². It, like the Pacific Ocean, washes 5 continents. The volume of water in it is slightly more than a quarter of the World Ocean. It has an interesting elongated shape.

The average depth is 3332 m, the maximum depth is in the Puerto Rico Trench area and is 8742 m.

The maximum water salinity reaches 39% (Mediterranean Sea), in some areas 37%. There are also the most fresh areas with an indicator of 18%.

Geographical position

The Atlantic Ocean washes the shores of Greenland in the north. From the west it touches the eastern coasts of North and South America. In the south there are established borders with the Indian and Pacific oceans.

The waters of the Atlantic and Indian oceans meet here

They are determined along the meridian of Cape Agulhas and Cape Horn, respectively, reaching all the way to the glaciers of Antarctica. In the east, the waters wash Eurasia and Africa.

Currents

Cold currents coming from the Arctic Ocean have a strong influence on water temperature.

Warm currents are trade winds that influence waters near the equator. It is here that the warm Gulf Stream originates, passing through the Caribbean Sea, which makes the climate of the coastal countries of Europe much warmer.

The cold Labrador Current flows along the coast of North America.

Climate and climate zones

The Atlantic Ocean extends to all climate zones. The temperature regime is strongly influenced by westerly winds, trade winds and monsoons in the equator region.

In the tropical and subtropical zones, the average temperature is 20°C; in winter it drops to 10°C. In the tropics, heavy precipitation prevails throughout the year, while in the subtropics it falls to a much greater extent in the summer. Temperatures drop significantly in the Arctic and Antarctic regions.

Inhabitants of the Atlantic Ocean

Among the flora in the Atlantic Ocean, kelp, corals, red and brown algae are widespread.

It is also home to more than 240 species of phytoplankton and countless species of fish, the most prominent representatives which are: tuna, sardines, cod, anchovies, herring, perch (sea bass), halibut, haddock.

Among mammals, you can find several species of whales, the most common being the blue whale. The ocean waters are also inhabited by octopuses, crustaceans, and squids.

The flora and fauna of the ocean is much poorer than that of the Pacific. This is due to their relatively young age and less favorable temperature conditions.

Islands and peninsulas

Some islands were formed as a result of the rise of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge above sea level, such as the Azores and the Tristan da Cunha archipelago.

Tristan da Cunha Island

The most famous and mysterious are Bermuda.

Bermuda

On the territory of the Atlantic Ocean there are: Caribbean, Antilles, Iceland, Malta (state on an island), island. St. Helena - there are 78 of them in total. The Canary Islands, Bahamas, Sicily, Cyprus, Crete and Barbados have become favorite places for tourists to visit.

Straits and seas

The waters of the Atlantic include 16 seas, among which the most famous and largest are: Mediterranean, Caribbean, Sargasso.

Caribbean Sea meets Atlantic Ocean

The Strait of Gibraltar connects the ocean waters with the Mediterranean Sea.

The Strait of Magellan (which runs along Tierra del Fuego and is distinguished by a large number of sharp rocks) and the Drake Passage open into the Pacific Ocean.

Features of nature

The Atlantic Ocean is the youngest on Earth.

A significant part of the waters extends in the tropics and temperate zones, so animal world represented in all its diversity both among mammals and among fish and other sea creatures.

The diversity of plankton species is not great, but only here its biomass per 1 m³ can be so great.

Bottom relief

The main feature of the relief is the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, whose length is more than 18,000 km. For a large extent from both sides of the ridge, the bottom is covered with basins that have a flat bottom.

There are also small underwater volcanoes, some of which are active. The bottom is cut by deep gorges, the origin of which is still not precisely known. However, due to age, the relief formations that predominate in other oceans are much less developed here.

Coastline

In some parts the coastline is slightly indented, but the coast there is quite rocky. There are several large water areas, for example, the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf of Guinea.

Gulf of Mexico

In the area of ​​North America and the eastern coasts of Europe there are many natural bays, straits, archipelagos and peninsulas.

Minerals

Oil and gas production is carried out in the Atlantic Ocean, which accounts for a decent share of global mineral production.

Also on the shelves of some seas, sulfur, ore, precious stones and metals important for global industry are mined.

Ecological problems

In the 19th century, whale hunting was widespread among sailors in these places for their oil and bristles. As a result, their number was sharply reduced to critical levels, and there is now a ban on whaling.

The waters are heavily polluted due to the use and release of:

  • a huge amount of oil into the Gulf in 2010;
  • industrial waste;
  • city ​​garbage;
  • radioactive substances from stations, poisons.

This not only pollutes the water, deteriorates the biosphere and kills all life in the water, but has exactly the same effect on environmental pollution in cities and the consumption of products containing all these substances.

Types of economic activities

The Atlantic Ocean accounts for 4/10 of the fishing volume. It is through it that a huge number of shipping routes pass (the main ones are directed from Europe to North America).

The routes passing through the Atlantic Ocean and the seas located in it lead to largest ports, which are of great importance in import and export trade. Oil, ore, coal, wood, products and raw materials of the metallurgical industry, and food products are transported through them.

On the shores of the Atlantic Ocean there are many world tourist cities that attract large numbers of people every year.

Interesting facts about the Atlantic Ocean

The most interesting of them:


Conclusion

The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest, but by no means less significant. He is important source minerals, fishing industry, and the most important transport routes pass through it. To briefly summarize, it is worth paying attention to the enormous damage to the ecological and organic component of ocean life caused by humanity.