Characteristics of the mineral and biological resources of the Atlantic Ocean. natural resources of the atlantic ocean

organic world Atlantic and Pacific Ocean has much in common (Fig. 37). Life in the Atlantic Ocean is also distributed zonally and is concentrated mainly off the coast of the continents and in surface waters.

The Atlantic Ocean is poorer than the Pacific biological resources. This is due to his relative youth. But still, the ocean provides 20% of the world's catch of fish and seafood. This is first of all herring, cod, sea ​​bass , hake, tuna.

There are many whales in temperate and polar latitudes, in particular sperm whales and killer whales. Marine crayfish are characteristic - lobster, lobsters.

The economic development of the ocean is also connected with mineral resources(Fig. 38). A significant part of them is mined on the shelf. Over 100 oil and gas fields have been discovered in the North Sea alone, hundreds of boreholes have been built, and oil and gas pipelines have been laid along the seabed. Over 3,000 special platforms from which oil and gas are extracted operate on the shelf of the Gulf of Mexico. Coal is mined in the coastal waters of Canada and Great Britain, and diamonds are mined off the southwestern coast of Africa. Long since sea ​​water salt is mined.

IN Lately not only on the shelf, but also at considerable depths of the Atlantic Ocean, huge reserves of oil and natural gas. In particular, the coastal zones of Africa turned out to be rich in fuel resources. Other areas of the bottom of the Atlantic are also extremely rich in oil and gas - off the northeastern coast North America near the eastern coast South America.

The Atlantic Ocean is crossed in different directions by important sea ​​routes. It is no coincidence that there are major ports world, among them Ukrainian - Odessa. Material from the site http://worldofschool.ru

Active economic activity man in the Atlantic Ocean basin caused a significant pollution his waters. It is especially noticeable in some seas of the Atlantic Ocean. So, the Mediterranean Sea is often called the "gutter", because industrial enterprises dump waste here. A large number of pollutants also comes with river runoff. In addition, every year about a hundred thousand tons of oil and oil products get into its waters as a result of accidents and other reasons.

Some areas of the Atlantic shelf are rich in coal. Great Britain conducts the largest underwater mining of coal. The largest exploited Nor Tumberland Derham field with reserves of about 550 million tons is located on the northeast coast of England. Coal deposits have been explored in the shelf zone northeast of Cape Breton Island. However, in the economy, underwater coal is of less importance than offshore oil and gas fields. The main supplier of monazite to the world market is Brazil. The United States is also the leading producer of ilmenite, rutile and zircon concentrates (placers of these metals are almost ubiquitous on the shelf of North America - from California to Alaska). Of considerable interest are cassiterite placers off the coast of Australia, off the Cornwall peninsula (Great Britain), and in Brittany (France). The largest deposits of ferruginous sands are located in Canada. Ferrous sands are also mined in New Zealand. Alluvial gold in coastal marine deposits has been found on the western coasts of the United States and Canada.

The main deposits of coastal-marine diamondiferous sands are concentrated on the southwestern coast of Africa, where they are associated with deposits of terraces, beaches, and shelves down to depths of 120 m. Significant marine terrace diamond placers are located in Namibia. African coastal-marine placers are promising.

In the coastal zone of the shelf there are underwater deposits of iron ore. The most significant development of offshore deposits of iron ore is carried out in Canada, on the east coast of Newfoundland (the Wabana deposit). In addition, Canada produces iron ore in Hudson Bay.

In not large quantities copper and nickel are mined from underwater mines (Canada - in the Hudson Bay). Tin is mined on the Cornwall peninsula (England). In Turkey, on the coast Aegean Sea, mercury ores are being developed. Sweden mines iron, copper, zinc, lead, gold and silver in the bowels of the Gulf of Bothnia.

Large salt sedimentary basins in the form of salt domes or stratal deposits are often found on the shelf, slope, foot of the continents and in deep sea trenches (Gulf of Mexico, shelves and slopes West Africa, Europe). The minerals of these basins are represented by sodium, potassium and magnesite salts, gypsum. Calculation of these reserves is difficult: the volume of potassium salts alone is estimated in the range from hundreds of millions of tons to 2 billion tons. Two salt domes are being exploited in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana.

More than 2 million tons of sulfur are extracted from underwater deposits. Exploited the largest accumulation of sulfur Grand Isle, located 10 miles from the coast of Louisiana. Commercial reserves of phosphorites have been found near the Californian and Mexican coasts, along coastal zones. South Africa, Argentina, off the coast of New Zealand. Phosphorites are mined in the California region from depths of 80-330 m, where the concentration averages 75 kg/m3.

A large number of offshore oil and gas fields have been discovered in the Atlantic Ocean and its seas, including those with one of the highest levels of production of these fuels in the world. They are located in different areas of the ocean shelf zone. In its western part, the bowels of the Maracaibo lagoon are distinguished by very large reserves and production volumes. Oil is extracted here from more than 4,500 wells, from which in 2006 93 million tons of "black gold" were produced. The Gulf of Mexico is considered to be one of the richest offshore oil and gas regions in the world, believing that only a small part of potential oil and gas reserves have been discovered in it at present. 14,500 wells have been drilled at the bottom of the bay. In 2011, 60 million tons of oil and 120 billion m3 of gas were produced from 270 offshore fields, and in total, 590 million tons of oil and 679 billion m3 of gas were extracted here during the development period. The most significant of them are located off the coast of the Paraguano Peninsula, in the Gulf of Paria and off the island of Trinidad. Oil reserves here amount to tens of millions of tons.

In addition to the above areas, three large oil and gas provinces can be traced in the western Atlantic. One of them stretches from the Davis Strait to the latitude of New York. Within its limits, commercial oil reserves have so far been identified near Labrador and south of Newfoundland. The second oil and gas province stretches along the coast of Brazil from Cape Calcañar in the north to Rio de Janeiro in the south. 25 deposits have already been discovered here. The third province occupies the coastal areas of Argentina from the Gulf of San Jorge to the Strait of Magellan. Only small deposits have been discovered in it, so far unprofitable for offshore development.

In the shelf zone east coast The Atlantic oil shows were found south of Scotland and Ireland, off the coast of Portugal, in the Bay of Biscay. A large oil and gas region is located near African continent. About 8 million tons are produced by the oil fields concentrated near Angola.

Very significant oil and gas resources are concentrated in the depths of some seas of the Atlantic Ocean. Among them, the most important place is occupied by the North Sea, which knows no equal in terms of the pace of development of underwater oil and gas fields. Significant underwater deposits of oil and gas have been explored in the Mediterranean Sea, where 10 oil and 17 offshore gas fields are currently operating. Significant volumes of oil are extracted from fields located off the coasts of Greece and Tunisia. Gas is being developed in the Gulf of Sidra (Bol. Sirte, Libya), off the Italian coast of the Adriatic Sea. In the perspective of the subsoil mediterranean sea should produce at least 20 million tons of oil per year.

The Atlantic Ocean, or the 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 - by Africa and Europe, in the north - by Greenland, in the south it merges with the Southern Ocean.

Distinctive features of the Atlantic: a small number of islands, a complex bottom topography and a heavily indented coastline.

Ocean characteristics

Area: 91.66 million sq. km, with 16% of the territory falling on the seas and bays.

Volume: 329.66 million sq. km

Salinity: 35‰.

Depth: average - 3736 m, maximum - 8742 m (Puerto Rico Trench).

Temperature: in the very south and north - about 0 ° C, at the equator - 26-28 ° C.

Currents: conventionally, 2 circulations are distinguished - the Northern (currents move clockwise) and the Southern (counterclockwise). The gyres are separated by the Equatorial inter-trade countercurrent.

Main currents of the Atlantic Ocean

Warm:

Northern trade wind - begins off the western coast of Africa, crosses the ocean from east to west and meets the Gulf Stream near Cuba.

Gulfstream- 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). Born near the coast Bahamas where the Florida and Antilles currents meet. Together, they give rise to the Gulf Stream, which, through the strait between Cuba and the Florida Peninsula, enters the Atlantic Ocean with a powerful stream. The current then moves north along the US coast. Approximately off the coast of North Carolina, the Gulf Stream turns east and enters open ocean. After about 1500 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 is divided into two branches: Azores and North Atlantic.

It has only recently become known that a reverse current flows 2 km below the Gulf Stream, heading from Greenland to Sargasso Sea. This stream of icy water was called the Antigulf Stream.

north atlantic- a continuation of the Gulf Stream, which washes the western coast of Europe and brings the warmth of the southern latitudes, providing a mild and warm climate.

Antillean- 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.

Intertrade countercurrent - flow around Earth along the equator. In the Atlantic, it separates the North Equatorial and South Equatorial currents.

South trade wind (or South Equatorial) - passes through the southern tropics. average temperature water - 30°C. When the South Equatorial Current reaches the shores of South America, it divides into two branches: caribbean, or Guiana (flows north to the coast of Mexico) and brazilian- moves 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 forms a cyclic course 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. A stream 200 km wide crosses the equator and flows into the Gulf of Guinea.

Canarian- flows from north to south, towards the equator along the coast of Africa. This wide stream (up to 1 thousand km) near Madeira and canary islands meets with the Azores and Portuguese currents. Approximately in the region of 15°N. joins with 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 the cold from Arctic Ocean, and along with the flow, huge icebergs are carried south. In particular, the iceberg that destroyed the famous Titanic was brought 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 flow westerly winds and flows north along the east coast of South America to La Plata Bay. Temperature: 4-15°C.

The course of the westerly winds encircles the globe in the region of 40-50 °S. The stream 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 has been 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 across climatic zones.

The flora is represented mainly by algae and flowering plants (Zostera, Posidonia, Fucus). IN northern latitudes kelp prevails, in temperate - red algae. Phytoplankton flourishes throughout the ocean 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. From commercial fish herring, sardine, flounder are especially valued. There is an active catch of crustaceans and mollusks, whaling is limited.

The tropical belt of the Atlantic is striking in its abundance. There are many corals and amazing views animals: turtles, flying fish, several dozen species of sharks.

For the first time the name of the ocean is found in the writings of Herodotus (5th century BC), who calls it the sea of ​​Atlantis. And in the 1st century AD. Roman scientist Pliny the Elder writes about the vast expanse of water, which he calls Oceanus Atlantikus. But official name"Atlantic Ocean" was fixed only by the XVII century.

There are 4 stages in the history of Atlantic exploration:

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. Preserved maps of those times with detailed measurements of depths, 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, rounding Africa, paved the way to India. 1493-1501 Three voyages of Columbus to America. The Bermuda anomaly has been identified, many currents have been discovered, and detailed maps depths, coastal zones, temperatures, bottom topography.

Expeditions of Franklin in 1770, I. Kruzenshtern and Yu. Lisyansky in 1804-06.

3. XIX-first half of the XX century - the beginning of scientific oceanographic research. Chemistry, physics, biology, geology of the ocean are being studied. A map of currents has been drawn up, and research is being carried out to lay a submarine cable between Europe and America.

4. 1950s - our days. A comprehensive study of all components of oceanography is being carried out. Priority: climate research different zones, identification of global atmospheric problems, ecology, mining, ship traffic, seafood.

In the center of 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 only sea in the world without shores, the Sargasso, is located in the Atlantic. Its borders are formed by ocean currents.

Here is one of the most mysterious places on the planet: Bermuda Triangle. The Atlantic Ocean is also the birthplace of another myth (or reality?) - the mainland of Atlantis.

South Atlantic Ocean. This includes areas adjacent to the eastern coast of South America and the southwestern coast of Africa, as well as the Antarctic regions, has a total area

more than 40 million km 2 , of which only about 3 million km 2 (7.5%)

occupied by depths of less than 1000 m, with the largest shallow water plateau (about 1.4 million km 2) called the Patagonian-Falkland shelf adjacent to the Atlantic coast of Uruguay and Argentina. A large latitudinal extent, which includes both warm subtropical and cold Antarctic zones, leaves its mark on the commercial fauna, represented here as warm water (tuna, marlin, swordfish, sciene, sardines, etc.) and cold water (blue whiting, merluea, notothenia, silverfish, toothfish, etc.) by the inhabitants. The intensity of fishing here is quite high only off the southwestern and southern coasts of Africa, where in some years (1968-1970) sardine (up to 1.7 million tons), anchovy (0.4-0.6 million tons) and hake (0.5-0.7 million tons), while on the Patagonian shelf, whose raw materials allow to catch at least 5-6 million tons of fish, the fishery is extremely poorly developed (only about 1.0 million tons). The total catch within the South Atlantic only in last years reached 4 million tons, while the possible exceeds 10 million tons.

The Antarctic regions are of significant importance for fishing, where whales, seals, some fish, squids live in commercial quantities, and the resource of mass planktonic crustacean - Arctic krill - is of especially great potential commercial importance.

Summarizing the current assessment of the biological resources used in the Atlantic Ocean and possible prospects for the further development of fisheries, it should be considered that in this basin the catch of traditional fishery objects by all countries can be increased from 23 - 25 to 35 million tons

The Soviet Union produced 3.5 million tons in the Atlantic Ocean basin, i.e. a significant part (39%) of their catch marine fish, and in recent years Russia has been considering this vast region

as the most important for the implementation of marine and oceanic fisheries,

Lecture No. 9 Topic: "Raw resources of the Pacific Ocean".

Pacific Ocean. The Pacific basin is half

(176.7 million km 2 - 49.8%) of the entire water area of ​​the World Ocean. The predominant part of its surface (80.8%) is located above the depths from

3000 to 6000 m and only 8.7% (15.5 million km 2) is occupied by relatively shallow depths (less than 1000 m) and in this respect it is significantly inferior to the Atlantic, where about 15% is in shallow water areas.

The biggest cut coastline and the largest sections of the shelf are characteristic of the northern and western parts of the ocean (4.5 million km 2), where the Bering, Okhotsk, Japanese, Yellow, East and South China Seas and others are located, as well as areas adjacent to the Indonesian archipelago. In addition, the shelf zones of Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania are quite extensive (more than 2 million km 2). Along the North Pacific coast and is special. but the South American shelf is poorly developed. The oceanological regime of the Pacific Ocean is significantly affected by the system of currents that create several large-scale frontal zones and gyres in the northern and southern parts of the ocean.

Unlike the Atlantic Northern part The Pacific is connected to the basin of the Arctic Ocean by the narrow and shallow Bering Strait, and the Pacific waters cannot warm the seas of the corresponding sector of the Arctic (East Siberian, Chukchi, etc.), which are characterized as low-productive. Here, only polar cod (polar cod) can be considered as relatively numerous commercial fish.

The Pacific Ocean basin provides more than 53 million tons (6%) of the world's production of marine water bodies. However, the relatively weak development of shallow waters leads to the fact that the catches here are sharply dominated by pelagic (89^) rather than bottom objects, while in the Atlantic Ocean the proportion of the latter is much higher. Its modern fish productivity (300 kg/km) exceeded that of the Atlantic Ocean (250 kg/km) and many times

higher than the Indian one (60 kg/km), and there are still opportunities for further development of the fishery of traditional objects within it.

The organic world of the Atlantic and the Pacific Ocean has much in common (Fig. 37). Life in the Atlantic Ocean is also distributed zonally and is concentrated mainly off the coast of the continents and in surface waters.

The Atlantic Ocean is poorer than the Pacific biological resources. This is due to his relative youth. But still, the ocean provides 20% of the world's catch of fish and seafood. This is first of all herring, cod, sea ​​bass, hake, tuna.

There are many whales in temperate and polar latitudes, in particular sperm whales and killer whales. Characteristic of sea crayfish - lobster, lobsters.

The economic development of the ocean is also connected with mineral resources(Fig. 38). A significant part of them is mined on the shelf. Over 100 oil and gas fields have been discovered in the North Sea alone, hundreds of boreholes have been built, and oil and gas pipelines have been laid along the seabed. Over 3,000 special platforms from which oil and gas are extracted operate on the shelf of the Gulf of Mexico. Coal is mined in the coastal waters of Canada and Great Britain, and diamonds are mined off the southwestern coast of Africa. Salt has been extracted from sea water since ancient times.

Recently, not only on the shelf, but also at considerable depths of the Atlantic Ocean, huge reserves of oil and natural gas have been discovered. In particular, the coastal zones of Africa turned out to be rich in fuel resources. Other areas of the Atlantic floor are also extremely rich in oil and gas - off the northeastern coast of North America, not far from the eastern coast of South America.

The Atlantic Ocean is crossed in different directions by important sea ​​routes. It is no coincidence that the largest ports of the world are located here, among them the Ukrainian one - Odessa. material from the site

Active human economic activity in the Atlantic Ocean basin has caused a significant pollution his waters. It is especially noticeable in some seas of the Atlantic Ocean. So, the Mediterranean Sea is often called the "gutter" because industrial enterprises dump waste here. A large amount of pollutants also comes with river runoff. In addition, every year about a hundred thousand tons of oil and oil products get into its waters as a result of accidents and other reasons.

Oil dilutes the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. That sort of thing happens from time to time. In 1980, as a result of a disruption in oil production, 0.5 million tons of oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico, and the oil slick stretched for 640 km. In 1997, as a result of a collision between two ships in the Caribbean Sea, 287 thousand tons of oil fell into the water.

On this page, material on the topics: