All the most interesting in one magazine. The most mysterious phenomena of the world ocean

Land covers less than 30% of our planet's surface. The rest is covered by seas and oceans. Dozens of mysteries and amazing natural phenomena are associated with them. And, despite the fact that scientists have successfully explained the causes of these phenomena, they remain magnificent works of nature that amaze the imagination of people. Let's find out about 10 unusual and exciting phenomena associated with the oceans.

Icebergs don't always look perfectly white!

It is no secret that the temperature of the water in the ocean differs at different geographical latitudes. At the equator, the surface layer can warm up to +28°C and higher, while in areas close to the poles - no more than +2°C. Therefore, large icebergs can float in the Arctic and Antarctic for decades. And sometimes they turn ... into striped icebergs!

Striped icebergs form when water first thaws and then refreezes. In between, small particles of dirt, minerals, etc. get into it. After freezing, the color of the fresh iceberg layer is different from others. Thanks to this process, many multi-colored stripes can be observed on the surface of the ice block. That is, not all icebergs are white or transparent, as they are shown in the pictures. On some of them we can see amazing game colors and shades. Moreover, the older the iceberg, the more stripes it has. Looking at them, it may seem that nature itself adorned these blocks of ice with a skillful hand.

9. Whirlpool

Whirlpool - a huge funnel with a lower draft, sucking everything that is nearby

The word "whirlpool" seems to deliberately warn people that this phenomenon should be feared. Interestingly, it was first used famous writer Edgar Allan Poe. He described it as a "destructive current". In fact, the ocean whirlpool is a powerful funnel with a lower thrust, slowly but surely sucking in everything that is nearby. They are of three types - permanent (always existing in the same place), seasonal (caused by certain climatic conditions) and episodic (occurring, for example, during earthquakes).

In the seas and oceans, whirlpools are most often caused by the collision of tidal or ebb waves with oncoming currents. At the same time, water in them can move at speeds of hundreds of kilometers per hour.

This is interesting: The width of whirlpools sometimes reaches 3-5 kilometers. Not only small yachts and fishing boats, but also large liners can become victims of such phenomena. You may remember the shocking incident when, in 2011, off the coast of Japan, a ship with a hundred passengers on board was pulled into the whirlpool formed after an earthquake.

Previously, people believed in legends that whirlpools would certainly drag them to the very bottom of the ocean. But scientists have debunked such myths.

The largest Red Tide can be observed in the Gulf of Florida

Waves of intense bright reds and orange shades- an amazingly beautiful natural phenomenon. But enjoying the red tides is too often unhealthy, because they are fraught with no small danger.

Algae blooms (which cause the water to turn scarlet) can be so intense that plants begin to produce all sorts of toxins and chemicals. Some of them dissolve in water, some get into the air. Toxins harm representatives of aquatic flora and fauna, sea ​​birds and even people.

The largest Red Tide on the planet is observed annually off the coast of the Gulf of Florida in June-July.

Brinicle spreads an ice net across the bottom of the sea, from which not a single living creature can get out

An amazing work of nature - a salty icicle, is something unimaginable. When a brinicle is finally formed, it looks something like a crystal lowered into water. Salty icicles are formed when water from melting ice seeps into the sea. Considering that very low air and water temperatures are needed for the formation of salty icicles, they can only be observed in the cold waters of the Arctic and off the coast of Antarctica.

This is interesting: Brinicles are fraught with great danger to the flora and fauna of the ocean. At the moment of contact with them sea ​​stars, fish and even algae either freeze and freeze, or get severe cuts.

The generally accepted model for the formation of brinicles was described by oceanographer Silje Martin as early as 1974. For more than 30 years, only scientists could witness this vivid oceanic performance. But in 2011, the formation of a sea icicle was captured on video by a BBC cameraman.

Flow salt water, flowing from an ice block, is so cold that the liquid surrounding it freezes almost instantly. A few seconds after the brinicle is in the ocean, a fragile armor is formed around it, consisting of porous ice. When the critical mass is reached, the icicle falls to the bottom. Then she begins to unravel her cold nets further. Any animal caught in them is doomed to death. In front of the operators, the "killer icicle" sprouted several meters in 3 hours and reached the ocean floor. After that, in some 15 minutes, the brinicle destroyed all the marine life that were in radius of four meters.

6. The longest wave on Earth

Brazilians call the process of formation of the longest wave Pororoca

Weather conditions have a huge impact on ocean waters. It is not surprising that some natural phenomena can be observed only in a certain season with a combination of many factors contributing to them.

So, the longest wave on the planet can be seen in Brazil no more than 2 times a year. At the end of February and then at the beginning of March, a huge volume of water from the Atlantic Ocean rises up the mouth of the Amazon River. When the current of the river collides with the tidal forces of the ocean, the longest wave on Earth is formed. In Brazil, this phenomenon is called Pororoca. The height of the waves formed during this phenomenon sometimes reaches 3.5-4 meters. And you can hear the sound of the wave half an hour before it crashes onto the shore with a roar. Sometimes Pororoka destroys coastal houses or uproots trees.

Thousands of amazing frosty flowers in arctic waters

Few people know about the existence of these delicate, charming flowers. Frosty flowers are formed quite rarely - only on young ice in cold sea water. Their formation occurs at low temperatures in calm weather. Diameter similar formations usually does not exceed four centimeters, but they look like crystal copies of real flowers. They contain a lot of salt, which explains the crystallized appearance of frosty flowers.

This is interesting: If millions of these flowers form in a small area of ​​the sea, they begin to “release” salt into the air!

The sea can not only create conditions for life and support it. It changes itself, like a living organism. And frosty flowers are an example of one of the most beautiful pieces of art created by the oceans.

Rogue killer waves can reach a height of 25 meters or more. The reasons for their formation are not known for certain.

As a rule, it is not difficult to determine the moment of wave formation. But there are so-called killer waves, which, in fact, appear out of nowhere and show no signs of their approach.

This is interesting: Typically, killer waves are found in the open ocean far from land. They can appear even in clear weather in the absence of strong wind. The reasons have not yet been established. Their size is simply colossal. The height of the wandering killer waves can reach 30 meters, and sometimes more!

For a long time, scientists considered wandering waves to be the invention of sailors, because they did not fit into any existing mathematical models of the occurrence and behavior of waves. The fact is that from the point of view of classical oceanology, a wave with a height of more than 20.7 meters cannot exist in terrestrial conditions. There was also a lack of reliable evidence of their existence. But on January 1, 1995, in Norwegian oil platform"Dropner", located in the North Sea, the instruments recorded a wave with a height of 25.6 meters. They called it the Dropner wave. Soon research began within the framework of the MaxWave project. The specialists monitored the Earth's water surface using two radar satellites launched by the European Space Agency. In just 3 weeks, 10 single stray waves over 25 meters high were recorded in the oceans.

After that, scientists were forced to take a fresh look at the cases of the death of huge ships - container ships and supertankers. Rogue waves have been included among the likely causes of these catastrophes. Later it was proved that in 1980 the 300-meter English cargo ship Derbyshire sank off the coast of Japan after colliding with a giant wave that broke through the cargo hatch and flooded the holds. Then 44 people died.

killer waves - nightmare sailors, appearing in many stories and legends. They hide something mysterious and sinister. It seems incredible that predicting the appearance of such a wall of water is almost impossible. The thought of killer waves will definitely make you reconsider your relationship with the ocean. It is unlikely that you will continue to believe that in calm weather you can sail on a boat or yacht far from the coast without fear for your life.

3. The meeting point of the Baltic Sea with the North

On the left is the North Sea, on the right is the Baltic. Surprisingly, their waters don't mix.

In the Danish province of Skagen, you can observe amazing phenomenon, which previously caused a lot of controversy among scientists. In a picturesque place, 2 neighboring seas meet - the Baltic and the North. Surprisingly, they do not mix, as if separated by an invisible wall. The color of the water in each sea is different, this allows you to visually determine the border between them.

According to oceanologists, the indicators of the density of sea waters differ, as well as their salinity (in North Sea it is 1.5 times higher). Because of this, each sea remains on its own side of the "watershed", not mixing with the neighboring one and not yielding to it. In addition to the composition of the water, the boundary is so pronounced due to the opposite currents in the two straits. Running into each other, they form colliding waves.

Interestingly, the meeting of the North Sea with the Baltic Sea is mentioned in religious literature - in the Koran. It is not clear how the ancient Muslims got to the territory of modern Denmark to see this fantastic sight.

The glow of the ocean in coastal waters is a fantastic sight

The bioluminescence of water is a phenomenon that looks amazing in photographs and is even more spectacular in reality. The glow of the ocean is due to the simplest algae - dinoflagellates, which make up most plankton.

A tiny molecule - the substrate luciferin, is oxidized under the influence of the luciferase enzyme and oxygen. The released energy does not turn into heat, but excites the molecules of the substance, which emits photons. The type of luciferin determines the frequency of light, that is, the color of the glow.

It is best to observe the glow of the ocean during the reproduction of unicellular algae (usually - no more than 3 weeks a year). There are so many tiny lights that sea ​​water becomes like milk, however, painted in a bright blue color. However, one should be careful when admiring the bioluminescence of the sea or ocean: many algae produce toxins that are dangerous to human health. Therefore, during the period of their reproduction and the greatest intensity of the glow, it will still be better to observe a bright tide while on the shore. And definitely at night! It may seem that huge searchlights are hidden under the water, illuminating it from the depths.

The glow of the ocean, caused by the phenomenon of bioluminescence, can sometimes be seen even from space!

Phenomenon milk sea observed in the Indian Ocean, and this is one of the manifestations of the bioluminescence process.

This is interesting: In certain areas of the ocean, ideal conditions are created for the reproduction of bacteria. Then huge volumes of salt water begin to glow and are colored with light blue lights. Sometimes bacteria illuminate such large areas of water that they can be easily seen even from space. Such a spectacle will not leave anyone indifferent!

This phenomenon has been observed for more than a century. The glow of the water was often observed by sailors in antiquity, it made them enthusiastically peer into the depths of the ocean. However, if earlier people could not find an explanation for this phenomenon, then in our time everything is known about its nature. But this does not prevent the glow of water from being a fantastic sight.

Such phenomena show all the beauty and diversity of the majestic oceans. Watching them, you involuntarily catch yourself thinking that human civilization, no matter how advanced it may be, will not be able to create anything like this! After all, people are only temporary guests on this amazing planet. And we must not destroy, but preserve all the splendor of nature for future generations.

Land covers less than 30% of our planet's surface. The rest is covered by seas and oceans. Dozens of mysteries and amazing natural phenomena are associated with them. And, despite the fact that scientists have successfully explained the causes of these phenomena, they remain magnificent works of nature that amaze the imagination of people. Let's find out about 10 unusual and exciting phenomena associated with the oceans.

Icebergs don't always look perfectly white!

It is no secret that the temperature of the water in the ocean differs at different geographical latitudes. At the equator, the surface layer can warm up to +28°C and higher, while in areas close to the poles - no more than +2°C. Therefore, large icebergs can float in the Arctic and Antarctic for decades. And sometimes they turn ... into striped icebergs!

Striped icebergs form when water first thaws and then refreezes. In between, small particles of dirt, minerals, etc. get into it. After freezing, the color of the fresh iceberg layer is different from others. Thanks to this process, many multi-colored stripes can be observed on the surface of the ice block. That is, not all icebergs are white or transparent, as they are shown in the pictures. On some of them we can observe an amazing play of colors and shades. Moreover, the older the iceberg, the more stripes it has. Looking at them, it may seem that nature itself adorned these blocks of ice with a skillful hand.
9. Whirlpool

Whirlpool - a huge funnel with a lower draft, sucking everything that is nearby

The word "whirlpool" seems to deliberately warn people that this phenomenon should be feared. Interestingly, it was first used by the famous writer Edgar Allan Poe. He described it as a "destructive current". In fact, the ocean whirlpool is a powerful funnel with a lower thrust, slowly but surely sucking in everything that is nearby. They are of three types - permanent (always existing in the same place), seasonal (caused by certain climatic conditions) and episodic (occurring, for example, during earthquakes).

In the seas and oceans, whirlpools are most often caused by the collision of tidal or ebb waves with oncoming currents. At the same time, water in them can move at speeds of hundreds of kilometers per hour.

It is interesting: The width of whirlpools sometimes reaches 3-5 kilometers. Not only small yachts and fishing boats, but also large liners can become victims of such phenomena. You may remember the shocking incident when, in 2011, off the coast of Japan, a ship with a hundred passengers on board was pulled into the whirlpool formed after an earthquake.

Previously, people believed in legends that whirlpools would certainly drag them to the very bottom of the ocean. But scientists have debunked such myths.
8. Red tide

The largest Red Tide can be observed in the Gulf of Florida

Waves of saturated bright red and orange hues are an amazingly beautiful natural phenomenon. But enjoying the red tides is too often unhealthy, because they are fraught with no small danger.

Algae blooms (which cause the water to turn scarlet) can be so intense that plants begin to produce all sorts of toxins and chemicals. Some of them dissolve in water, some get into the air. Toxins harm aquatic life, seabirds and even humans.

The largest Red Tide on the planet is observed annually off the coast of the Gulf of Florida in June-July.
7. Brinicle (salty icicle)

Brinicle spreads an ice net across the bottom of the sea, from which not a single living creature can get out

An amazing work of nature - a salty icicle, is something unimaginable. When a brinicle is finally formed, it looks something like a crystal lowered into water. Salty icicles are formed when water from melting ice seeps into the sea. Considering that very low air and water temperatures are needed for the formation of salty icicles, they can only be observed in the cold waters of the Arctic and off the coast of Antarctica.

It is interesting: Brinicles are fraught with great danger to the flora and fauna of the ocean. At the moment of contact with them, starfish, fish and even algae either freeze and freeze, or receive significant cuts.

The generally accepted model for the formation of brinicles was described by oceanographer Silje Martin as early as 1974. For more than 30 years, only scientists could witness this vivid oceanic performance. But in 2011, the formation of a sea icicle was captured on video by a BBC cameraman.

A stream of salty water flowing out of an ice block is so cold that the liquid surrounding it freezes almost instantly. Seconds after a brinicle enters the ocean, a fragile armor of porous ice forms around it. When the critical mass is reached, the icicle falls to the bottom. Then she begins to unravel her cold nets further. Any animal caught in them is doomed to death. In front of the operators, the "killer icicle" sprouted several meters in 3 hours and reached the ocean floor. After that, in some 15 minutes, the brinicle destroyed all marine life that was within a radius of four meters.
6. The longest wave on Earth

Brazilians call the process of formation of the longest wave Pororoca

Weather conditions have a huge impact on ocean waters. It is not surprising that some natural phenomena can be observed only in a certain season with a combination of many factors contributing to them.

So, the longest wave on the planet can be seen in Brazil no more than 2 times a year. At the end of February and then at the beginning of March, a huge volume of water from the Atlantic Ocean rises up the mouth of the Amazon River. When the current of the river collides with the tidal forces of the ocean, the longest wave on Earth is formed. In Brazil, this phenomenon is called Pororoca. The height of the waves formed during this phenomenon sometimes reaches 3.5-4 meters. And you can hear the sound of the wave half an hour before it crashes onto the shore with a roar. Sometimes Pororoka destroys coastal houses or uproots trees.
5. Frosty Flowers

Thousands of amazing frosty flowers in arctic waters

Few people know about the existence of these delicate, charming flowers. Frosty flowers are formed quite rarely - only on young ice in cold sea water. Their formation occurs at low temperatures in calm weather. The diameter of such formations usually does not exceed four centimeters, but they look like crystal copies of real flowers. They contain a lot of salt, which explains the crystallized appearance of frosty flowers.

It is interesting: If millions of these flowers form in a small area of ​​the sea, they begin to “release” salt into the air!

The sea can not only create conditions for life and support it. It changes itself, like a living organism. And frosty flowers are an example of one of the most beautiful pieces of art created by the oceans.
4. Killer waves

Rogue killer waves can reach a height of 25 meters or more. The reasons for their formation are not known for certain.

As a rule, it is not difficult to determine the moment of wave formation. But there are so-called killer waves, which, in fact, appear out of nowhere and show no signs of their approach.

It is interesting: Usually killer waves are found in the open ocean far from land. They can appear even in clear weather in the absence of strong winds. The reasons have not yet been established. Their size is simply colossal. The height of the wandering killer waves can reach 30 meters, and sometimes more!

For a long time, scientists considered wandering waves to be the invention of sailors, because they did not fit into any existing mathematical models of the occurrence and behavior of waves. The fact is that from the point of view of classical oceanology, a wave with a height of more than 20.7 meters cannot exist in terrestrial conditions. There was also a lack of reliable evidence of their existence. But on January 1, 1995, on the Norwegian oil platform Dropner, located in the North Sea, instruments recorded a wave 25.6 meters high. They called it the Dropner wave. Soon research began within the framework of the MaxWave project. The specialists monitored the Earth's water surface using two radar satellites launched by the European Space Agency. In just 3 weeks, 10 single stray waves over 25 meters high were recorded in the oceans.

After that, scientists were forced to take a fresh look at the cases of the death of huge ships - container ships and supertankers. Rogue waves have been included among the likely causes of these catastrophes. Later it was proved that in 1980 the 300-meter English cargo ship Derbyshire sank off the coast of Japan after colliding with a giant wave that broke through the cargo hatch and flooded the holds. Then 44 people died.

Killer waves are a sailor's nightmare that appears in many stories and legends. They hide something mysterious and sinister. It seems incredible that predicting the appearance of such a wall of water is almost impossible. The thought of killer waves will definitely make you reconsider your relationship with the ocean. It is unlikely that you will continue to believe that in calm weather you can sail on a boat or yacht far from the coast without fear for your life.
3. The meeting point of the Baltic Sea with the North

On the left is the North Sea, on the right is the Baltic. Surprisingly, their waters don't mix.

In the Danish province of Skagen, one can observe an amazing phenomenon that previously caused a lot of controversy among scientists. In a picturesque place, 2 neighboring seas meet - the Baltic and the North. Surprisingly, they do not mix, as if separated by an invisible wall. The color of the water in each sea is different, this allows you to visually determine the border between them.

According to oceanologists, the density of sea waters differs, as does their salinity (it is 1.5 times higher in the North Sea). Because of this, each sea remains on its own side of the "watershed", not mixing with the neighboring one and not yielding to it. In addition to the composition of the water, the boundary is so pronounced due to the opposite currents in the two straits. Running into each other, they form colliding waves.

Interestingly, the meeting of the North Sea with the Baltic Sea is mentioned in religious literature - in the Koran. It is not clear how the ancient Muslims got to the territory of modern Denmark to see this fantastic sight.
2. Bioluminescence

The glow of the ocean in coastal waters is a fantastic sight

The bioluminescence of water is a phenomenon that looks amazing in photographs and is even more spectacular in reality. The glow of the ocean is due to the simplest algae - dinoflagellates, which make up most of the plankton.

A tiny molecule - the substrate luciferin, is oxidized under the influence of the luciferase enzyme and oxygen. The released energy does not turn into heat, but excites the molecules of the substance, which emits photons. The type of luciferin determines the frequency of light, that is, the color of the glow.

It is best to observe the glow of the ocean during the reproduction of unicellular algae (usually - no more than 3 weeks a year). There are so many tiny lights that sea water becomes like milk, however, painted in bright blue. However, one should be careful when admiring the bioluminescence of the sea or ocean: many algae produce toxins that are dangerous to human health. Therefore, during the period of their reproduction and the greatest intensity of the glow, it will still be better to observe a bright tide while on the shore. And definitely at night! It may seem that huge searchlights are hidden under the water, illuminating it from the depths.
1. Phenomenon of the Milky Sea

The glow of the ocean, caused by the phenomenon of bioluminescence, can sometimes be seen even from space!

The Sea of ​​Milk phenomenon is observed in the Indian Ocean, and this is one of the manifestations of the bioluminescence process.

It is interesting: In certain areas of the ocean, ideal conditions are created for the reproduction of bacteria. Then huge volumes of salt water begin to glow and are colored with light blue lights. Sometimes bacteria illuminate such large areas of water that they can be easily seen even from space. Such a spectacle will not leave anyone indifferent!

This phenomenon has been observed for more than a century. The glow of the water was often observed by sailors in antiquity, it made them enthusiastically peer into the depths of the ocean. However, if earlier people could not find an explanation for this phenomenon, then in our time everything is known about its nature. But this does not prevent the glow of water from being a fantastic sight.

Such phenomena show all the beauty and diversity of the majestic oceans. Watching them, you involuntarily catch yourself thinking that human civilization, no matter how advanced it may be, will not be able to create anything like this! After all, people are only temporary guests on this amazing planet. And we must not destroy, but preserve all the splendor of nature for future generations.

04.03.2016

Atlantic Ocean- the second largest ocean on the planet. It accounts for 16% of the surface and 25% of the volume of all ocean waters. The average depth is 3736 m, and the maximum low point the bottom is the Puerto Rico Trench (8742 m). The process of divergence of tectonic plates, as a result of the split of which the ocean was formed, continues to the present. The banks diverge into opposite sides at a rate of about 2 cm per year. This information is public knowledge. In addition to the well-known ones, we have made a selection of the most interesting facts about the Atlantic Ocean, which many may not even have heard of.

1. The ocean got its name by the name of the ancient Greek hero of myths - the titan Atlanta, who "held the vault of heaven on his shoulders in extreme western point mediterranean sea».
2. In ancient times, the rocks on the shores of the Strait of Gibraltar were called the Pillars of Hercules - the path leading to the Atlantic Ocean from the inner Mediterranean Sea. People believed that these pillars are at the end of the world, and Hercules put them in memory of his exploits.
3. The first European to cross the ocean from east to west is the Viking Leif Eriksson, who reached the shores of Vinland (North America) in the 10th century.
4. The ocean is stretched from north to south so that its area contains zones of all climatic zones of the planet.
5. Ice cover in the ocean is formed in the Greenland Sea, the Baffin Sea and near Antarctica. Icebergs float into the Atlantic: from the north - from the Greenland shelf and from the south - from the Wedell Sea. The famous Titanic stumbled upon one of these icebergs in 1912.
6. The Bermuda Triangle is a zone in the Atlantic Ocean where many ships and aircraft disappear. Navigation in the area is a difficult task due to the abundance of shoals, storms and cyclones, which may explain the disappearances and shipwrecks.
7. The island of Newfoundland has the world's largest number of foggy days per year - about 120. The reason for this is the collision of the warm Gulf Stream with the cold Labrador Current.
8. The Falkland Islands is a disputed territory between Britain and Argentina in the South Atlantic. Once they were British territory, but in 1774 the British left it, leaving, however, a sign indicating their rights. During their absence, the Argentines "attached" the islands to one of their provinces. The conflict lasted two centuries - from 1811 to 2013, when a referendum was held and the right of Great Britain to govern the territory was secured.
9. The Caribbean is the origin of the strongest hurricanes that bring destruction to the coast of North America. The hurricane season (and a storm becomes a hurricane if the speed reaches 119 km / h) begins in this region annually on June 1 and is considered average in intensity if 11 "name" storms are registered. Given name a storm gets if the wind that accompanies it "accelerates" to 62 km/h.
10. Whaling has been active in the Atlantic for several centuries, so late XIX century, after the improvement of hunting techniques, whales were almost completely exterminated. There is currently a moratorium on catching them. And most big booty considered a whale 33 m long and weighing 177 tons, caught in 1926.
11. The volcanic island of Tristan da Cunha is the most secluded piece of land on the planet. To the nearest locality(Saint Helena) from here more than 2000 km. Almost 300 people live on an area of ​​about 100 km².
12. Atlantis is a semi-mythical land that supposedly existed in the ocean, but was subsequently flooded. The ancient Greek philosopher Plato wrote about it in his treatises, determining the time of the existence of Atlantis in the X millennium BC, that is, at the end ice age. Modern scientists also put forward hypotheses about the existence of this island or mainland.

The Atlantic Ocean has been known to European navigators since antiquity, and with the beginning of the era of the Great geographical discoveries the intensity of traffic on it of various ships has increased significantly. Maritime transportation of valuable goods from America to Europe and back contributed to the flourishing of piracy, which in the modern world exists only off the coast of Africa.

The Atlantic Ocean is one of the largest. Its area is the second largest after the Pacific and is 91.6 million square kilometers. It washes the shores of Europe, Africa, North and South America. The nature and relief of the Atlantic Ocean are very diverse. All the features of this part of the oceans have not yet been studied, and therefore it is of interest to scientists and researchers from all over the world.

There are two versions of the origin of its name. According to one, this is connected with the ancient Greek titan Atlas, and on the other, with the mythical island of Atlantis.
The Atlantic Ocean has some individual features. Its coastline is heavily indented. It is characterized by the presence of a large number of seas and bays. If we compare it with other oceans, then the number of rivers flowing into the Atlantic Ocean is the most significant.

This part of the world's oceans is distinguished by a relatively small number of islands. A feature of the relief are multiple depressions and ridges. It can be called the most difficult. There are many pits and trenches on the territory of the Atlantic Ocean. The bottom relief changes under the influence of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, which are present in large numbers on its territory. Many of the volcanoes reach a height of 5 kilometers.
The Atlantic Ocean has a special climate. This is due to the large extent along the meridian. The temperature of the waters also depends on the influence of the Arctic Ocean, with which there is an exchange of currents. From this side, numerous icebergs enter the ocean, reaching even tropical waters.

The Atlantic Ocean stretches through all the climatic zones of the Earth, so its climates are very diverse.
Why is the climate of the southern part of the ocean more severe than the climate in its north? Climate features are reflected in the properties water masses. Temperature surface water here it is much lower (+ 16.5 ° С) than in the Pacific and Indian oceans. This is explained by the cooling effect of water and ice carried out of the Arctic Ocean and from the Antarctic, as well as by the intense mixing of water masses.

The salinity of water masses in some areas of the ocean is above average, since a significant part of the evaporated moisture is carried by winds to neighboring continents due to the relative narrowness of the ocean.

Atlantic Ocean. Photo: Jackie

Unlike other oceans, currents form in the Atlantic, most of which are directed not along latitude, but almost along the meridians. The reason for this is the large elongation of the ocean from north to south and the outlines of the coastline. Currents in the Atlantic are more active than in other oceans, they carry water, heat and cold from one latitude to another.

Currents also affect ice conditions. A feature of the ocean is numerous icebergs and floating sea ice. The waters near Greenland are one of the most picturesque areas of the Atlantic. Powerful ice "tongues" emerge from the depths of the island to the ocean and hang over its cold bluish-green waters in high cliffs of transparent ice. From time to time they break off with a roar and fall into the water in large blocks. Currents carry icebergs into the open ocean up to 40°N. sh. These areas of the Atlantic are dangerous for navigation. The movement of icebergs is monitored by a special patrol air service, pictures are also received from artificial satellites Earth. This information is transmitted to the ships of all countries.

Features of climate and relief characterize it biological world. The fauna of the Atlantic Ocean is diverse and uneven.

The Atlantic Ocean, as well as other oceans in these latitudes, is characterized by the presence of large mammals - fur seals, several species of true seals, cetaceans. The latter are represented here most fully in comparison with other parts of the World Ocean, but in the middle of the last century they were subjected to severe extermination. Of the fish for the South Atlantic, endemic families of nototheniids and white-blooded pikes are characteristic. The number of plankton species is small, but its biomass, especially in temperate latitudes ah, very significant. The zooplankton includes copepods (krill) and pteropods; phytoplankton is dominated by diatoms. For the corresponding latitudes of the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean (the North Atlantic biogeographic region), the presence in the composition of the organic world of the same groups of living organisms as in the southern hemisphere is typical, but they are represented by other species and even genera. And compared with the same latitudes of the Pacific Ocean, the North Atlantic is distinguished by a large species diversity. This is especially true for fish and some mammals.

Many areas of the North Atlantic have long been and continue to be places of intensive fishing. On the banks off the coast of North America, in the North and Baltic Seas, cod, herring, halibut, sea bass, and sprat are caught. Since ancient times, mammals have been hunted in the Atlantic Ocean, especially seals, whales and other marine animals. This led to a severe depletion of the fishing resources of the Atlantic compared to the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

As in other parts of the World Ocean, the greatest diversity of life forms and the maximum species richness of the organic world are observed in the tropical part of the Atlantic Ocean. The plankton contains numerous foraminifers, radiolarians, and copepods. Nekton is characterized sea ​​turtles, squids, sharks, flying fish; Of the commercial fish species, tuna, sardines, mackerel are abundant, in zones of cold currents - anchovies. Among the benthic forms, various algae are represented: green, red, brown (already mentioned above Sargasso); from animals - octopuses, coral polyps.

But despite the relative species richness of the organic world in the tropical part of the Atlantic Ocean, it is still less diverse than in the Pacific and even in the Indian Oceans. Coral polyps are much poorer here, the distribution of which is limited mainly to the Caribbean; missing sea ​​snakes, many types of fish. Perhaps this is due to the fact that in equatorial latitudes the Atlantic Ocean has the smallest width (less than 3000 km), which is incomparable with the vast expanses of the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

The natural conditions of the Atlantic are favorable for the development of life, therefore, of all the oceans, it is the most productive. Most of the fish catch and other marine products are taken from northern part ocean. However, increased fishing in recent years has led to a decrease in biological wealth.
The shelves of the Atlantic Ocean are rich in deposits of oil and other minerals. Thousands of wells have been drilled offshore in the Gulf of Mexico and in the North Sea. In connection with the growth of cities, the development of navigation in many seas and in the ocean itself, a deterioration in natural conditions has recently been observed. Water and air are polluted, 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 up waste on its own.

The nature of the ocean in our time is being studied more with 40 scientific ships from around the world. Oceanologists carefully study the interaction of the ocean and the atmosphere, observe the Gulf Stream and other currents, and the movement of icebergs. The Atlantic Ocean is no longer able to independently restore its biological resources. Treaties have already been signed that prohibit the dumping of hazardous waste into the ocean. Preservation of the nature of the Atlantic Ocean today is an international matter.

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

A special natural aquatic complex stands out in the northern subtropical zone Sargasso Sea. It is characterized by high water salinity (up to 37.5 ppm) and low bioproductivity. AT clear water, pure of blue color brown algae grow - sargasso, which gave the name of the water area.

In the temperate zone southern hemisphere, as in the northern natural complexes rich in life in areas where waters mix with different temperatures and water density. In the subantarctic and antarctic belts, the manifestation of seasonal and permanent ice phenomena is characteristic, which affects the composition of the fauna (krill, cetaceans, notothenia fish).

Natural complexes of the Atlantic Ocean wikipedia
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Atlantic Ocean: !. surface currents in the ocean.2. organic world.3. Zonal natural complexes (natural belts) and azonal aquatic complexes of the ocean.

1) Gulfstream is warm current of the Atlantic Ocean, it softens the climate of Europe 2) The organic world of the Atlantic Ocean The organic world of the Atlantic Ocean is inferior to the Pacific and Indian in the number of species. This is due to his youth, long-term isolation from the Indian and Pacific Oceans, strong influence cold climate in the Quaternary period.

The phytobenthos of the northern part of the ocean is represented by brown algae (mainly mucoids, kelp, alaria), green, red and brown (Sargasso) algae are common in the tropical zone, and kelp is the most abundant in the southern part of the ocean. Zoobenthos: octopuses, coral polyps, crustaceans, echinoderms, sponges, specific fish species. 3) In the Atlantic Ocean, all zonal complexes are distinguished - natural belts, except for the north polar one.

The waters of the northern subpolar belt 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 an intense interaction of cold and warm waters, and its waters are the most productive regions of the Atlantic. The vast expanses of warm waters of the 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.

Brown algae grow in clear, pure blue water - sargassum, which gave the name to the water area. In the temperate zone of the southern hemisphere, as in the northern one, natural complexes are rich in life in areas where waters with different temperatures and water densities mix.

In the subantarctic and antarctic belts, the manifestation of seasonal and permanent ice phenomena is characteristic, which affects the composition of the fauna (krill, cetaceans, notothenia FISH

Within the Atlantic Ocean, all physiographic zones are clearly represented, except for the northern polar one.

The northern subpolar (subarctic) belt covers the waters off Greenland and the Labrador Peninsula.

In winter, the air temperature drops to -20°, water to -1°C and below. The ocean is partially covered with ice in winter. Ice formation causes an additional increase in the salinity of water and its immersion to a depth. In spring and summer, the waters of the belt receive a lot of solar radiation, the ice melts intensively, the surface layer is desalinated, and its temperature reaches + 6 °C.

In the northern subpolar belt, a subpolar cyclonic water cycle is formed.

Divergence and rise of waters occur in the central parts of the belt. In summer, as a result of the heating of the surface layer, a subsurface layer of the temperature jump is formed. That's why deep mixing stops. Abundant solar radiation causes in water containing many nutrients, powerful photosynthetic activity and massive development of phytoplankton.

The water turns green comes hydrobiological spring. With intensive development of zooplankton starts hydrobiological summer.

The northern temperate zone occupies extensive the water area between North America and Europe, including several seas, bays and straits. It is narrow near North America, where warm and cold currents converge, and wide in the east, where the streams of the North Atlantic Current diverge widely. This zone, as well as all the temperate zones of the World Ocean, is characterized by maximum horizontal temperature gradients and its small fluctuations throughout the year, which is associated with the entry of air and water masses of various origins into the temperate zones - tropical and arctic.

Such contrasts are especially noticeable on the western margins of the oceans.

The northern temperate zone is characterized by the dominance of westerly winds. Meet here air masses tropical and polar origin, they are separated by the polar front. A similar phenomenon is observed in the ocean; tropical and high-latitude water masses interact and partially mix.

In the belt located North, Irish, Celt-Baltic seas, true sub tropical belt located approximately between 25 and 40 ° N.

sh. This is the dominance zone atmospheric pressure and downward movement of air - how many hundreds of meters per day), incoming With an antitrade wind from the equatorial belt.

Air masses of temperate latitudes penetrate into the northern part of the belt in winter, in southern in summer- equatorial air.

The state of the atmosphere is usually stable, rains are rare. Above warm water, a warm, relatively dry tropical air. From here, the air moves to temperate latitudes (southwest wind) and southwest, towards the equator, giving rise to the northeast trade wind.

The southern strip of the subtropical belt is the zone of the origin of the trade wind.

It is characterized by clear blue sky, blue sea, weak excitement.

The weak wind is associated with the absence of strong and stable currents in the middle part of the belt. The waters of the North Equatorial Current, the Gulf Stream, move clockwise around it. The oceanographic conditions of this part of the belt are determined by the Gulf Stream. The main process here is the transfer of a huge mass of warm (+ 26-+ 30 ° C) tropical waters of high salinity (over 36% o) to higher latitudes.

There are countercurrents on both sides of the Gulf Stream. Eddies (less than 50 km wide) are formed along the edges of the current, rotating in the opposite direction.

Changes in the situation in the Gulf Stream greatly affect the vast and remote regions of the North Atlantic. In addition, many tropical cyclones pass northward along the Gulf Stream.

The Sargasso, Marmara, Black, Azov, Mediterranean, Ionian, Adriatic, Cretan, Aegean, Tyrrhenian seas are located within the belt.

The Northern Tropical Belt corresponds to the trade wind zone of the Northern Hemisphere between 10-12 and 25°N.

sh., includes the Caribbean Sea and most of the Gulf of Mexico.

The strength of the trade wind is on average 3-5 points, at the border of the subtropics 2-3, in equatorial latitudes 5-6, in winter up to 8 points. In summer, the trade wind zone shifts to the north, the wind strength decreases, but basically the trade wind is the most steady wind on the ground. In summer, the northern tropical zone includes intertropical convergence zone with equatorial air and plentiful precipitation. The trade wind zone has dry winters and wet, rainy summers.

This climate corresponds to the savannah zone on land.

The belt is characterized by surface water heating. The thickness of the layer of warm water in the east is 10-15 m, in the west 75-150 m. m.

AT tropical latitudes storms are rare, but every year they arise here, develop and two to four tropical cyclones move, in which the wind sometimes reaches hurricane force, i.e.

e. more than 30 m/s. Cyclones originate in the season of maximum heating (+ 28 °C) of surface waters in summer and autumn, mainly in warmer, western areas ocean. In the region of the Antilles, powerful ascending air currents develop above the heated surface of the water. They are visible visually in the form of cumulus clouds. The rising air carries with it a large number of water vapor. At altitude, the steam condenses, the latent heat of vaporization additionally enters the atmosphere, and intense rains fall.

Due to the rise in air, the pressure drops to 715 mm Hg. st. and below. Air rushes into the resulting depression from all sides. Due to the rotation of the Earth, it deviates to the right, forms a vortex with a diameter of 100-400 km, in which the air rotates counterclockwise around the central area of ​​low pressure at a speed of up to 100 m/s or more.

In proportion to the square of the speed, the energy and destructive power of the vortex increase. On the ocean, the cyclone creates a powerful wave; on the shores, destruction is caused by wind, storm and unusually heavy rains, accompanied by extensive floods.

The amount of precipitation on some islands reaches 1000 mm or more.

In the northern tropical zone, where the surface water temperature is almost everywhere above + 20 °C, communities of coral reefs and mangroves are common, which are characteristic only of low latitudes. But in the Atlantic Ocean they do not reach such development as in the Indian and Pacific.

The equatorial belt is located mainly in the Northern Hemisphere on both sides of the thermal equator between 10-12°N. sh. and 0-3°S sh. It includes parts of the North and South Equatorial Currents and the system of equatorial countercurrents.

Dominates in the belt equatorial climate. It is characterized by a high temperature of the surface water layer, a complex system of water circulation with a predominance of uplift, and a relatively high bioproductivity. On the continents, this belt corresponds to the zone of humid equatorial forests.

Through the belt twice a year (in spring and autumn) passes the intratropical zone of convergence of the trade winds of the two hemispheres with intense rains.

Therefore, there are two seasons in the belt - spring and autumn - wet with the so-called zenithal rains (the sun passes through the zenith at this time), and two - winter and summer - relatively dry (the sun moves away from the equator, the trade wind penetrates the belt, and at this time zenithal rains fall in the tropics, respectively, southern and northern). The equator receives not only the energy of direct solar radiation, but also a large amount of latent heat of vaporization associated with warm air, saturated with water vapor and driven by trade winds.

The equatorial belt collects moisture and heat from vast tropical (trade wind) belts.

The trade winds of both hemispheres enter the band of the thermal equator and in it the trade winds of both hemispheres gradually fade. Between them, there is usually always a strip of wind calm, calm and squalls up to 500 km wide. As a result of strong heating of the calm surface of the ocean, powerful ascending currents of moist air, close to saturation, arise.

Cooling them as they rise causes condensation of vapors, the formation of large clouds and heavy rainfall, usually with a thunderstorm.

Water temperature at surfaces during the year it changes little - by 1-3 “C. Salinity in general close to the norm, only in areas of large river flow - in the mouths of the Amazon, Orinoco - 34, and in the Bay of Biafra - 32-33% o.

The southern tropical belt is located between 0-3 ° S.

sh. and 18°S sh. in the east and 30 ° S. sh. in the West. The southeast trade wind dominates here. In his Eastern part, the South Equatorial Current is born, which crosses the ocean from east to west co speed 0.5 m/s. The depth of the current is 300 m. The water temperature on the surface reaches + 27 ° C, the salinity is high - 36% o.

Within the flow of the current, countercurrents are sometimes observed. The hydrological regime of the western districts driven by the Brazilian Current. The shelf here is narrow.

There is a large river flow in the belt, especially in the area where the Congo River flows into the ocean. Hurricanes are rare, seasonal upwelling is noticeable. Coastal areas have high bio-production.

The southern subtropical belt is located between the zones of the South Equatorial and Antarctic Circumpolar Currents.

Due to the presence of warm and cold currents, the boundaries of the belt off the coast of South America lie at higher latitudes, and at coast of Africa - closer to the equator.

The open ocean is characterized by intense solar radiation, low precipitation, high evaporation, and weak winds of variable directions. This explains the absence of powerful currents, the formation of warm (+16-I-18 °C), highly saline (36-37% 0) waters, their subsidence and low bioproductivity.

High bioproductivity on the shelf of Uruguay, where the waters of the La Plata River and the Falkland Current penetrate, as well as water from the depths.

The southern temperate belt begins south of the subtropical convergence zone at 37 40 ° south sh. AT these latitudes, the Atlantic Ocean connects with the Pacific through the Drake Passage, as well as with the Indian Ocean south of Africa.

The belt is dominated by western and northwest winds, deep cyclones move from west to east, accompanied by storm winds.

The frequency and intensity of storms are high. Storms occur in any season, but most often in autumn and winter. Here, a favorable environment for the development of wind waves is the unrestricted water space of the open ocean and great depths. Storm winds, without encountering any obstacles on their way, have a large acceleration, the wave height is up to 20 m. The waves reach Cape Horn, which is known as one of the most stormy places in the world.

Throughout the year, the belt has low stratus clouds, frequent fogs, and prolonged rains. The air temperature is low - + 10 ° C in summer, 0 ° C in winter.

General information and physical and geographical position

The Atlantic Ocean is located mainly in. Western hemisphere. It stretches 16,000 km from north to south.

km. In the northern and southern parts, the ocean expands, and in equatorial latitudes it sounds up to 2900 km.

The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest among the oceans. Coastline ocean in. The northern hemisphere is heavily dissected by peninsulas and bays. The continents in the ocean have many islands, inland and marginal seas.

Bottom relief

It stretches across the entire ocean at approximately the same distance from the shores of the continents.

Mid-ocean ridge. The relative height of the ridge is 2 km. In the axial part of the ridge there is a rift valley of the ridge from 6 to. ZO. Km and depth up to 2 km. Transverse faults divide the ridge into separate segments. Rifts and faults of mid-ocean ridges are associated with underwater active volcanoes, as well as volcanoes. And sland and. Azores. The ocean has its greatest depth within the trench.

Puerto Rico - 8742 m. Shelf area. The Atlantic Ocean is quite large - more than in. Pacific Ocean.

Climate

The Atlantic Ocean is located in all climatic zones. Earth, so its climates are very diverse. Most of the ocean (between 40 ° N and 42 ° S) is located in subtropical, tropical, subequatorial and equatorial climatic zones; the southern parts of the ocean are characterized by a strict climate, somewhat less cold northern regions.

Water properties and ocean currents

The zonality of water masses in the ocean is very complicated by the influence of land and sea ​​currents, which manifests itself primarily in the distribution of surface water temperatures.

The northern half of the ocean is warmer than the southern, with different temperatures reaching up to 6 °. FROM. average temperature surface waters 16.5 °C.

Salinity of surface waters c. The Atlantic Ocean is high. A lot flows into the ocean and its seas major rivers(Amazon,. Koigo,. Mississippi,. Nile,. Danube,. Parana, etc.). In desalinated bays and seas of subpolar and temperate latitudes, ice forms near the eastern shores in winter.

A feature of the ocean is the numerous icebergs and floating sea ice brought here from. Northern. the Arctic Ocean and from the shores.

Antarctica tidi.

Because of the strong stretch. of the Atlantic Ocean from north to south, meridional ocean currents are more developed in it than latitudinal ones. In the Atlantic, two systems are formed on top of the currents. In the northern hemisphere, it looks like a figure eight -. Northern. Passat,. Gulfstream,. North Atlantic and Ka-Nar currents form the movement of waters clockwise in temperate and tropical latitudes. In the northern part.

The North Atlantic Current directs the waters. Atlantic to North. Arctic Ocean counterclock-wise. Like cold currents they come back in. Atlantic Ocean in the northeast. V. Southern Hemisphere.

Passat,. Brazilian,. Western. Vetrov and. Benguela currents form the movement of waters counterclockwise in the form of one ring.

organic world

Atlantic Ocean vs. Quiet had poorer species composition living organisms.

However, in terms of number and total biomass, then. The Atlantic Ocean is rich in organisms. This is primarily due to the significant spread of the shelf, on which many demersal and demersal fish (cod, perch, flounder, etc.) live.

Natural complexes

The Atlantic Ocean is distinguished by all zonal complexes - natural belts, except for the northern polar one. The waters of the north subpolar belt are rich different kinds living organisms - especially on the shelf in b berets. Greenland and. Labrador. The temperate zone is characterized by an intense interaction of cold and warm waters, an abundance of living organisms.

These are the most fishy areas. Atlantic. Large expanses of warm waters of the subtropical, tropical and equatorial zones are less productive than the waters of the northern temperate zone.

A special natural water complex stands out in the northern subtropical zone. Sargasovog in the sea. It is characterized by increased water salinity - up to 37.5% w and low productivity.

In the temperate zone.

In the southern hemisphere, complexes are distinguished (as in the northern hemisphere), where waters with different temperatures and densities mix. The complexes of the subantarctic and antarctic belts are characterized by this seasonal distribution of floating ice and icebergs.

Economic use

The Atlantic Ocean presents all types of maritime activities, including highest value has marine, transport, underwater oil and gas production, and only then - the use of biological resources

. Atlantic Ocean- the main sea route of the world, an area of ​​​​intensive shipping. On the shores

The Atlantic Ocean hosts more than 70 coastal countries with a population of more than 1.3 billion people

To mineral resources The ocean includes placer deposits of rare metals, diamonds, and gold.

Reserves are concentrated in the bowels of the shelf iron ores, sulfur, large deposits of oil and gas have been discovered and are exploited by many countries (North Sea, etc.). Some areas of the shelf are rich in coal.

Ocean energy is used in the operation of tidal power plants (for example, at the mouth of the river. Rance in the north. France).

Many of the Atlantic countries extract from the ocean and its seas such mineral wealth as table salt, magnesium, bromine, and uranium.

Desalination plants operate in arid regions

The biological resources of the ocean are also intensively used. The Atlantic Ocean is the largest per unit area, but its biological resources are depleted in some areas

Due to the intense economic activity in many seas in the open ocean, environmental conditions are deteriorating - water and air pollution, a decrease in stocks of valuable commercial fish and etc..

other animals. Recreational conditions on the shores of the ocean are deteriorating.