Ocean

The ocean is the body of salt water that covers approximately 70.8% of the surface of Earth and contains 97% of Earth's water. An ocean can also refer to any of the large bodies of water into which the world ocean is conventionally divided. Separate names are used to identify five different areas of the ocean: Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Antarctic/Southern, and Arctic. Seawater covers approximately 361,000,000 km² of the planet. The ocean is the principal component of Earth's hydrosphere, and therefore integral to life on Earth. Acting as a huge heat reservoir, the ocean influences climate and weather patterns, the carbon cycle, and the water cycle. Oceanographers divide the ocean into different vertical and horizontal zones based on physical and biological conditions. The pelagic zone consists of the water column from surface to ocean floor throughout the open ocean. The water column is further categorized in other zones depending on depth and on how much light is present.

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The Atlantic's chilling secret: A century of data reveals ocean current collapse

Ocean ‘greening’ at poles could spell changes for fisheries - EurekAlert!

Hundreds of Mysterious Giant Viruses Discovered Lurking in The Ocean

What helps the climate is not automatically good for the ocean - EurekAlert!

Centuries-old mercury pollution hidden in the ocean threatens arctic wildlife - EurekAlert!

Reusable Chinese Rocket Soft-Lands in the Ocean in a New Test

David Attenborough’s ‘Ocean’ is a brutal, beautiful wake-up call from the sea

Hurricanes create powerful changes deep in the ocean, study reveals - EurekAlert!

‘A love affair with the sea’: Meet a scientist who overcame hurdles to dedicate her life to studying the ocean - EurekAlert!

‘A love affair with the sea’: Meet a scientist who overcame hurdles to dedicate her life to studying the ocean - EurekAlert!

South Africa Is Rising Up Out of The Ocean, Scientists Reveal

The Ocean Is Getting Darker, Threatening All That Lives Within

'Lost City' Deep Beneath The Ocean Is Unlike Anything We've Seen Before on Earth

21% of the Ocean Is Losing Sunlight – What That Means for Marine Life

The ocean seems to be getting darker

Is the ocean getting darker? - EurekAlert!

Bizarre Three-Eyed Predator Hunted The Ocean Half a Billion Years Ago

From tiny worms to giant squid: new global database reveals the hidden power of body size in the ocean - EurekAlert!

Melting Ice Is Changing the Color of the Ocean – And Scientists Are Alarmed

Interactive Map Reveals Ocean Pathways Vital For 109 Species