Arctic ocean

Arctic Ocean

The Arctic Ocean is the smallest and shallowest of the world's five major oceans. It is located in the northern hemisphere and mostly in the Arctic north polar region. The Arctic Ocean includes the North Pole and is bounded by Eurasia and North America, and the countries that border it are: Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, and the United States.

Geography

The Arctic Ocean spans an area of about 14,056,000 km². It is surrounded by the landmasses of Eurasia, North America, Greenland, and several islands. It is connected to the Pacific Ocean by the Bering Strait and to the Atlantic Ocean through the Greenland Sea.

Climate

The climate of the Arctic Ocean is characterized by long, cold winters and short, cool summers. A significant portion of the ocean is covered by sea ice throughout the year, which reaches its maximum extent in March and its minimum in September.

Flora and Fauna

The Arctic Ocean is home to a variety of species, including polar bears, seals, and various types of whales. The ocean's flora is dominated by phytoplankton, which blooms in the summer months when the ice cover decreases.

Exploration and Research

The exploration of the Arctic Ocean has a long history, with the first recorded exploration by Pytheas, a Greek explorer, in 325 BC. In modern times, research in the Arctic Ocean is focused on understanding the effects of climate change and global warming.

See Also

• Climate change in the Arctic
• Arctic exploration
• Arctic policy of Russia
• Arctic policy of the United States