Atlantic ocean

Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's oceans, with an area of about 106,460,000 square kilometers. It covers approximately 20 percent of the Earth's surface and about 29 percent of its water surface area. It is known to separate the "Old World" of Europe and Asia from the "New World" of the Americas in the European perception of the World.

Geography

The Atlantic Ocean is bounded on the west by North and South America. It connects to the Arctic Ocean through the Denmark Strait, Greenland Sea, Norwegian Sea and Barents Sea. To the east, the boundaries of the ocean proper are Europe: the Strait of Gibraltar (where it connects with the Mediterranean Sea–one of its marginal seas–and, in turn, the Black Sea, both of which also pour into the Atlantic) and Africa.

Hydrography

The Atlantic Ocean has a series of water characteristics. The surface water of the open ocean is usually divided into the North Atlantic Drift and the South Atlantic Drift. The North Atlantic Drift, which flows east and north from the West Indies, is one of the most important and best known of the ocean's currents.

Climate

The climate of the Atlantic Ocean and its adjacent land areas are influenced by the temperatures of the surface waters and water currents as well as the winds blowing across the waters. Because of the ocean's great capacity to store and release heat, maritime climates are more moderate and have less extreme seasonal variations than inland climates.

Marine life

The Atlantic Ocean provides a wide range of habitats for marine life, from coastal areas with plenty of light for photosynthesis, to deep-sea trenches where light is absent and pressure is high.

History

The Atlantic Ocean has played a central role in history, from the migration of early humans to the discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus. It has been a major route for trade and travel between the Americas, Europe, and Africa.

See also

• Pacific Ocean
• Indian Ocean
• Southern Ocean
• Arctic Ocean