man all the forces aimed into space, science fiction writers have painted the picture of development of other planets, and that we "under the feet" and sometimes know not all.And if the land is more or less learned something about the depth of water is practically unknown.And on the simple question of what the ocean can not answer every one.Let's "patch" hole in education and deal with the concepts and definitions.
What is it, the ocean, unlike other water bodies
Almost a third of the planet's surface (seventy one percent) is water.It forms the oceans.He, in turn, is divided into smaller parts.All we know them: the sea and the bays, rivers and straits - it's part of it.The biggest deemed oceans.By definition, this mass of water between the continents.There are four (although some scholars are inclined to believe that the five).The warmest - the Indian Ocean.The highest - Pacific.Arctic Ocean for the most part is covered with glaciers.Atlantic - characterized by strong currents.Fifth, unrecognized ocean, presumably located in the South Pole.His maps and on the globe not isolated.Imagine what the ocean will be easier if you look at the image of the planet from orbit.This is a vast space covered with blue water and white ice.His signs: location between continents, incredible sizes.
Historical presentation
In ancient times, people had no idea about how much water on the planet.And the development of these spaces was the work is impossible without high-tech and modern equipment.In ancient Greece, the question of what the ocean meet - the waters surrounding the known world.Most often they were in a river flowing around the Earth.Their level of navigation is not allowed to travel between the continents, hence, make the real data about the greatness of oceanic expanses was impossible.Performances mankind began to change gradually with the development of shipbuilding.By the seventeenth century it matured first understanding of the actual size of the oceans.Although there is evidence that ancient people knew about the planet a lot more, but were unable to save this information.Proof - Mercator map, which is more than five hundred years.
Modern views
Scientists believe that the future of humankind is directly related to the oceans.Asked what the ocean, they are an endless story of his inexhaustible resources.For example, the water itself.It is a source of mineral elements that it contains more than seventy-five.Because it is possible to allocate magnesium and iodine, cadmium, gold, bromine and table salt.Yes, and fresh water left.Stocks liquid is so great that it is hard to imagine.For every person on the planet has to a volume of 270 million cubic meters.It is about two Mozhaisk Reservoir, near Moscow.The bottom of the ocean - a source of energy.Most of the oil and gas extracted on the continental shelf.Stocks of these substances, according to scientists, are enormous.In the last century it has been discovered reserves of ferromanganese nodules.This allows you to reflect on the production of thirty kinds of metals.Ocean - it is also a source of energy.It can be obtained from the tidal currents.Scientists estimate that the world now there are twenty-five places worth to build such plants.Considered the best coast of the White, Barents and Okhotsk seas.
Biodiversity
incredibly rapid growth of the world population has forced scientists to reflect on the need for food resources.Many wrapped views towards the ocean.It floats and reproduces an incredible variety of all kinds of creatures.Fish accounts for about 14 percent.Most of the occupied algae.And their use in foods is also possible, although not yet widespread.Now the focus has shifted to the development of ocean farms.They are trying to breed all sorts of useful marine animals.The direction is considered to be promising.Currently, farmed, mainly oysters and mussels, kelp.Work on the development trends of mariculture is conducted by all countries.All that is known about the biosphere, the oceans - this coastal region.More than eighty percent unexplored, allowing mankind has high hopes for its future ocean.Constantly there are reports of the discovery of new species of living organisms in the depths, as the development of technology makes it possible to more detailed study of the seabed.
ecology of the oceans
Techno human activity affects the state of the oceans.And
harmful effects often leads to a fatal trouble.For example, in the Atlantic Ocean gets a lot of fuel oil and crude oil.Technology effective cleaning do not yet exist.Such disasters destroy all life, harming the ecosystem.In addition, often the cause of pollution of the oceans becomes human activities on land.For example, flows into the Sea of Azov to the fields as fertilizer, it is considered the most polluted on the planet.From oil affected the Baltic Sea and the Mediterranean.Persian Gulf in general for some time turned into a dump oil waste because of military conflicts unleashed on its territory.
particular importance is now becoming the protection of the ocean surface by human activities.It certainly needs to be done if we want our descendants, too, knew what the ocean!
