Some sources give data characterizing the area of the Atlantic Ocean without Marginal Seas of the basin.But often have to operate those relating to the entire area.Consider several answers to the question posed in the title of the article.In addition, we shall compare Atlantic basin area to other parts of the World Ocean (IO).Also touch on the topic of possible increase of the water level, which threatens flooding vast coastal areas, densely populated and have a complicated infrastructure.
problems of determining the area and boundaries of water areas
size calculation and comparison of the territories of certain parts of the MoD impede different views on the number of them.It is generally accepted division into four oceans: Pacific, Atlantic, Indian and Arctic.There is another point of view, when are isolated North and South Atlantic, or the southern parts of the basin are combined into one part MO.Symptoms, which division is based, - the nature of the bottom topography, atmospheric and water circulation, temperature and other factors.Complicating the situation by the fact that some sources include the Arctic Ocean to the Atlantic, considering one of the whole territory of the seas near 90 °.w.This view found no official recognition.
General characteristics of the Atlantic (briefly)
Ocean covers a vast territory, elongated in the meridional direction.The length of the Atlantic from north to south is 16 th. Km, which leads to significant differences in the climatic conditions of the basin.The smallest width of the water area - near the equator, there is a strong sense of the impact of the continents.In view of the sea area of the Atlantic Ocean is 91,660,000 km2 (according to other sources - 106 460 000 km2).
The topography are two powerful mid-ocean ridges - the North and South.Its maximum depth reaches the Atlantic near the Puerto Rican Trench - 8742 m. The average distance from the surface to the bottom - 3736 m. The overall volume of water in the basin is 329 660 000 km3.
considerable length and a large area of the Atlantic Ocean influence the diversity climate.With increasing distance from the equator to the poles there are significant fluctuations in air temperature and water content in it dissolved substances.The lowest salinity found in the Baltic Sea (8%), in the tropics, the figure rises to 37%.
in the sea and the bays of the Atlantic flow into large rivers: the Amazon, the Congo, Mississippi, Orinoco, Niger, Loire, Rhine, Elbe and others.Mediterranean communicates with the ocean through the narrow Strait of Gibraltar (13 km).
form
Atlantic Ocean on a map configuration resembles the letter S. widest part located between 25 and 35 ° C.w. 35 and 65 ° S.w.The value of these waters has a significant impact on the total area of the Atlantic Ocean.For its basin is characterized by a significant split in the Northern Hemisphere.It was here that are the largest sea, bays and archipelagos.Tropics abound coral structures and the islands.If you do not take into account the marginal and inland seas, the Atlantic Ocean area (million km2) - 82.44.The width of the river basin varies greatly from north to south (km):
- between the islands of Ireland and Newfoundland - 3320;
- at the latitude of Bermuda waters of expanding - 4800;
- from Brazil Cape San Roque to the coast of Liberia - 2850;
- between m. Mountain in South America and m. Of Good Hope in Africa - 6500.
boundaries of the Atlantic in the west and east
natural boundaries are Ocean coast of North and South America.Before the continents were connected by the Isthmus of Panama, through which about 100 years ago has been traced titled Ship Canal.He joined a small bay of the Pacific to the Caribbean Sea of the Atlantic Ocean, at the same time separating two American continent.In this part of the basin there are many archipelagos and islands (Greater and Lesser Antilles, the Bahamas, and others).
shortest distance between South America and Antarctica is in the Drake Passage.It is here that the southern boundary with the Pacific Rim.One of the variants of differentiation - the meridian of 68 ° 04 h.d. from the South American Cape Horn to the nearest point on the coast of the Antarctic Peninsula.The easiest way to find the boundary with the Indian Ocean.She laid exactly 20 °.e. - from the coast of Antarctica to the South African m. Agulhas.In southern latitudes, the area of the Atlantic Ocean reaches the highest values.
border in the north
difficult to carry out the separation on a map of the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans.The border passes near the Labrador Sea and south of.Greenland.In the Denmark Strait waters of the Atlantic to reach the Arctic Circle, in the area of.Iceland falls just south of the border.The west coast of Scandinavia almost entirely by the Atlantic Ocean, this border is 70 ° C.w.Large marginal and inland seas in the east: the Northern, Baltic, Mediterranean, Black.
What is the area of the Atlantic Ocean (in comparison with other parts of the MoD)
Pacific swimming pool - the largest in the world.Atlantic takes second place in terms of the water area and depth, covering 21% of the surface of our planet, the first place in the catchment area.Together with the seas area of the Atlantic Ocean (million km2) is from 106.46 to 91.66.The smaller figure is almost twice lower than the figure for the Pacific Basin.Atlantic Ocean about 15 million km2 more Indian.
addition calculations pertaining to the present time, specialists determine the possible increase and decrease the level of MO, flooding coastal areas.While no one can say when it will happen and how.Change the area of the Atlantic may in the case of ice melting in the north and the south under climate warming.Fluctuations occur constantly, but the overall trend is also noticeable reduction of ice area in the Arctic and Antarctic.As a result of rising water in the Atlantic Ocean could be flooded large areas on the eastern coast of Canada and the United States, to the west and the north of Europe, including the Baltic Sea coast.
