Similarities Between Sea and an Ocean

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The Earth’s surface is covered by water on around three-fourths of it. The many water bodies refer to the different ways this water is dispersed across the surface of the Earth. These bodies of water range in size from enormous ones like oceans and seas to tiny ones like ponds. 

As a result, the different types of water bodies that we can observe on the surface of the globe include oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, ponds, waterfalls, etc.

What is the Sea?

A sea is a saltwater body that can be either totally enclosed by land, like the Caspian Sea, or a component of a larger ocean, like the Mediterranean Sea. 

Sea is the system interconnecting all the oceans of the world: The Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Arctic Ocean, Indian Ocean, and Southern Oceans.

  • The largest seas on the planet are the American Mediterranean Sea, Philippine Sea, Coral Sea, Arabian Sea, and Sargasso Sea.
  • A sea is commonly defined as a region of the ocean partially or surrounded by land, usually smaller land masses rather than entire continents.
  • About 35 grams of salt are present in each liter of seawater.
  • The sea serves as a transportation route as well.

The marine ecosystems inside each sea can differ significantly from one another due to the diversity of the Earth’s oceans’ sizes, temperatures, and locations.

What are Oceans?

Oceans are the biggest saltwater bodies on the planet. The Antarctic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, and Arctic Ocean are the five major oceans on the planet.

The Arctic Ocean is said to be the smallest ocean on Earth, with the Pacific Ocean being the largest. Together, these oceans account for over 70.8% of the planet’s surface and 97% of its water.

The oceans are the major part of the hydrosphere on Earth and are essential to the continued existence of both plant and animal life. In addition to serving as heat storage, the oceans significantly impact the water cycle, carbon cycle, and weather patterns on Earth.

  • Oceanographers have segmented the ocean into horizontal and vertical zones by considering various physical and biological factors.
  • The ocean’s water column is also separated into several zones based on depth and light availability.
  • For instance, the photic zone, which is covered by water 1% below the surface of the ocean and is rich in biodiversity, is where photosynthesis takes place.

The oceans contain a massive 97 % of the world’s water. The weather, the temperature, and the availability of food for humans and other animals are all significantly influenced by the ocean. 

Yet, the ocean is still a mystery, despite its immensity and effect on every living thing. Over 80% of the ocean has never been discovered or even glimpsed by humans. Even the moon’s and Mars’ surfaces are more mapped and analysed compared to our ocean floor.

Similarities

Tides

The exceedingly long waves that travel across the water due to the moon’s and the sun’s gravitational pull are called s Tides. The rise and fall of the sea’s surface regularly are what tides, which originate in the ocean, appear as they move toward the coastlines.

Millions of Marine Life

The number of distinct species that live in the water is unknown. Some oceanographers think the number of species is decreasing due to the harm that pollution, rising sea temperatures, and other issues are causing too many marine ecosystems.

However, oceanographers may be in for many more pleasant surprises in the coming years. Some scientists believe there are still between a few hundred thousand and a few million undiscovered species in the ocean, which means that more than 90% of the known species may still be undiscovered. There are currently about 226,000 ocean species known to science.

Oxygen Production

50 to 80 percent of the oxygen produced on Earth, according to scientists, is produced in the ocean. The primary contributor to this production is oceanic plankton, which also includes algae, floating plants, and certain microorganisms that photosynthesize.

Prochlorococcus is the smallest photosynthetic creature on Earth. Tiny bacteria like these produce up to 20% of the oxygen present in our biosphere. That proportion is greater than the area of all tropical rainforests combined.

Carbon Cycle

In the carbon cycle, the oceans are extremely significant. Surface waters absorb and release carbon dioxide, oxygen, and other gases as they exchange gases with the atmosphere. 

Oceanic organisms that resemble plants called phytoplankton convert carbon dioxide into carbohydrates that support marine ecosystems.

FAQs

What are the differences between the sea and the ocean?

Seas are generally found where the land and ocean meet and are smaller than oceans in terms of geography. On the ocean’s edges, some seas are partially encircled by land.

Are Seas a part of the ocean?

A sea is typically thought of as a section of the ocean that is somewhat enclosed by land. According to the definition, the Earth has around 50 oceans. However, that number also includes Hudson Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, which aren’t generally considered as seas.

Is the beach a sea or an ocean?

Beaches are landforms. They are a component of the shorelines of many bodies of water, including lakes, seas, and even oceans. Beaches are made up of various rock fragments, including pebbles, gravel, shingles, cobblestones, and sand.

What are the seas in the world?

There are about 50 seas on the entire planet. But, of course, this presumes that the definition of a sea as a partially landlocked region is accurate.

What are the 7 oceans of the world?

The world’s seven oceans include the Indian Ocean, North Atlantic, North Pacific, South Pacific, South Atlantic, Arctic Ocean, and Southern oceans.

Author: Syed Hasan

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