Although the ocean is one continuous body of water, oceanographers have divided it into four principal areas: the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, and Arctic Oceans. The Atlantic, Indi… See more

Climate The atmosphere receives much of its heat from the ocean. As the sun warms the water, the ocean transfers heat to the atmosphere. In turn, the atmosphere distributes the heat around the globe. Because water absorbs an… See more

Scientists began mapping the ocean floor in the 1920s. They used instruments called echo sounders, which mea… See more

The ocean has five major life zones, each with organisms uniquely adapted to their specific marine ecosystem. Phytoplankton are a basis of the ocean fo… See more

After the Earth began to form about 4.6 billion years ago, it gradually separated into layers of lighter and heavier rock. The lighter rock rose and formed the Earths crust. The heavier rock sank and formed the Earths core and mantl… See more

The oceans crust is a thin layer of volcanic rock called basalt. The ocean floor is divided into several different areas. The first is the continental shelf… See more

The epipelagic zone (1) is the sunlit upper layer of the ocean. It reaches from the surface to about 200 meters (660 feet) deep. The epipelagic zon… See more