Ocean

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An ocean (from Greek Ωκεανός, Okeanos (Oceanus)) is a major body of saline water, and a principal component of the hydrosphere. Approximately 71% of the Earth's surface (an area of some 361 million square kilometers) is covered by ocean, a continuous body of water that is customarily divided into several principal oceans and smaller seas. More than half of this area is over 3,000 meters (9,800 ft) deep. Average oceanic salinity is around 35 parts per thousand (ppt) (3.5%), and nearly all seawater has a salinity in the range of 30 to 38 ppt.

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News tagged with ocean


Computer simulation strengthens link between climate change and release of subsea methane

Computer simulation strengthens link between climate change and release of subsea methane

Space & Earth / Earth Sciences

created 5 hours ago | popularity 4.6 / 5 (11) | comments 15

(PhysOrg.com) -- A first-of-its-kind computer simulation that mirrors real-world observations of methane bubbling up from a seabed in the Arctic Ocean provides further evidence that warming oceans may unleash ...





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Laurence still causing warnings and watches in northern west Australia

Laurence still causing warnings and watches in northern west Australia

Space & Earth / Earth Sciences

created 7 hours ago | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Although the center of Tropical Cyclone Laurence has been over land for two days, it's still holding together and bringing heavy rains and gusty winds to the northern coastal areas of West Australia and will ...


New pictures reveal rich Antarctic marine life in area of rapid climate change

New pictures reveal rich Antarctic marine life in area of rapid climate change

Space & Earth / Environment

created 3 hours ago | popularity 4 / 5 (4) | comments 0

(PhysOrg.com) -- New photographs of ice fish, octopus, sea pigs, giant sea spiders, rare rays and beautiful basket stars that live in Antarctica’s continental shelf seas are revealed this week by the British ...


Zoning the ocean may help endangered whales to recover

Biology / Ecology

created Dec 16, 2009 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Scientists in Scotland, Canada and the US have proposed a new method to identify priority areas for whale conservation. The team's findings, published in Animal Conservation, suggest that even small protected areas, identi ...


ROV Jason images the discovery of the deepest explosive eruption on the sea floor (w/ Video)

Oceanographers image the discovery of the deepest explosive eruption on the sea floor (w/ Video)

Space & Earth / Earth Sciences

created 4 hours ago | popularity 4.7 / 5 (3) | comments 0

Oceanographers using the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Jason discovered and recorded the first video and still images of a deep-sea volcano actively erupting molten lava on the seafloor.


Even at sublethal levels, pesticides may slow the recovery of wild salmon populations

Biology / Ecology

created Dec 16, 2009 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Biologists determined that short-term, seasonal exposure to pesticides in rivers and basins may limit the growth and size of wild salmon populations. In addition to the widespread deterioration of salmon habitats, these findings ...


NASA NuSTAR Telescope Being Built at Nevis

NASA NuSTAR Telescope Being Built at Nevis

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

created 5 hours ago | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

(PhysOrg.com) -- It's an unlikely place to build a NASA telescope: a leafy estate in Irvington, N.Y., that once belonged to the son of Alexander Hamilton. Inside a hangar-like building on the site, which is ...


Glint of Sunlight Confirms Liquid in Northern Lake District of Titan

Glint of Sunlight Confirms Liquid in Northern Lake District of Titan

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

created 2 hours ago | popularity 5 / 5 (7) | comments 0

(PhysOrg.com) -- NASA's Cassini Spacecraft has captured the first flash of sunlight reflected off a lake on Saturn's moon Titan, confirming the presence of liquid on the part of the moon dotted with many large, ...



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