Atlantic Ocean

Atlantic Ocean
Name	Atlantic Ocean
Caption	Map of the Atlantic Ocean
Area	106,460,000 km²
Volume	310,410,900 km³
Max-depth	8,376 m (Puerto Rico Trench)
Av-depth	3,646 m
Salinity	33–37 ppt
Islands	Greenland, Iceland, Great Britain, Ireland, Newfoundland, Greater Antilles, Azores, Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Falkland Islands
Trenches	Puerto Rico Trench, South Sandwich Trench
Basins	North Atlantic, South Atlantic, Sargasso Sea, Norwegian Sea, Labrador Sea

Atlantic Ocean. It is the world's second-largest ocean, separating the continents of Africa, Europe, and Asia from the Americas. Its name is derived from Atlas of Greek mythology, and it has been a central corridor for exploration, trade, and cultural exchange for millennia. The ocean's vast system of currents, including the Gulf Stream, plays a critical role in regulating global climate.

Geography

Bounded by the Arctic Ocean to the north and the Southern Ocean to the south, it connects to the Pacific Ocean via the Drake Passage and the Arctic Ocean through the Greenland Sea. Major marginal seas include the Caribbean Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, the North Sea, and the Baltic Sea. Significant gulfs are the Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf of Guinea, and the Bay of Biscay. Its coastline is highly irregular, featuring prominent peninsulas like Scandinavia, Iberia, and Florida, and it contains numerous important islands such as Greenland, Iceland, the British Isles, and the Antilles. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a massive underwater mountain range, runs roughly north-south through its center.

Geology

The ocean basin is geologically young, formed by the process of seafloor spreading along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a divergent boundary between tectonic plates like the North American Plate and the Eurasian Plate. This ridge is part of the global mid-ocean ridge system. The oldest oceanic crust, found near the continental margins, dates to the Jurassic period. Major deeps include the Puerto Rico Trench in the north and the South Sandwich Trench in the south. The opening of the Atlantic began during the Mesozoic era with the breakup of the supercontinent Pangaea, a process studied through plate tectonics and evidence like the Newfoundland basin.

Climate

The climate is heavily influenced by ocean currents and atmospheric circulation patterns. The powerful Gulf Stream transports warm water from the Gulf of Mexico northeastward, moderating the climate of Northwestern Europe. Other key currents include the North Atlantic Current, the Canary Current, and the Benguela Current. The interaction between cold and warm water masses, such as at the Grand Banks of Newfoundland, creates famous fog zones. The ocean is a major driver of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation, a crucial component of Earth's heat distribution. Seasonal phenomena like hurricanes form off the coast of West Africa and intensify in the Caribbean Sea.

Marine life and ecology

It hosts diverse ecosystems ranging from the icy waters of the Labrador Sea to the tropical coral reefs of the Caribbean. The Sargasso Sea is a unique, nutrient-poor region defined by floating Sargassum seaweed. Major fishing grounds include the Grand Banks, the North Sea, and the Patagonian Shelf, supporting species like Atlantic cod, herring, and hake. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge provides habitats for deep-sea vent communities. Marine mammals such as humpback whales, North Atlantic right whales, and various dolphin species are common. The Benguela Current system off Southwest Africa is one of the world's most productive marine areas.

Human history

It has been a highway for human migration and commerce since prehistoric times, with early crossings potentially made by the Solutrean hypothesis. The Vikings established settlements in Greenland and Newfoundland. The Age of Discovery, driven by explorers like Christopher Columbus, John Cabot, and Ferdinand Magellan, permanently linked the Old World and the New World. This led to the Columbian Exchange and the tragic Atlantic slave trade. Historic sea battles include the Battle of Trafalgar and the Battle of the Atlantic during World War II. Key modern passages are the Panama Canal and the Suez Canal.

Environmental issues

The ocean faces severe anthropogenic pressures, including overfishing that has depleted stocks like the Grand Banks cod. Marine pollution from sources like the North Atlantic garbage patch and agricultural runoff creates dead zones. Climate change is causing sea level rise, threatening coastal cities from Miami to Rotterdam, and warming waters may disrupt the Gulf Stream. Ocean acidification harms organisms with calcium carbonate shells, such as corals and some plankton. Conservation efforts are led by organizations like the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas and involve Marine Protected Areas.

Category:Atlantic Ocean Category:Oceans