Philippine Sea

Philippine Sea
Name	Philippine Sea
Location	Western Pacific Ocean, Pacific Ocean, between Japan, Taiwan, Philippines, and Mariana Islands
Coordinates	12°N 135°E

Philippine Sea. The Philippine Sea is a part of the Western Pacific Ocean, located between Japan, Taiwan, Philippines, and Mariana Islands. It is connected to the South China Sea through the Luzon Strait and to the Celebes Sea through the Mindanao Trench. The sea is also bounded by the Izu-Ogasawara-Mariana Trench to the east and the Ryukyu Trench to the north, near the Okinawa Prefecture and Kyushu.

Geography

The Philippine Sea covers an area of approximately 5 million square kilometers, with a maximum depth of about 11,022 meters in the Mariana Trench, which is the deepest point in the Pacific Ocean and the lowest point on Earth, near the Guam and Northern Mariana Islands. The sea floor is characterized by several deep-sea trenches, including the Izu-Ogasawara-Mariana Trench and the Philippine Trench, which are located near the Bonin Islands and Volcano Islands. The sea is also home to several island arcs, including the Izu Islands and the Mariana Islands, which are part of the United States and Japan. The Philippines and Taiwan are also bounded by the Philippine Sea, with major cities like Manila and Taipei located along its coast.

Geology

The Philippine Sea is a back-arc basin, formed as a result of the subduction of the Pacific Plate under the Philippine Sea Plate and the Eurasian Plate, near the Japan Trench and Ryukyu Trench. The sea floor is composed of basalt and gabbro, with several seamounts and guyots formed by volcanic activity, including the Izu-Bonin-Mariana Arc and the Kyushu-Palau Ridge. The Mariana Islands and the Izu Islands are also home to several active volcanoes, including Mount Fuji and Taal Volcano, which are part of the Pacific Ring of Fire. The Philippine Sea is also characterized by several hydrothermal vents, which support unique ecosystems and are located near the Okinawa Trough and Izu-Ogasawara Trench.

Climate

The Philippine Sea has a tropical monsoon climate, with warm waters and high humidity throughout the year, similar to the climate of Indonesia and Malaysia. The sea is affected by several typhoons and tropical cyclones that form in the Western Pacific Ocean, including the Super Typhoon Tip and Typhoon Haiyan, which are monitored by the Japan Meteorological Agency and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. The sea is also influenced by the Kuroshio Current and the Mindanao Current, which bring warm waters from the Equator and are part of the Pacific Ocean circulation, near the Taiwan Strait and Luzon Strait. The Philippine Sea is also home to several coral reefs, including the Tubbataha Reef National Park and the Apo Reef National Park, which are protected by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Marine Life

The Philippine Sea is home to a diverse range of marine life, including coral reefs, fish, mollusks, and mammals, similar to the marine life of the Great Barrier Reef and the Red Sea. The sea is an important habitat for several endangered species, including the whale shark, manta ray, and dugong, which are protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and the World Wildlife Fund. The Philippine Sea is also a major fishing ground, with several fish species such as tuna, mackerel, and sardines being caught by fishing fleets from Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines, which are regulated by the Food and Agriculture Organization and the International Maritime Organization. The sea is also home to several marine protected areas, including the Verde Island Passage and the Cagayan Valley, which are protected by the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the United States Agency for International Development.

Human Impact

The Philippine Sea is an important economic resource, with several fishing industries and shipping lanes operating in the area, including the Malacca Strait and the Bashi Channel. The sea is also a major source of oil and gas reserves, with several offshore platforms operating in the area, including the Malampaya gas field and the Camago-Malampaya gas pipeline, which are operated by the Royal Dutch Shell and the Philippine National Oil Company. However, the sea is also vulnerable to several environmental impacts, including pollution, overfishing, and climate change, which are addressed by the United Nations Environment Programme and the International Maritime Organization. The Philippine Sea is also an important cultural and historical resource, with several island nations and indigenous communities depending on the sea for their livelihood, including the Chamorro people and the Igorot people, which are recognized by the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

History

The Philippine Sea has a rich and complex history, with several empires and civilizations rising and falling in the area, including the Ming dynasty and the Spanish Empire. The sea was an important trade route, with several maritime powers such as the Portuguese Empire and the Dutch East India Company operating in the area, which are studied by the University of the Philippines and the National Museum of the Philippines. The Philippine Sea was also the site of several major naval battles, including the Battle of the Philippine Sea and the Battle of Leyte Gulf, which were fought during World War II and involved the United States Navy and the Imperial Japanese Navy. The sea is also home to several historical shipwrecks, including the USS Indianapolis and the Nagato, which are protected by the United States National Park Service and the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The Philippine Sea continues to be an important region, with several countries and organizations competing for influence and resources in the area, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.

Category:Seas of the Pacific Ocean