I choose geography - a comprehensive guide. Water properties and ocean currents

Since ancient times, it has occupied an important place in European culture. Actually, it got its name from the light hand of Herodotus, who used in his works the myth of Atlanta, holding the sky to the west of Greece on his shoulders. But at the level of development of Greek science of that time, it was impossible to reliably know in which climatic zones the Atlantic Ocean is located.

From the Arctic to Antarctica

All the huge variety of climatic zones and the biological richness of the ocean is due to the fact that it has a huge length along the meridian from north to south. The extreme northern point of the ocean is in the subarctic zone, and the southern one reaches the coast of Antarctica.

You can say for sure in which climatic zones the Atlantic Ocean is located: it is subarctic, temperate, subtropical, tropical and subequatorial.

It is worth noting that the only belt that is not represented on the territory of the ocean is the equatorial one. This is due to the fact that the main qualities of this belt can only manifest themselves on land.

Atlantic Ocean. General information, climate

All the well-known historical seas, such as the Mediterranean, the Baltic and the Black, with all their bays and straits, belong to the Atlantic Ocean system.

The generally accepted designation of the northern boundary of the ocean runs along the entrance to Hudson Bay and the southern coast of Greenland all the way to Scandinavia. The line of demarcation with the Indian is an imaginary straight line stretching from Cape Agulhas to the coast of Antarctica. The Atlantic is separated from the Pacific Ocean by the sixty-eighth meridian.

However, not only the huge extent of the ocean from south to north affects the climate above its surface. Undercurrents and movement of air currents are also important. This means that it is important not only in which climatic zones the Atlantic Ocean is located, but also what the weather is like in neighboring regions.

Above the surface of the ocean and its coast there is a pronounced seasonal variability of the weather - in the summer there are strong tropical hurricanes, heavy rains. Forming off the west coast, strong hurricanes move west, reaching the coast of Western Europe in the region of Portugal and Ireland.

In addition, the exchange of water masses with the Arctic and Southern oceans has a strong influence on weather fluctuations.

Characteristics of the Atlantic Ocean. Bottom geography

Let's take a look at this important issue. The climatic zones in which the Atlantic Ocean is located affect the structure of the ocean floor, especially its coastal part, rich in relict deposits associated with the confluence of rivers, which brought biological remains and other organic matter from the mainland. Later, when the water level in the Atlantic changed, the channels of these rivers were flooded and this had a decisive influence on the formation of the shelf of the European continent.

The richness of the southern coastal waters of the ocean contributes to the formation of a large number of coral reefs.

Ecology and pollution

Regardless of which climatic zones the Atlantic Ocean is located in, human activity sometimes has a devastating effect on it. Aquatic ecosystems have been severely tested in recent decades with increased shipping, hazardous waste flooding and frequent oil spills.

It is impossible to say unequivocally what the climate of the Atlantic Ocean is like, since this reservoir is located in almost all zones of our planet. It stretches from North to South, touching the shores of the polar islands and continents. Its width is equal to the difference between Europe and between Africa and South America. Of course, such a situation will cause different weather conditions in certain areas of a given geographical object. Therefore, now we will consider the climate of the Atlantic Ocean briefly, describing its main zones and their features.

The belts in which the reservoir lies

To begin with, we note that in terms of its size, the waters of the Atlantic are considered the second in the world. The ocean itself plays a crucial role in shaping the climate on the continents that adjoin it. For example, its northern part is warmer than the southern part due to the Gulf Stream. Therefore, in the countries of Western Europe and Northern it is soft, without sudden changes in temperature. But the lands adjacent to it in the south are characterized by more windy weather and a sharper change in temperature. Thus, the climate of the Atlantic Ocean forms the weather on the lands that it washes, which largely affects the seismic state of the entire planet. The very same waters of the Atlantic are located immediately in all climatic zones. We will count from the equator in both directions, since their location is identical. These are subequatorial, tropical, subtropical and temperate. Further in the North, the waters pass into the Arctic zone, and in the South - into the Antarctic.

Air and water surface temperature

Here it is necessary to highlight that it depends on which hemisphere we are talking about - Northern or Southern, how warm or cold this or that climatic zone will be. Equatorial latitude is characterized by, you guessed it, the highest temperatures. Here, during the year, the thermometer does not fall below +25 (on average, it is 30-32). Approximately the same heat and B blow dry trade winds, which carry sand from the Sahara. Therefore, in summer it is very dry and hot here - more than 23 degrees; in winter, the temperature drops to 21. cooler and wetter, as the water area expands here. Temperate latitudes - a zone of sharp annual temperature changes (in both hemispheres). In summer it is hot here like in the tropics, and in winter the thermometer drops to +5 and below. The Arctic zone is characterized by temperature differences of 20 degrees. In winter, the ocean freezes here, in summer the temperature rises to 3-5 above zero. The coldest region is the Antarctic zone. Here the climate of the Atlantic Ocean turns into a polar one, because the annual difference is more than 30 degrees.

Humidity and latitudinal zonality

Each strip of the Atlantic has its own special pressure. Thanks to him, zones of maxima and minima are distinguished, which form clouds and nebula over the waters. These indicators affect what kind of climate in the Atlantic Ocean will form over one or another part of it. The equator is a zone of low pressure, that is, a minimum. The maximum precipitation falls here - from 3000 mm per year, most of which falls in the summer. Fog often forms in winter. The northern tropics and temperate latitudes form the Azores High zone. There is very little precipitation here - an average of 750 mm, but trade winds and stronger winds often sweep through, which form tornadoes and storms. Below the equator is the region of the South Atlantic High. Here the pressure is also high, but it rains much more often (up to 1000 mm), due to the smaller number of winds. Antarctica and the Arctic are two zones of the minimum. The average amount of precipitation is 2000 mm, the regions are stable in terms of winds.

Features of the climate of the Atlantic Ocean

Besides the fact that the northern part is much warmer than the south due to the Gulf Stream, differences in temperature can also be seen in some areas between West and East. Between 30 degrees north latitude and 30 degrees south latitude, ocean waters are much warmer off the coast of America than near Africa. This is caused by the same trade winds that occur in the tropical and subtropical bands. They blow from the coast of Africa, bringing with them not only the sand of the Sahara, but also the sharp daily temperature fluctuations that can be traced in the desert. Because of this, the water cools, waves rise more often in it. Also, such winds do not allow clouds to gather to balance the humidity in the air. The closer to the West, the calmer the trade winds become. Storms sometimes occur here, but in general the water is warmer, and the air temperature is much higher than in the East.

Summarizing

The climate of the Atlantic Ocean is a mix, which includes ice expanses that freeze for half a year, and hot equatorial territories, where it is always very warm and humid.

1. Set the features of the nature of the Atlantic and their causes.

A distinctive feature of the Atlantic Ocean is its great length (16 thousand km) from north to south - from the Arctic to Antarctic latitudes and a relatively small width, especially in equatorial latitudes, where it does not exceed 2900 km.

Features of climate and relief characterize its biological world. The fauna of the Atlantic Ocean is diverse and uneven. In temperate and high latitudes, a large amount of biomass is observed with a scarcity of species. In the tropics and subtropics, species diversity is high. As with any part of the oceans of these latitudes, the presence of large mammals is characteristic. Here you can see fur seals, seals and representatives of the cetacean family. The Atlantic Ocean is home to almost all types of whales. However, their populations have been significantly reduced due to human intervention in nature and extermination. The ocean is the largest fishing ground.

2. Make a description of the nature of one of the seas of the Atlantic Ocean.

1) The Mediterranean Sea belongs to the Atlantic Ocean.

2) The Mediterranean Sea is surrounded on all sides by land and is connected to the ocean only by the Strait of Gibraltar.

3) The sea lies between the parallels of 30° and 46°.

4) The sea lies between the meridians at 5° and 37°.

5) The length of the Mediterranean Sea from west to east in degrees 32 °, and in kilometers 3700 km. The length of the Mediterranean Sea from north to south in degrees is 16 °, and in kilometers 1600 km.

6) The Mediterranean Sea washes 22 countries: Spain, France, Monaco, Italy, Malta, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, Turkey, Syria, Cyprus, Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Gaza.

7) The Strait of Gibraltar, which connects the sea with the ocean. Neighboring water bodies: Libyan Sea, Aegean Sea, Gulf of Corinth, Gulf of Gibraltar.

8) The average depth of the Mediterranean Sea is 1541 m, the maximum depth of the Mediterranean Sea is 5121 m.

9) The Mediterranean Sea has a narrow shelf, there are no strong differences in depths.

3. Assume the consequences of changes in the climate of the continents, subject to changes in the direction of currents in the Atlantic Ocean.

The main current in the Atlantic Ocean is the Gulf Stream, which raises the temperature of Europe by 5-10 degrees. If, due to the melting of ice and the desalination of the oceans, the cold current under the Gulf Stream rises, this will lead to the fact that the current will cool down, and Europe will know the fate of Siberia with its average temperature in winter...

4. What is the role of the ocean in human economic activity?

The oceans provide the planet with oxygen, especially since the main percentage of oxygen on Earth is produced not by forests, but by blue-green algae - living in the ocean.

It largely determines the face of the planet as a whole, including its climate, the water cycle on Earth. In the ocean, there were vital waterways connecting the continents and islands. Its biological resources are colossal. More than 160 thousand species of animals and about 10 thousand species of algae live in the World Ocean. The annual reproducible number of commercial fish is estimated at 200 million tons, of which approximately 1/3 is caught. More than 90% of the world's catch comes from the coastal shelf, especially in the temperate and high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere. The share of the Pacific Ocean in the world catch is about 60%, the Atlantic about 35%. The shelf of the World Ocean has huge reserves of oil and gas, large reserves of ferromanganese ores and other minerals. Mankind is just beginning to use the energy resources of the World Ocean, including the energy of the tides. The World Ocean accounts for 94% of the volume of the hydrosphere. Desalination of sea waters is associated with the solution of many water problems of the future. Unfortunately, humanity does not always use the natural resources of the oceans wisely.

5. What professions are needed to study the nature of the ocean and to further develop the economy in it?

Biologist, geographer, climatologist, ecologist.

The Atlantic is the second largest ocean on Earth. Unlike the Pacific, it is more elongated in the north-south directions, crosses almost all latitudes, and therefore its nature is very diverse. The coastline is strongly dissected in the Northern Hemispheres, there are many islands near the continents, inland and marginal seas.

The Atlantic Ocean began to be mastered by man in the 2nd century BC. e. According to geographers, the Vikings were the first to cross the Atlantic. Since the Age of Discovery, the ocean has become the main waterway on Earth. His research began (the voyages of H. Columbus, Vasco da Gamma, F. Magellan, and others). In the 19th century, complex studies in the ocean were carried out on the Challenger; in the middle of the 20th century, a lot of data on the nature of the ocean was obtained during the period of work under the program of the International Geographical Year. The study of the ocean continues today.

So far, this is the most studied ocean on earth. The bottom relief is not very complicated. According to the theories of lithospheric plates, the Atlantic Ocean is young. The entire ocean is crossed almost along the meridian by the giant Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The ocean floor is occupied by oceanic plains.

The climate of the Atlantic Ocean is varied; the predominant part of the ocean area is between 40 degrees N. sh. and 40 degrees south. sh. located in the equatorial, tropical and subtropical climate zones. In the north and south of the ocean, areas of strong cooling and high atmospheric pressure are formed. The circulation of the atmosphere over the ocean causes the action of the trade winds, in temperate latitudes - westerly winds, which often turn into storms. Climate features are reflected in the properties of water masses.

The surface water temperature in this ocean is lower than in the Pacific or Indian, as cold waters and ice carried from the Arctic Ocean and Antarctica influence. The average salinity of the Atlantic is higher (37.5%) than in the world ocean, which is explained by the transfer of moisture evaporated from the ocean to neighboring continents. The currents are directed not along the latitude, as in other oceans, but almost along the meridians. This is due to the elongation of the ocean from north to south and the outlines of the coastlines. The circular movements of surface waters in the Atlantic are more active than in other oceans; they move waters from one latitude to another, violating the latitudinal zonality in the temperature distribution. Currents also affect ice conditions. The peculiarity of the ocean is numerous icebergs and floating sea ice.

The organic world of the Atlantic is poorer in species than the organic world of the Pacific Ocean. The reasons for this are the relative geological youth of the ocean and the severe cooling of the climate during the last glaciation. However, in quantitative terms, the ocean is rich in living organisms, which is associated with large shelves and uplifts at the bottom, where many bottom fish live.

As in the Pacific Ocean, in the Atlantic there are almost all natural belts. Within the belts, natural complexes of the seas, bays and individual areas of the open ocean are distinguished. Such are the complexes of the Mediterranean, Baltic, Sargasso Seas, etc.

The Atlantic Ocean, to a greater extent than other oceans, is used in human economic activity. Its biological, mineral, energy and recreational resources are intensively exploited. The most important sea routes pass through the ocean. On its shores are the largest ports in the world. Vigorous economic activity has led to a sharp deterioration in the quality of water, air, and a decrease in the stocks of valuable commercial fish and other animals. International efforts are required to protect the nature of this ocean. The Sea of ​​Azov belongs to the Atlantic Ocean basin.