Atlantic Ocean- the second largest ocean after The Pacific... It contains 25% of all the water on the planet. The average depth is 3,600 m. The maximum depth is in the Puerto Rico trench - 8,742 m. The ocean area is 91 million square meters. km.
general information
The ocean emerged as a result of the split of the supercontinent " Pangea"Into two large parts, which later formed into the modern continents.
The Atlantic Ocean has been known to man since ancient times. Mentioning about the ocean, which “ referred to as the Atlantic“, Can be found in the records of the 3rd century. BC. The name probably originated from the legendary missing mainland “ Atlantis«.
True, it is not clear what territory he designated, because in ancient times people were limited in means of transportation by sea.
Relief and islands
A distinctive feature of the Atlantic Ocean is a very small number of islands, as well as a complex bottom topography, which forms many pits and troughs. The deepest among them are the Puerto Rico and South Sandwich troughs, which are more than 8 km deep.
Earthquakes and volcanoes have a great impact on the structure of the bottom; the greatest activity of tectonic processes is observed in the equatorial zone.
Volcanic activity in the ocean has been going on for 90 million years. The height of many underwater volcanoes exceeds 5 km. The largest and most famous are found in the trenches of Puerto Rico and Yuno Sandwich, as well as on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
Climate
The long meridional length of the ocean from north to south explains the variety of climatic conditions on the ocean surface. In the equatorial zone, slight fluctuations in temperature throughout the year and an average of +27 degrees. The exchange of water with the Arctic Ocean also has a huge impact on the temperature of the ocean. Tens of thousands of icebergs drift from the north into the Atlantic Ocean, reaching almost to tropical waters.
The Gulf Stream, the largest current on the planet, is emerging off the southeastern coast of North America. Water consumption per day is 82 million cubic meters, which is 60 times higher than that of all rivers. The width of the current reaches 75 km. in width, and a depth of 700 m. The speed of the current ranges from 6-30 km / h. The Gulf Stream carries warm waters, the temperature of the upper layer of the current is 26 degrees.
In the area of about. Newfoundland The Gulf Stream meets the "cold wall" of the Labrador Current. The mixing of waters creates ideal conditions for the reproduction of microorganisms in the upper layers. Best known for this Large Newfoundland barrel, which is a source of fishing for fish such as cod, herring and salmon.
Flora and fauna
The Atlantic Ocean is characterized by an abundance of biomass with a relatively poor species composition in the northern and southern margins. The greatest species diversity is observed in the equatorial zone.
Of the fish, the most common are the families of nanotenium and white-blooded pikes. Large mammals are most widely represented: cetaceans, seals, fur seals, etc. The amount of plankton is insignificant, which leads to the migration of whales to feeding fields to the north or to temperate latitudes, where there is more of it.
Many places in the Atlantic Ocean have been and continue to be intense fishing grounds. Earlier exploration of the ocean led to the fact that hunting for mammals is already widespread here. long time... This has reduced the number of some animal species compared to the Pacific and Indian Oceans. 
Plants presented a wide range green, brown and red algae. The famous sargassos form a popular book and interesting stories Sargasso Sea.
The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest in the world. It accounts for about 29% of total area The world's oceans, and its waters wash the shores of South and North America, Europe and Africa. Flora and fauna of the Atlantic is represented by a wide variety aquatic plants and marine animals (both vertebrates and invertebrates). These are the main animals of the Atlantic Ocean that are found in its vast expanses.
Walrus
The habitat of the Atlantic walrus in the vast Atlantic is located between the Canadian Arctic in the east and the Russian Arctic in the west. There are about 25 thousand walruses in this region, but the number of adults is constantly decreasing.
These marine animals of the Atlantic Ocean have characteristic elongated tusks that resemble tusks. They usually live in colonies, and with the help of a roar of various tones, they communicate with their relatives in a group. Atlantic walruses feed on small invertebrates. Their life expectancy is 30-40 years.
Long snout prodolphin
This dolphin species is found in various subtropical and tropical marine regions around the world. They are well known for showing off funny tricks when jumping out of water. Before diving back under the water, these dolphins perform several somersaults in the air. To communicate with representatives of their kind, they use various whistles.
The long-snouted dolphin has teeth, but it does not chew food with them. These marine animals are very sensitive to the frequency of sound and use echolocation to study their surroundings and while hunting for prey. They feed on fish, squid and crustaceans.
Manatees
These animals that live in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean are better known as sea cows. They meet exclusively in warm waters... Manatees are predominantly herbivores. Their main food is grass and plants growing on the seabed.
They are large mammals that can grow up to 4 meters and weigh about 590 kg. Their distinctive feature is the presence of paddles-like fins. West Indian species are mainly found in the vast Caribbean and in the Gulf of Mexico (in particular, in Florida), and West African - live in the waters in the region of West Africa.
Spotted eagle
This representative of the fauna of the Atlantic Ocean belongs to the class of cartilaginous fish. It is found in the waters of the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. The spotted eagle has a longer tail than most stingrays, and its snout is shaped like a duck's.
He hunts for crustaceans and various small fish, often rummaging with his head in search of prey among the sand on the seabed. Although these rays are considered underwater animals, they can sometimes be seen jumping out of the water. The population of these rays is endangered due to the frequent attacks of sharks.
Common tuna
This fish is critically endangered due to overfishing. Due to the metallic blue color, it almost merges with the ocean waters, and the drop-shaped body allows it to develop high speed.
The tuna hunts for herring, mullet, mackerel, squid, crabs and shrimp. Also this sea fish known for its annual migration across the Atlantic waters. The largest tuna, which was caught in the vastness of the Atlantic Ocean, weighed 679 kg.
Great white shark
These representatives of cartilaginous fish are endothermic. In addition to the five standard senses, they have electromagnetism. There are three hundred triangular teeth in the mouth of a white shark, arranged in 3 rows. They tear their prey to pieces with them.
The white shark is the largest ocean predator. She can even hunt other species of her congeners, as well as sea lions, seals and turtles, does not disdain carrion and fish. These sharks live up to 60 years, growing up to 6 meters and length and reaching a weight of more than 2.2 kg. Their largest population is found near the island of Gyer in South Africa.
Atlantic green turtle
The name of these marine reptiles is associated with the congestion green fat under a smooth shell. Their color can vary in various shades of yellow, green, gray, black and Brown color... The green turtle has the largest shell among all its marine relatives and can sometimes change its color.
Although these reptiles are predominantly herbivores, they can also prey on jellyfish and other small marine life. On average, a green turtle grows up to 1.5 m in length and weighs from 68 to 190 kg.
Leatherback sea turtle
It is found in the southwestern, southeastern and northwestern parts of the Atlantic Ocean. She often lives and hunts at depths of up to 1280 meters. The leatherback turtle is larger and has larger forepaws than other species. But her shell is soft and flexible.
It is found in colder waters than the green turtle and is carnivorous. The leatherback turtle hunts mainly for jellyfish, crustaceans and small fish. When giving birth to offspring, he does not care about him at all.
Humpback whale
The name of this marine mammal is associated with the presence of a dorsal fin that resembles a hump. These whales travel great distances during mating and reproduction migration.
They feed on fish, plankton and krill, consuming up to 1360 kg of food per day. These giants weigh from 22 to 36 tons, growing up to 18 meters in length. Their streamlined body is more extended than that of other whales, and the pelvic fins are much longer.
Narwhal
Animals usually have paired tusks, but in some cases they can grow together into a single one, as is the case with the narwhal. It has no dorsal fins, but it does have pectoral fins. On average, these animals can weigh from 800 to 1600 kg with a body length of 3.95 to 5.5 m. The canine serves them as an organ of smell and as a means for echolocation.
The narwhal feeds on Arctic and polar species of cod and halibut, as well as shrimp and squid, which are found in the seas of Greenland. They themselves are threatened by walruses, polar bears, killer whales and humans.
Killer whale
The largest animal of the dolphin family is often called a killer whale. The killer whale hunts almost everything, including seabirds and mammals, seals and sea lions, fish and squid.
There is simply no other predator of this kind in nature. Adults can reach 9 m in length and weigh between 3600 and 5000 kg on average.
Sea Horse
This marine animal is a bony fish and the closest relative of tuna and salmon. It has thin skin instead of scales and needle-like spines along the edge of its entire body. Seahorses have no teeth, so they feed by sucking the prey with their elongated jaw immediately into the stomach.
Their main food is plankton and some types of crustaceans. While waiting for prey, these fish can disguise themselves against the background of underwater vegetation, changing their color in accordance with environment... Their reproduction is also very specific, since the male produces the offspring.
Mediterranean monk seal
This animal of the Atlantic Ocean is found in the region of Cabo Blanco and the island of Madeira and is the rarest of all pinnipeds. According to statistics, there are less than 700 individuals in the world.
This seal has a small flat and wide muzzle and short flippers with small, thin claws. The body is covered with short hairs, which are renewed every 6-8 weeks. These seals feed on various fish, squid, eels and octopuses. Their maximum life span is 45 years.
King penguin
The second largest penguin species is found in the South Atlantic Ocean. The growth of this bird can reach 1 meter, and its weight ranges from 9.3 to 18 kg. It feeds mainly on fish, less often on squid.
The king penguin can dive to a depth of 100 to 300 meters below sea level for food and stay under water for up to 5 minutes without rising to the surface. Like other penguins, it is a flightless bird that walks or glides on ice.
Lemon shark
This species is found in shallow waters near the coast. The specific name is associated with body coloration, which can range from yellow-brown to olive green.
The lemon shark has a short, rounded muzzle. She has poor eyesight, but an excellent sense of smell. It is a nocturnal predator that finds potential prey with the help of the sense of smell and the electroreceptor system. It feeds on fish, seabirds, small sharks, crustaceans and molluscs. It can grow up to 2.5-3 meters and weigh up to 250 kg.
On the pages of our magazine, you can also find out about amazing representatives and. In our section you can find many interesting articles about the unique fauna and flora of the world. Expand the boundaries of your knowledge with the World of Adventures magazine!
The second largest Atlantic Ocean is located in all climatic zones, which directly affects the composition of its flora and fauna. In addition, the distribution of animals and plants in the ocean is significantly influenced by warm current Gulf Stream, flowing in the North Atlantic. Hallmark The Atlantic Ocean is characterized by its high biological productivity.
Flora of the Atlantic Ocean
Ocean vegetation is represented by algae and flowering plants. Among the flowering plants of the Atlantic, such plants as zostera and posidonia are known. Of particular interest is oceanic Posidonia, which forms a huge colony at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea, stretching for 700 km. It is the largest plant in the world, with a length of as much as 8 km. In addition, posidonia is a very ancient plant. The age of a specimen of Posidonia discovered by Spanish oceanologists is about 100 thousand years.
Naturally, among the plant communities of the ocean, different algae occupy a predominant place. Their distribution in ocean waters depends on the temperature regime. Colder waters are habitat different types kelp, and temperate waters are favorable for the development of red algae and fucus. In the tropical regions of the Atlantic, excessive heating and illumination of coastal areas do not allow aquatic plants to develop normally. Therefore, algae are almost never found in the tropics. The most favorable conditions for the development of phytoplankton are formed at a depth of about 100 m.
Fauna of the Atlantic Ocean
A feature of the Atlantic is the species diversity of mammals, the number of which has significantly decreased as a result of intense extermination in the last century.
The species diversity of the fauna of the Atlantic is facilitated by its favorable climatic conditions... Therefore, in the Atlantic Ocean, you can find almost all the inhabitants of the World Ocean.
Important fishing objects are concentrated in the Atlantic: herring, sardine, cod, sea bass, flounder. Lobsters, crabs, lobsters, shrimps, oysters, mussels, squid, cuttlefish are mined.
Life in the open ocean depends on phyto- and zooplankton. Where these microscopic drifting organisms accumulate, those who feed on them congregate. These are small crustaceans, larvae and ctenophores, which in turn provide food for larger marine life. Whales, whale and giant sharks, tuna, dolphins, predatory sharks, swordfish and sailboats rush to places of accumulation of large plankton, toothed whales- killer whales and sperm whales, as well as small fish. A lot of seabirds flock to the fish schools.
In areas of the deep Atlantic plains, where surface waters hardly mix with deep waters, phytoplankton does not develop. Therefore, oceanic deserts are formed here and are almost absent. different shapes life.
The most interesting inhabitants of the Atlantic Ocean are flying fish, which are represented by 16 species. It is curious that these fish lay eggs on any floating object, even on garbage.
Hello dear readers! Today is the time to pay attention to the waters on Earth. We will just stipulate the Atlantic Ocean. We will learn all the main features of the Atlantic Ocean, its characteristics ...
The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest ocean (after). Its area with seas is 91.6 million km 2, the average depth is 3600 m, and the volume of water is 329.7 million km, the maximum depth is 8742 m (the Puerto Rico trench). In the Northern Hemisphere, there are practically all large bays (Guinea, Biscay) and seas (North, Caribbean, Baltic, Black, Mediterranean).
In the Southern Hemisphere there are such seas: the Lazarev Sea, about, the Scotia Sea, the Weddell Sea. The main groups of islands in the Atlantic Ocean: Newfoundland, Great Britain, the Antilles and Lesser Antilles, Ireland, the Cape Verde Islands, the Canary Islands, the Falkland Islands (Malvinas).
General characteristics of the Atlantic Ocean.
The meridional Mid-Atlantic Ridge divides the Atlantic Ocean into the Western and Eastern parts (the depth above it in the west is 5000-6000 m, and in the east about 3000 m). The water temperature on the surface of the Atlantic Ocean near the equator is up to 28 ° C, in high latitudes the water freezes. Salinity of water 34-37.3 ‰.
Surface currents form a cyclonic cycle in the southern high and northern temperate latitudes, and an anticyclonic cycle in subtropical latitudes. The Northern Subtropical Gyre consists of the warm North Passat Current and the Gulf Stream and the cold Canary Current, the South one of the warm South Façade and Brazilian and cold West Winds and Bengal currents.
From North Arctic Ocean the cold Labrador Current is heading south along the coast of North America. In the north, the continuation of the Gulf Stream is the warm North Atlantic Current. The biggest tides are in the Bay of Fundy, 18 m.
Fishing is developed (cod, hake, herring, sea bass, tuna) - 2/5 of the world catch. Oil in the Atlantic Ocean is mined on the shelves of the North Sea, in the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea. Coastal offshore deposits of diamonds (southwest Africa), zircon, ilmenite, rutile (USA, Brazil), sulfur (Gulf of Mexico), manganese iron ore (Canada, USA, Finland).
Also, the Atlantic Ocean occupies a leading place in world shipping. The most important ports: New York, Rotterdam, Houston, Boston, Hamburg, Marseille, London, Genoa, Havana, Dakar, Buenos Aires, Cape Town, Odessa, St. Petersburg.
North Atlantic Ocean.
The Atlantic Ocean is divided into northern and southern parts, the border is conventionally drawn along the equator. But, if viewed from an oceanographic point of view, then the equatorial countercurrent located at 5-8 ° north latitude must be attributed to the southern part. For the most part, the northern border is drawn along the Arctic Circle. This border is marked in places by underwater ridges. The coastline of the Atlantic Ocean in the Northern Hemisphere is severely cut. Its relatively narrow northern part is connected to the Arctic Ocean by three narrow channels.
The Davis Strait, 360 km wide, in the northeast connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Baffin Sea, which belong to the Arctic Ocean. The Danish Strait (at its narrowest point, its width is 287 km) is located in the central part between Iceland and Greenland. The Norwegian Sea is located in the northeast between Norway and Iceland, its width is about 1220 km.
In the east, 2 deep waters are separated from the Atlantic Ocean, which enter the land. The more northern of these waters begins with the northern sea, which in the east passes into the Baltic Sea with the Bothnichniy and Finnish gulfs. To the south, there is a system of inland seas - the Mediterranean and the Black - with a total length of about 4000 km. The ocean with the Mediterranean Sea is connected to the Strait of Gibraltar, which has two opposite currents. A lower position is occupied by the current that flows from the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean, since Mediterranean waters are characterized by higher salinity, and therefore higher density. In the tropical zone in the southeast in the North Atlantic are the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, which is connected to the ocean by the Florida Strait.
The North American coast is cut by small bays (Barnegat, Palmico, Delaware, Chesapeake Bay, and Long Island Sound). To the northwest are the Bays of St. Lawrence and Fundy, Bell Isle, Hudson Bay and Hudson Strait.
Western Atlantic the ocean is surrounded by a shelf whose width varies. The shelf is cut by deep gorges, the so-called underwater canyons. Their origins still cause scientific discussions According to one theory, the canyons were carved by rivers when the sea level was lower than today. Another theory associates their formation with the activity of kalamut currents. It has been suggested that it is these currents that cause sediment deposition on the ocean floor and cut through the underwater canyons.
The bottom of the North Atlantic Ocean has a complex topography formed by a combination of underwater ridges, elevations of hollows and gorges. Most of the ocean floor, with depths of about 60 m and up to several kilometers, is covered by a thin sea, a deposit of dark blue or bluish-green color. A relatively small area is occupied by rocky outcrops and areas of gravel-pebble and sandy deposits, as well as deep-water red clays on the shelf. Telephone and telegraph cables have been laid in the North Atlantic Ocean to connect North America with northwestern Europe. Here, in the area of the North Atlantic Shelf, there are industrial fishing areas that are among the most productive in the world. In the central part of the Atlantic Ocean, there is a huge underwater mountain range about 16 thousand kilometers long, known as .
This ridge divides the ocean into two roughly equal parts. A significant part of the peaks of this underwater ridge does not even reach the ocean surface and is at a depth of at least 1.5 km. Some of the highest peaks rise above sea level and form the Azores in the North Atlantic and Tristan da Cunha in the South. In the south, the ridge overtakes the coast of Africa and continues further north in Indian Ocean... A rift zone extends along the axis of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
Surface currents in the North Atlantic Ocean move clockwise. The main elements of this large system are the warm northward current of the Gulf Stream, as well as North Atlantic, Canary and North trade wind currents. The Gulf Stream flows from the Florida Strait and the island of Cuba northward along the coast of the United States and deviates to the northeast by about forty degrees north, changing its name to the North Atlantic Current. This current splits into two branches, one of which goes northeast along the coast of Norway and further the Arctic Ocean. It is thanks to her that the climate of Norway and all of northwestern Europe is significantly warmer than one would expect in northern latitudes. The second branch turns south and further south-west along the coast of Africa, forming the cold Canary Current. This current moves to the southwest and connects with the North Passat Current, which heads west towards the West Indies, where it merges with the Gulf Stream. To the north of the North Passat Current lies an area of stagnant waters rich in algae known as the Sargasso Sea.
Cold weather runs along the North Atlantic coast of North America from north to south. Labrador current that emerges from Baffin Bay and the Labrador Sea and cools the shores of New England. (There is the Labrador Current in the picture; it is not in the upper picture with the currents of the North Atlantic Ocean. All the currents of the Atlantic Ocean are here).
South Atlantic Ocean.
Some experts attribute to the Atlantic Ocean in the south the entire body of water up to the Antarctic ice sheet; others mistake for southern border The Atlantic is an imaginary line connecting Cape Horn in South America with the Cape of Good Hope in Africa. The coastline in the South Atlantic Ocean is less indented than in the North. There are also no inland seas here.
The only large bay on the African coast is the Guinean bay. On the coast South America large bays are also few in number. The southernmost edge of this continent, Tierra del Fuego, has a rugged coastline surrounded by numerous small islands.
In addition to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, there are two main submarine mountain ranges in the South Atlantic.
The Whale Ridge stretches from the southwestern edge of Angola to the island of Tristan da Cunha, where it joins the Mid-Atlantic. A strand of Rio de Janeiro stretches from the islands of Tristan da Cunha to the city of Rio de Janeiro and is a group of separate seamounts.
The main systems of currents in the South Atlantic Ocean move counterclockwise. The South Tradewind Current is directed to the west. Near the bulge of the eastern coast of Brazil, it splits into two branches: the northern one carries water along the northern coast of South America in Caribbean, and the South is warm Brazilian current, moves along the coast of Brazil and joins the current Western Winds or Antarctic about which heads east and then northeast. Part of this cold current separates and carries its waters northward along the African coast, forming the cold Benguela Current; the latter eventually joins the Severnm Passat Current. The warm Guinean Current flows south along the shores of Northwest Africa into the Gulf of Guinea.
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The fauna of the Atlantic Ocean is rich in the diversity of its fauna. Thousands of animal species are found in all layers of water and along the entire length.
Atlantic white-sided dolphin
White-faced dolphin
Humpback whale
Pygmy sperm whale
Pygmy whale
Ringed seal
Small killer whale
Harbour porpoise
Sea leopard
Common dolphin
Common seal
Northern smooth whale
Gray dolphin
Gray seal
Blue whale
Monk Seal (White-bellied)
Southern smooth whale
The fauna of the Atlantic Ocean is rich in the diversity of its fauna.
Thousands of animal species are found in all layers of water and along the entire length.
Until the middle of the last century, the waters of the Atlantic Ocean were the leaders in the catch of seafood. However, their long-term production has reduced the resources of the Atlantic, now its share is 40% of the world catch of fish and seafood and now it ranks second in catch after the Pacific Ocean.
The largest catches are found near the coasts of Europe, in the northeastern part of the ocean. The abundance of food, shallow depths, good illumination, the dynamics of coastal waters and the structural features of the bottom contribute to the high biological activity in this part. The main fishery here are: catfish, squid, flounder, crabs, shrimps, lobsters, mussels, scallops, herring, mackerel, perches, lobsters, snails, oysters and sprats.
In tropical latitudes, they also prey on marine life, but not as abundantly as in temperate ones. Here the interest for fishing is: some species of sharks, squids, shrimps, lobsters, molluscs, swordfish, tuna, turtles, etc.
Also in tropical waters, there are predators that are dangerous to humans: sharks, barracudas and moray eels. The world of corals is quite peculiar here, and off the coast of Cuba there are whole “underwater forests” - thickets of soft corals.
Various mammals also live in the Atlantic Ocean: dolphins, sperm whales, whales, porpoises, seals, etc. And in the deep-sea areas of the ocean live sponges, annelids, crustaceans, starfish and sea lilies.
Report: Atlantic Ocean 2
The Atlantic Ocean covers an area of 92 million km.
He collects fresh water from the most significant part of the land and stands out among other oceans in that both polar regions of the Earth are connected in the form of a wide strait. In the center of the Atlantic is the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. This is a belt of instability of the earth's crust. Individual peaks of this ridge rise above the water in the form of volcanic islands. Among them, the largest is Iceland.
The average depth of the ocean is less than that of the Pacific and Indian, the maximum depth reaches 8,742 m (depression of Puerto Rico).
The southern tropical ocean is affected by the southeast trade wind. The sky above this part is slightly clouded with cotton wool-like cumulus clouds. This is the only place in the Atlantic where there are no cyclones. The color of the water in this part of the ocean ranges from deep blue to bright green (near Africa). The waters turn green as they approach the equator, as well as off the southern coast of Brazil. The tropical part of the South Atlantic is very rich in life: the density of plankton there is 16 thousand individuals per liter; there is an abundance of flying fish, sharks and other predatory fish. There are no coral builders in the southern part of the Atlantic: cold currents have forced them out of here. Many researchers have noticed that the cold currents in this part of the ocean are richer in life than the warm ones.
The Equatorial Atlantic is a completely different picture. The sky is covered with dense clouds. Heat, stuffiness, heavy rains reign here throughout the year. The coastal waters of the Atlantic are green and muddy, since here large rivers flow into the ocean - the Amazon, Congo and others. This part of the Atlantic, in contrast to the southern tropical, is characterized by lower salinity, since rivers greatly freshen this part of the ocean. Because of the desalinated water, there are no corals in this part of the ocean, but the flora and fauna are very rich.
North tropical Atlantic. Calm reigns here, most often with clear sky... In the east, rains over the ocean are rare: here is a kind of marine continuation of the Sahara, which from time to time "presents" the ocean with clouds of dust, which leads to frequent fogs and the establishment of hazy weather. Corals are absent in the eastern part of the ocean, as the cold Canary Current passes there, but they are very abundant in the west, where they border the shores of the Antilles and Florida. Bermuda is the most northern region distribution of corals. This part of the ocean is very rich in life, and richer in colder waters. Therefore, in the waters of the cold Canary Current, they are caught in a large number mackerel, halibut, flounder, herring, mackerel, mullet and various other fish. A sign of the richness of the fauna is the abundance of sharks. The Canary Islands region attracts fishermen, as lobsters, anchovies, sardines, and merlans are caught there.
In the northern tropical Atlantic, the same legendary hurricanes often occur, breaking masts and throwing cannons overboard. The favorite route of these hurricanes is from east to west along the Antilles, and the season is summer and early autumn. In this part of the Atlantic, the color of the water is greenish-blue, and off the coast it is sometimes lemon.
The great warm current of the Gulf Stream passes through the northern tropical part of the ocean. It is felt here to a depth of 800 meters and reaches a speed of 1.7 m / s. The rotation of the Earth deflects this current to the east, leaving space along the coast of North America for the penetration of the cold Labrador Current. It separates the coast from the Gulf Stream with a "cold wall", and the temperature difference here can reach 8 ° C in winter. If up to 50 ° West longitude the direction of the Gulf Stream can be traced quite clearly, then to the east its stream expands, breaks up into jets heading in different directions. This part of the ocean is called the "delta" of the Gulf Stream. All year round there are frequent bad weather in this area, half of all days a year are rainy.
Where the cold Labrador Current meets the Gulf Stream, there is a sandbank near Newfoundland Island. The waters of this shoal are one of the main areas of marine fishing in the North Atlantic. There is not a wide variety of animals here, as in the tropics, but each species is represented by a mass of individuals: sea urchins, sea cucumbers, crabs, molluscs. There are a lot of salmon off the coast, they are caught in huge numbers sea trout, greenland goby, cod.
The Atlantic shelves are rich in mineral deposits. Oil production is carried out in the North Sea, Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico. Phosphorites are mined off the coast of Florida, and placers of diamonds have been found near South-West Africa.
The polar latitudes of the Atlantic are one of the most picturesque regions of this ocean. Powerful icy tongues emerge from the depths of Greenland and Antarctica and hang over the cold bluish-green waters of the ocean with high cliffs of transparent ice. From time to time they break off with a crash and in large blocks - icebergs - are carried out into the open ocean up to 40 ° N latitude. These areas of the Atlantic are dangerous for shipping.
Since ancient times, the Atlantic began to be mastered by man. On the shores of the ocean in different years, there were centers of navigation in Ancient Greece, Carthage, Scandinavia. Since the era of the Great geographical discoveries The Atlantic became the main waterway on Earth. Comprehensive studies of the nature of the ocean began only in late XIX century. The British expedition aboard the Challenger made measurements of depths, collected material on the properties of water masses, on the organic world of the ocean. At present, an expeditionary squadron of up to 40 ships of science from many countries continues to study the properties of water masses, the bottom topography.
Location: The Atlantic Ocean is bounded by the eastern coast of North and South America, the western coast of Eurasia and Africa, the waters of the Arctic Ocean and the Southern Ocean.
Area: 91.56 million sq. km.
Average depth: 3600 m.
Maximum depth: 8,742 m (Puerto Rico Trench).
Bottom relief: Meridian Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
Inhabitants: numerous species of single and multicellular organisms, fish (herring, cod, sea bass, hake, tuna, sharks, mackerel and many others), dolphins, whales and many others.
Currents: warm - North Passat, Gulf Stream, North Atlantic, South Passat, Brazilian; cold - Labrador, Canary, Benguela, Western winds.
Additional information: the Atlantic Ocean received its name from the Atlas Mountains located in northwest Africa, according to another version - from the mythical continent Atlantis, according to the third - from the name of the titan Atlas (Atlanta); The Atlantic Ocean is conventionally subdivided into the North and South regions, the border between which runs along the equator.
The exchange of matter and energy in the ocean occurs at all latitudes and in the entire water column vertically, but in different conditions, which determine the intensity of metabolic processes: depending on geographic latitude, the amount of oxygen, transparency, etc. Depending on the latitude and depth, the number of plants and animals changes. In the Atlantic Ocean at low latitudes, 1 liter of water contains more than 10 thousand microorganisms, at a depth of 1 km - 90, and at a depth of 5 km - only 15.
As in other parts of the World Ocean, 3 groups of organisms live in the Atlantic: plankton, nekton and benthos.
Plankton is the most powerful community. V different parts ocean plankton density is different. The maximum density is between 45 ° and 70 ° of both hemispheres, the lowest is north of 70 ° N. NS. and at low latitudes. In general, plankton has a great influence on physical properties water and physical processes in the ocean: electrical discharges accumulate on the surface of planktonic organisms - negative for the living and positive for the dead; the accumulation of plankton and nekton forms sound-scattering layers, reduces the transparency of the water, etc.
Flora of the Atlantic Ocean
Phytoplankton develops well with good illumination of the upper layer of water, it has a rather complex species composition, it changes from place to place, from year to year and according to the seasons of the year. Observing water color from space and mapping it provides a picture of the distribution of phytoplankton in the ocean. With the help of spectrometers, this can be done for different regions and from aircraft.
Large plants usually attach to the bottom and have more limited distribution areas. The largest accumulation of aquatic plants is observed in the Sargasso Sea, which is named after brown algae (sargasso).
Green plants, producers of oxygen and organic matter, are the basis for the existence of both terrestrial and many oceanic systems. They live at shallow depths, some no deeper than 10 m.
The largest, for example " sea salad», Are about 1 m long, live in relatively warm and transparent waters; the second representative of green algae is "sea moss".
Brown algae are less demanding on temperature and light, grow to a depth of 50 m, and are also found in polar latitudes. Fucus, kelp and giant brown algae - macrocystis grow in the tidal zone of the North Atlantic waters, spreading up to 80 meters deep and having a stem length of up to 300 meters (like a rattan palm on land). There are also red algae characteristic of temperate and tropical latitudes, the most common of which are porphyry, rhodilinga, chondrus, they grow to a depth of 60 m.
Fauna of the Atlantic Ocean
Rich and varied animal world Atlantic. Animals inhabit the entire water column of the ocean. The diversity of fauna grows towards the tropics. In polar and temperate latitudes, they number thousands of species, in tropical - tens of thousands.
Large marine mammals (whales, pinnipeds), fish (herring, cod, flounder), many copepods and crustaceans live in temperate and cold waters. More than 100 species of animals are bipolar, that is, they live only in the cold and temperate zones, for example, seals, whales, sardines, mussels, etc.
Tropical latitudes are characterized by an abundance of animal species. The coral world is very peculiar, but the coral structures of the Atlantic are insignificant in comparison with the Pacific Ocean.
At a depth of about 4 meters off the coast of Cuba, the coral "sea fan" lives, which looks like burdock leaves pierced with a network of vessels - this is a soft gongonaria coral that forms whole thickets - "underwater forests".
In tropical waters, there are many inhabitants dangerous to humans: sharks, barracudas, moray eels. There are urchin fish and invertebrate sea urchins, the needle pricks of which are very painful.
The deep-water regions of the Atlantic Ocean, like other oceans, present a special environment of tremendous pressure, low temperatures and eternal darkness. Here you can find crustaceans, echinoderms, annelids, flint sponges, sea lilies.
There is also an “ocean desert” (“oceanic Sahara”) in the Atlantic Ocean - this is the Sargasso Sea, where the biomass is no more than 25 mg / m3, which is primarily due, apparently, to a special gas mode seas.
Biological resources of the Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is rich enough biological resources... It accounts for 40% of the catch of fish and seafood. These are fish, crustaceans, molluscs, etc.
The largest catches are in the northeastern part of the ocean, where biological productivity is very high due to the dynamism of coastal waters, abundance of food, good illumination, shallow depths and a peculiar structure of the bottom. Belgium, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Greece, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Great Britain, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Spain and the CIS countries are fishing ocean gifts here. The maximum catches of seafood were in the 80s. XX century and amounted to about 12 million tons. The species composition of the catch is as follows: mackerel, pollock, catfish, perch, herring, sprat, flounder, crab, lobster, lobster, 5 species of shrimp, squid, snails, oysters, scallops, brown and red algae.
In tropical latitudes, there is also fishing, although less abundant. The main objects are tuna, some species of sharks, swordfish, lobsters, shrimps, squid, turtles, molluscs, etc. The productivity of the ocean is not high here, but in general, the species composition of catches is 7 times richer than in temperate latitudes.
Until the end of the 50s. XX century The Atlantic Ocean was the leader in fishing. But long-term overfishing affected its resources, and the Pacific Ocean came out on top.