Atlantic Ocean: geographical location, general information. Message about the Atlantic Ocean Where is the easternmost point of the Atlantic Ocean

Atlantic Ocean, or the Atlantic - the second largest (after the Pacific) and the most developed among the other water areas. From the east it is limited by the coast of South and North America, from the west - by Africa and Europe, in the north - by Greenland, in the south it merges with the Southern Ocean.

Distinctive features of the Atlantic: a small number of islands, a complex bottom topography and a heavily indented coastline.

Ocean characteristics

Area: 91.66 million sq. km, with 16% of the territory falling on the seas and bays.

Volume: 329.66 million sq. km

Salinity: 35‰.

Depth: average - 3736 m, maximum - 8742 m (Puerto Rico Trench).

Temperature: in the very south and north - about 0 ° C, at the equator - 26-28 ° C.

Currents: conventionally, 2 circulations are distinguished - the Northern (currents move clockwise) and the Southern (counterclockwise). The gyres are separated by the Equatorial inter-trade countercurrent.

Main currents of the Atlantic Ocean

Warm:

Northern trade wind - begins off the western coast of Africa, crosses the ocean from east to west and meets the Gulf Stream near Cuba.

Gulfstream- the most powerful current in the world, which carries 140 million cubic meters of water per second (for comparison: all the rivers of the world carry only 1 million cubic meters of water per second). It originates near the coast of the Bahamas, where the Florida and Antilles currents meet. Together, they give rise to the Gulf Stream, which, through the strait between Cuba and the Florida Peninsula, enters the Atlantic Ocean with a powerful stream. The current then moves north along the US coast. Approximately off the coast of North Carolina, the Gulf Stream turns east and out into the open ocean. After about 1500 km, it meets the cold Labrador Current, which slightly changes the course of the Gulf Stream and carries it to the northeast. Closer to Europe, the current is divided into two branches: Azores and North Atlantic.

It has only recently become known that a reverse current flows 2 km below the Gulf Stream, heading from Greenland to the Sargasso Sea. This stream of icy water was called the Antigulf Stream.

north atlantic- a continuation of the Gulf Stream, which washes the western coast of Europe and brings the warmth of the southern latitudes, providing a mild and warm climate.

Antillean- begins east of the island of Puerto Rico, flows north and joins the Gulf Stream near the Bahamas. Speed ​​— 1-1.9 km/h, water temperature 25-28°C.

Intertrade countercurrent - current around the globe at the equator. In the Atlantic, it separates the North Equatorial and South Equatorial currents.

South trade wind (or South Equatorial) - passes through the southern tropics. The average water temperature is 30°C. When the South Equatorial Current reaches the shores of South America, it divides into two branches: caribbean, or Guiana (flows north to the coast of Mexico) and brazilian- moves south along the coast of Brazil.

Guinean located in the Gulf of Guinea. It flows from west to east and then turns south. Together with the Angolan and South Equatorial forms a cyclic course of the Gulf of Guinea.

Cold:

Lomonosov countercurrent - discovered by a Soviet expedition in 1959. It originates off the coast of Brazil and moves north. A stream 200 km wide crosses the equator and flows into the Gulf of Guinea.

Canarian- flows from north to south, towards the equator along the coast of Africa. This wide stream (up to 1 thousand km) near Madeira and canary islands meets with the Azores and Portuguese currents. Approximately in the region of 15°N. joins with the Equatorial Countercurrent.

Labrador - begins in the strait between Canada and Greenland. It flows south to the Newfoundland bank, where it meets the Gulf Stream. The waters of the current carry cold from the Arctic Ocean, and along with the stream, huge icebergs are carried south. In particular, the iceberg that destroyed the famous Titanic was brought by the Labrador Current.

Benguela- is born near the Cape of Good Hope and moves along the coast of Africa to the north.

Falkland (or Malvinas) branches off from the West Wind Current and flows north along the east coast of South America to La Plata Bay. Temperature: 4-15°C.

The course of the westerly winds encircles the globe in the region of 40-50 °S. The stream moves from west to east. In the Atlantic it branches off South Atlantic flow.

Underwater world of the Atlantic Ocean

The underwater world of the Atlantic is poorer in diversity than in pacific ocean. This is due to the fact that the Atlantic Ocean has been more frozen during ice age. But the Atlantic is richer in the number of individuals of each species.

The flora and fauna of the underwater world is clearly distributed across climatic zones.

The flora is represented mainly by algae and flowering plants (Zostera, Posidonia, Fucus). In the northern latitudes, kelp predominates, in temperate latitudes - red algae. Phytoplankton flourishes throughout the ocean at depths of up to 100 m.

The fauna is rich in species. Almost all species and classes of marine animals live in the Atlantic. Of the commercial fish, herring, sardine, and flounder are especially valued. There is an active catch of crustaceans and mollusks, whaling is limited.

The tropical belt of the Atlantic is striking in its abundance. There are many corals and amazing views animals: turtles, flying fish, several dozen species of sharks.

For the first time the name of the ocean is found in the writings of Herodotus (5th century BC), who calls it the sea of ​​Atlantis. And in the 1st century AD. Roman scientist Pliny the Elder writes about the vast expanse of water, which he calls Oceanus Atlantikus. But official name"Atlantic Ocean" was fixed only by the XVII century.

There are 4 stages in the history of Atlantic exploration:

1. From antiquity to the 15th century. The first documents that talk about the ocean date back to the 1st millennium BC. The ancient Phoenicians, Egyptians, Cretans and Greeks knew the coastal zones of the water area well. Preserved maps of those times with detailed measurements of depths, indications of currents.

2. Time of the Great geographical discoveries (XV-XVII centuries). The development of the Atlantic continues, the ocean becomes one of the main trade routes. In 1498, Vasco de Gama, rounding Africa, paved the way to India. 1493-1501 Three voyages of Columbus to America. The Bermuda anomaly has been identified, many currents have been discovered, and detailed maps depths, coastal zones, temperatures, bottom topography.

Expeditions of Franklin in 1770, I. Kruzenshtern and Yu. Lisyansky in 1804-06.

3. XIX-first half of the XX century - the beginning of scientific oceanographic research. Chemistry, physics, biology, geology of the ocean are being studied. A map of currents has been drawn up, and research is being carried out to lay a submarine cable between Europe and America.

4. 1950s - our days. A comprehensive study of all components of oceanography is being carried out. In priority: studying the climate of different zones, identifying global atmospheric problems, ecology, mining, ensuring the movement of ships, seafood.

In the center of the Belize Barrier Reef is a unique underwater cave - the Great Blue Hole. Its depth is 120 meters, and at the very bottom there is a whole gallery of smaller caves connected by tunnels.

The only sea in the world without shores, the Sargasso, is located in the Atlantic. Its borders are formed by ocean currents.

Here is one of the most mysterious places on the planet: Bermuda Triangle. The Atlantic Ocean is also the birthplace of another myth (or reality?) - the mainland of Atlantis.

The ocean arose as a result of the split of the Pangea supercontinent into two large parts, which subsequently formed the modern continents.

The Atlantic Ocean has been known to man since ancient times. Mentioning the ocean, which is called the Atlantic, can be found in the records of the 3rd century. BC. The name arose, probably, from the legendary missing mainland Atlantis. True, it is not clear what territory it designated, because in ancient times people were limited in their 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 gutters. The deepest among them are the Puerto Rico Trench and the South Sandwich Trench, which are over 8 km deep.

Earthquakes and volcanoes have a great influence 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 Puerto Rico and Yuno Sandwich trenches, as well as on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

Climate

The large meridional extent of the ocean from north to south explains the diversity of climatic conditions on the surface of the ocean. In the equatorial zone, slight temperature fluctuations throughout the year and an average temperature of +27 degrees. The exchange of water with the Arctic Ocean also has a huge impact on ocean temperature. From the north, tens of thousands of icebergs drift into the Atlantic Ocean, reaching almost tropical waters.

The Gulf Stream, the largest current on the planet, is born off the southeastern coast of North America. Water consumption per day is 82 million cubic meters. m., which is 60 times the flow of all rivers. The width of the current reaches 75 km. wide, and the depth is 700 m. The speed of the current varies between 6-30 km / h. The Gulf Stream carries warm waters, the temperature of the upper layer of the current is 26 degrees.

At first glance, the world's oceans appear to be a gigantic static reservoir of salt water, the only movement in which is carried out in the form of waves. However, this is far from being the case - in each ocean there are dozens of large and small currents that affect a significant part of their area. The Atlantic Ocean is no exception.

Classification of the sea currents of the Atlantic

For a long time, the Atlantic has been famous for its sea currents; sailors have been using them for many centuries as a wide sea "road". Sea currents of the Atlantic Ocean are two large circles of circulation, almost isolated from each other. One of them is located in the northern part of the ocean, and the second in the south. At the same time, in the southern "circle" the water moves counterclockwise, and in the northern part of the Atlantic - on the contrary, clockwise. This direction of movement is due to the Coriolis law.

These circulation "circles" are not strictly isolated - turbulent eddies form on their outer edges in the form of separating flows. In the northern hemisphere, the most famous is Greenland, gradually turning into Labrador. In the southern hemisphere, the Guiana Current separates from the South Trade Wind, rushing north and joining the North Trade Wind there.

All sea ​​currents of the atlantic ocean divided into warm and cold. But such a division is purely conditional. In systematics, their main role is played by the temperature of the surrounding mass of water. For example, conventionally, the flow of the North Cape has an average temperature of 6-8 ° C, but it is considered warm, because the temperature of the Barents Sea, into which it flows, is only 2-4 degrees. Similarly, the Canary current is considered cold, although its temperature is much higher than that of the North Cape.

In addition to separation by temperature, the sea currents of the Atlantic Ocean are:

• Gradient - caused by the difference in temperature and density of water in different parts seas.
• Wind (drift) - they arise under the influence of winds, most often blowing in a given area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe ocean.
• Tidal, arising under the influence of the force of attraction of the moon and the sun.

Causes of sea currents

The main causes of sea currents in the Atlantic Ocean are:

• Coriolis force arising as a result of the inertia of a liquid medium. The mass of water that fills the ocean simply does not keep up with the planet rotating around its axis.
• The difference in temperature and density of water. These factors are decisive for the emergence of deep currents.
• The effect of winds on the ocean surface.

All of these factors are not isolated, but affect the ocean in a complex, leading to the emergence of water circulation. For the most part, the currents affect spaces limited in depth, not exceeding a few hundred meters. But in width they can reach several hundred, or even a thousand kilometers. For example, the subantarctic current of the West Winds is sometimes up to 2,000 km wide, moving 270 million cubic meters of water per second, which is 2,000 times the volume of the Amazon.

The main sea currents of the Atlantic Ocean

There are several tens (or even hundreds) of permanent sea currents in the Atlantic. It is simply not possible to list all of them. Let's dwell on the most significant. TO main sea ​​currents of the atlantic ocean relate:

• Gulfstream. This is perhaps one of the most grandiose and widely known course of the Atlantic Ocean. Its average width is 100-150 km, and the depth reaches 1 km. The total volume of water moved by it is about 75 million m3, which is ten times more than the volume of all the rivers of the planet. It originates in the Gulf of Mexico, which is reflected in the name: gulf stream - “the course of the gulf”. Further, it goes along the east coast of the United States, gradually deviating to the east.
• North Atlantic. To the southeast of the Newfoundland peninsula, the Gulf Stream splits into two new streams: the North Atlantic Current and the Canary. The North Atlantic, carrying warm water, continues the path of the Gulf Stream to the east, and reaches the northwestern coast of Europe, causing a mild climate there. In the Faroe region, the northern Greenland current separates from it, and the rest goes around Norway in the form of the North Cape current and reaches the Barents Sea. Thanks to him, we have an ice-free port of Murmansk on the shores of the Arctic Ocean.
• Canarian. It is the southern, right branch of the North Atlantic Sea Current. Passing along the western coast of the Iberian Peninsula and Morocco, it reaches the Canaries, losing its strength. However, the transatlantic North Trade Wind Current originates from these places.
• Northern trade wind. It is one of the longest major sea currents in the Atlantic Ocean. It originates off the coast of Morocco and reaches the American continent in the Caribbean. Here it flows into the Caribbean Sea, smoothly turning into small currents, eventually giving rise to the Gulf Stream. Thus, the great North Atlantic circle is closed.

The southern circulation originates off the southwestern coast of Africa in the form of the cold Benguela Current (named after the coastal city in Angola). Further, heating up, the flow of water is deflected by the trade winds blowing from the continent to the west, becoming the South Trade Wind Current. At the northwestern tip of Brazil, it is divided into two branches: the Guiana Current deviates to the north, and the Brazilian Current to the south. The latter reaches the high Antarctic latitudes, merging with the course of the Western winds. The cooled mass of water is transferred to the east, to the coast of South Africa, closing the southern circle. sea ​​currents of the atlantic ocean.

Using the sea currents of the Atlantic Ocean

Sailors have long used the sea currents of the Atlantic to optimize movement. Most widely famous example, this is the journey of Christopher Columbus, who descended from Spain along the Canary Current to the place where the "transatlantic" was formed - the North Trade Wind Current. It was more or less safe and delivered him to the West Indies.

The use of the sea currents of the Atlantic Ocean does not lose its relevance today. If you decide to make a transatlantic crossing, then you should not “reinvent the wheel”, but simply use the sea route beaten centuries ago. That is, you need to go down to the Canary Islands or the Cape Verde Islands (Cape Verde), and go straight to the New World with a fair wind and current. To some extent, it will be like rafting on a slow and wide river, of course, with adjustments for the far from riverine nature of the open ocean. No wonder experienced sailors say: any item dropped into the water off the Canary Islands will be caught in the Caribbean in a few months.

It is best to return back to Europe by the northern route, through the Gulf Stream. Sailors also have a saying about this: “The way from the Canary Islands to Europe lies through America.” This means that it is much easier to sail back from the Canary Islands via the Caribbean Sea than to go against the grain, against the prevailing winds and the Canary current, despite the huge increase in the total length of the route. Of course, for motorized ships, the old marine advice is of little relevance, especially if there is an adequate supply of fuel on board.

Further, having reached the Caribbean Sea, along the Florida current we get to the sources of the Gulf Stream, and we rise along this grandiose sea "river" to approximately 40 o. After that, we turn east and after a certain time, following the south of the North Atlantic Stream, we reach the western tip of Europe. It was this route that Columbus returned from his voyages to the West Indies.

When using the Gulf Stream, experienced yachtsmen do not advise to rise above 40 degrees. Collision occurs at higher latitudes warm waters Gulf Stream with the northern Labrador current with all the ensuing climatic delights: a sudden change in winds, frequent fogs and storms. No wonder the northeast coast of the United States and the Newfoundland region has long been called the "rotten corner of the Atlantic." IN winter time we should also not forget about the possibility of icebergs being carried south by the Labrador Current - does anyone else remember the 20th century blockbuster Titanic?

Part of the World Ocean, bounded by Europe and Africa from the east and North and South America from the west. The name comes from the name of the titan Atlas (Atlanta) in Greek mythology.

It is inferior in size only to the Quiet; its area is approximately 91.56 million km2. It is distinguished from other oceans by the strong indentation of the coastline, which forms numerous seas and bays, especially in the northern part. In addition, the total area of ​​river basins flowing into this ocean or its marginal seas is much larger than that of rivers flowing into any other ocean. Another difference Atlantic Ocean is a relatively small number of islands and a complex bottom topography, which, thanks to underwater ridges and uplifts, forms many separate basins.

States of the coast of the Atlantic Ocean-49 countries:

Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Benin, Brazil, United Kingdom, Venezuela, Gabon, Haiti, Guyana, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Grenada, Democratic Republic Congo, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ireland, Iceland, Spain, Cape Verde, Cameroon, Canada, Ivory Coast, Cuba, Liberia, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Norway, Portugal, Republic of the Congo, Sao Tome and Principe , Senegal, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Suriname, USA, Sierra Leone, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, France, Equatorial Guinea, South Africa.

NORTHERN ATLANTIC OCEAN

It is divided into northern and southern parts, the border between which is conditionally drawn along the equator. From an oceanographic point of view, however, the equatorial countercurrent, located at 5–8° N latitude, should be attributed to the southern part of the ocean. The northern boundary is usually drawn along the Arctic Circle. In some places this boundary is marked by underwater ridges.

Borders and coastline

in the northern hemisphere has a heavily indented coastline. Its narrow Northern part connected to the Arctic Ocean by three narrow straits. In the northeast, the Davis Strait, 360 km wide, connects it with the Baffin Sea, belonging to the Arctic Ocean. In the central part, between Greenland and Iceland, there is the Danish Strait, with a width of only 287 km at its narrowest point. Finally, in the northeast, between Iceland and Norway, is the Norwegian Sea, approx. 1220 km. East of Atlantic Ocean two water areas deeply protruding into the land are separated. The more northerly one begins North Sea, which to the east passes into the Baltic Sea with the Gulf of Bothnia and the Gulf of Finland. To the south there is a system of inland seas - the Mediterranean and the Black - with a total length of approx. 4000 km.

In the tropical zone in the southwest of the North Atlantic are the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, connected to the ocean by the Strait of Florida. The coast of North America is indented by small bays (Pamlico, Barnegat, Chesapeake, Delaware and Long Island Sound); to the northwest are the Bays of Fundy and St. Lawrence, Belle Isle, Hudson Strait, and Hudson Bay.

CURRENTS

Surface currents in the northern part Atlantic Ocean moving clockwise. The main elements of this large system are the warm current of the Gulf Stream directed to the north, as well as the North Atlantic, Canary and Northern Equatorial (Equatorial) currents. The Gulf Stream follows from the Strait of Florida and the island of Cuba in a northerly direction along the coast of the United States and at about 40 ° N. latitude. deviates to the northeast, changing its name to the North Atlantic Current. This current divides into two branches, one of which follows the northeast along the coast of Norway and further into the Arctic Ocean. The second branch turns south and further southwest along the coast of Africa, forming the cold Canary Current. This current moves to the southwest and joins the North Equatorial Current, which heads west towards the West Indies, where it merges with the Gulf Stream. To the north of the North Equatorial Current is an area of ​​stagnant water, abundant in algae and known as the Sargasso Sea. Along the North Atlantic coast of North America, the cold Labrador Current passes from north to south, following from the Baffin Bay and the Labrador Sea and cooling the coast of New England.

ISLANDS of the Atlantic Ocean

The largest islands are concentrated in the northern part of the ocean; these are the British Isles, Iceland, Newfoundland, Cuba, Haiti (Hispaniola) and Puerto Rico. On the eastern edge Atlantic Ocean there are several groups of small islands - Azores, Canaries, Cape Verde. There are similar groups in the western part of the ocean. Examples include the Bahamas, Florida Keys and Lesser Antilles. The archipelagos of the Greater and Lesser Antilles form an island arc surrounding eastern part Caribbean Sea. In the Pacific Ocean, such island arcs are characteristic of deformation regions. earth's crust. Deep-water trenches are located along the convex side of the arc.

Atlantic Ocean - the second deepest and largest ocean of our planet, which is located between Greenland and Iceland in the north, Europe and Africa in the east, North and South America in the west and Antarctica in the south.

The length of the Atlantic Ocean is 13 thousand km. It washes almost all the coasts of the continents, not counting Australia. The ocean has a large number of seas and bays. The area of ​​this ocean occupies more than 91 million square meters. km., and the average depth is 3735 meters. It is worth noting that the greatest depth of the Atlantic Ocean is 8742 meters (Puerto Rico Trench).

Flora and fauna

The flora is distinguished by various algae; in the young hemisphere, kelp can be found. There are about 245 species of phytoplankton in the Atlantic Ocean.

In subantarctic and antarctic waters one can meet fish species such as notothenia, blue whiting, copepods, pteropods and others. Also in this ocean live blue whales, octopuses, squids, anchovies, tuna, sardines, mackerel, jellyfish and other representatives of the underwater world.

Natural resources

The natural wealth of the Atlantic Ocean is found in the waters of the ocean, at depth and in the depths of the earth's crust. Large tidal power plants were built in France and Canada. In England, Spain, Italy, France and Argentina, all conditions have been created for the extraction of various salts and chemical elements from the waters of the ocean. Also, many countries use special installations to desalinate sea water.

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Every year, a huge amount of seafood (oysters, squid, mussels, shrimps, crabs, algae and others) is harvested in the seas of the ocean.

Minerals are being mined on the continental shelves: oil and gas.