Our Seas and Oceans

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 The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the Earth's water surface. It is a geographically and geopolitically vital body of water, connecting the continents of Africa to the west, Asia to the north, and Australia to the east, with its southern boundary typically defined by the Southern Ocean. 

 The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's five oceans, covering approximately one-fifth of Earth's surface. It uniquely separates the continents of Europe and Africa to the east from North and South America to the west, earning its name "Sea of Atlas" from Greek mythology. 

 The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions, covering roughly one-third of the planet's surface and more than half of its free water. It stretches from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, and is bounded by the continents of Asia and Australia to the west and the Americas to the east. 

 The Southern Ocean, also known as the Antarctic Ocean, is the fourth largest and youngest of the world's five oceanic divisions. It is unique because it is the only ocean that completely encircles a continent, Antarctica, extending northward to 60 degrees south latitude. This boundary roughly coincides with the Antarctic Convergence (or Polar Front), a significant natural boundary where cold polar waters meet warmer subpolar waters, creating a highly productive zone. 

 The Arctic Ocean is the smallest, shallowest and coldest of the world's five oceanic divisions. It is unique in being almost entirely enclosed by landmasses – North America, Europe and Asia, and is centred around the North Pole. Its most defining characteristic is its extensive sea ice cover which historically blanketed much of its surface year-round, though this is rapidly changing due to climate change caused by Global Warming.