Celebrating World Ocean Day
7 Facts About Our Amazing Ocean
Image courtesy of ameenfahmy via Unsplash
Even though World’s Ocean Day is on June 8, it is important to recognize the impact of human nature on the ocean every day. Each and every one of us depends on the ocean for survival, which provides our source of the oxygen we breathe and regulates climate change and weather patterns.
Our ocean covers 70 percent of the Earth’s surface, giving a home to millions of species who are a part of the ocean food chain. Each species is responsible for regulating and maintaining a health marine ecosystem. For example, the sharks in our ocean maintain the food chain, and allow our coral reef systems to expand. It is our role to admire and protect our oceans today, and every day. Let us celebrate the beauty and the promise of our ocean with seven facts about the world’s oceans below.
The Ocean is Our Source for Survival
Our oceans produce 70 percent of the oxygen supply in the atmosphere from photosynthesis by marine plankton, algae and bacteria. For every 1-5 breaths a human will take, phytoplankton is estimated to be responsible. So while you are admiring the beauty of the oceans, also keep in mind that the ocean contributes to our survival.
The Sun Gives the Ocean it’s Blue Tint Color
Believe it or not, the sun gives the ocean its blue tint. The ocean also appears bluer the further you travel away from the coastline, because of the sun’s red and orange wavelengths being absorbed by the surface.
The water acts like a filter absorbing colors in the red spectrum and leaving colors of blue. The deeper the wavelengths can travel to, the bluer the ocean water will appear. This is because there are not enough molecules to absorb the light.
There are Lakes and Rivers Beneath the Surface of the Ocean
This may be shocking to you. How can there be a body of water exist inside a body of water? This is because of the sea floor depressions in which the water is denser than the surrounding water, forming a pool. Wild!
The Earth’s Biggest Waterfall is in the Atlantic Ocean
The world’s biggest waterfall exists underwater between Greenland and Iceland. It is 75 million cubic feet of water and drops down 11,500 feet. To put it in comparison, it is three times the height of Angel Falls and carries 2,000 times the amount of the water at Niagara Falls.
The Pacific is Wider than the Moon
This may hard to wrap your head around but the Pacific Ocean measures 12,300 miles across making it five times wider than the moon!
A Majority of Our Life On Earth is Aquatic
Our ocean is complex, and has a variety of ecosystems with countless species. However, researchers believe that we have only discovered 1/3 of the potential marine life on our ocean floors. The good news is every year 2,000 new species are found within our oceans.
The Ocean Keeps the Internet Online
With the use of our oceans, we are able to maintain international communication connections by lowering cables down to the ocean floors. In fact, these cables are responsible for 99 percent of the world’s data, and underwater Wifi has been recently introduced.
Our ocean sure has a lot to offer! It is also the source of our wild-caught seafood dishes at Timoti’s. From grilled shrimp basket to a crab burger topped with T’s Bam Bam sauce, there are a variety of fresh favorites to choose from!