How much oceans cover the earth

Water is always changing states between liquid, vapor, and ice, with these processes happening in the blink of an eye and over. The U. It is available in over 30 languages and also in an interactive version made for online.

We also offer three age-related versions of an interactive versions. Earth's water is always in motion, and the natural water cycle, also known as the hydrologic cycle, describes the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth. Skip to main content. Search Search. Water Science School. How Much Water is There on Earth? Where is Earth's Water? Learn more. The Water Cycle Learn more. Water Basics by Topic Learn more. All Earth's water, liquid fresh water, and water in lakes and rivers.

Learn more at the Water Science School. Related Water Science School pages:. Date published: June 6, Filter Total Items: 5. Year Select Year Apply Filter. Date published: November 6, Note: This section of the Water Science School Date published: September 20, Date published: September 25, Date published: June 8, Attribution: Water Resources.

Below are multimedia items associated with water basics. Filter Total Items: 4. List Grid. October 16, The Natural Water Cycle Earth's water is always in movement, and the natural water cycle, also known as the hydrologic cycle, describes the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth. Water is always changing states between liquid, vapor, and ice, with these processes happening in the blink of an eye and over Tyson Brown, National Geographic Society.

National Geographic Society. For information on user permissions, please read our Terms of Service. If you have questions about how to cite anything on our website in your project or classroom presentation, please contact your teacher. They will best know the preferred format. When you reach out to them, you will need the page title, URL, and the date you accessed the resource.

If a media asset is downloadable, a download button appears in the corner of the media viewer. If no button appears, you cannot download or save the media. Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service. Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. You cannot download interactives. Marine ecosystems contain a diverse array of living organisms and abiotic processes.

From massive marine mammals like whales to the tiny krill that form the bottom of the food chain, all life in the ocean is interconnected. While the ocean seems vast and unending, it is, in fact, finite; as the climate continues to change, we are learning more about those limits. Explore these resources to teach students about marine organisms, their relationship with one another, and with their environment.

Explorer-in-Residence Enric Sala reviews general facts about each ocean within the one world ocean. Join our community of educators and receive the latest information on National Geographic's resources for you and your students. Skip to content. Image Ocean Waves The ocean covers more than 70 percent of Earth, and more than 80 percent of it remains unexplored. In the Northern Hemisphere, the ratio of land to ocean is about 1 to 1. The ratio of land to ocean in the Southern Hemisphere is 1 to 4.

This greater abundance of ocean surface has some fascinating effects on the environment of the southern half of our planet. For example, climate of Southern Hemisphere locations is often more moderate when compared to similar places in the Northern Hemisphere. This fact is primarily due to the presence of large amounts of heat energy stored in the oceans. Each one of these regions is different from the others in some specific ways.

The average depth of the Atlantic Ocean including its adjacent seas is about meters 10, feet. The deepest point, meters 28, feet , occurs in the Puerto Rico Trench.

The Mid-Atlantic Ridge , running roughly down the center of this ocean region, separates the Atlantic Ocean into two large basins.

Many streams empty their fresh water discharge into the Atlantic Ocean. In fact, the Atlantic Ocean receives more freshwater from terrestrial runoff than any other ocean region. Lawrence, and Congo. The surface area of the Atlantic Ocean is about 1. Most of this nearly landlocked ocean region is located north of the Arctic Circle Figure 8o The Arctic Ocean is also the shallowest ocean region with an average depth of meters feet. The center of the Arctic Ocean is covered by a drifting persistent icepack that has an average thickness of about 3 meters 10 feet.

During the winter months, this sea ice covers much of the Arctic Ocean surface. This ocean region is enclosed on three sides by the landmasses of Africa, Asia, and Australia Figure 8o