Atlantic Ocean
General data
- Water type: Ocean
- Progression: Planet Earth
- Climates: Tropical, Subtropical, Temperate, Subpolar, Polar
- Continents: Africa, Europe, Asia, North America, South America
- Countries: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Faroe Islands, France, Gambia, Greenland, Guatemala, Guinea, Iceland, Republic of Ireland, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Portugal, Puerto Rico, South Africa, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Spain, Trinidad And Tobago, England (UK), United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Scotland (UK), Wales (UK), Northern Ireland (UK), Canary Islands (Spain), Azores (Portugal), Madeira (Portugal)
Description
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest ocean, with an area of about 85,133,000 km2 (32,870,000 sq mi). It covers approximately 20% of Earth’s surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the Old World of Africa, Europe, and Asia from the New World of the Americas in the European perception of the World. On average, the Atlantic is the saltiest major ocean; surface water salinity in the open ocean ranges from 33 to 37 parts per thousand (3.3–3.7%) by mass and varies with latitude and season. Evaporation, precipitation, river inflow and sea ice melting influence surface salinity values. Although the lowest salinity values are just north of the equator (because of heavy tropical rainfall), in general, the lowest values are in the high latitudes and along coasts where large rivers enter. Maximum salinity values occur at about 25° north and south, in subtropical regions with low rainfall and high evaporation. The high surface salinity in the Atlantic, on which the Atlantic thermohaline circulation is dependent, is maintained by two processes: the Agulhas Leakage/Rings, which brings salty Indian Ocean waters into the South Atlantic, and the Atmospheric Bridge, which evaporates subtropical Atlantic waters and exports it to the Pacific. In the North Atlantic, surface circulation is dominated by three inter-connected currents: the Gulf Stream which flows north-east from the North American coast at Cape Hatteras; the North Atlantic Current, a branch of the Gulf Stream which flows northward from the Grand Banks; and the Subpolar Front, an extension of the North Atlantic Current, a wide, vaguely defined region separating the subtropical gyre from the subpolar gyre. This system of currents transport warm water into the North Atlantic, without which temperatures in the North Atlantic and Europe would plunge dramatically.
Seas
Bays
Rivers
Salmoniformes - Salmons and Trouts
Acipenseriformes - Sturgeons and Paddlefish
Syngnathiformes - Pipefishes and Seahorses
Anguilliformes - Eels and morays
Moroniformes - Temperate basses
Mugiliformes - Mullets
Clupeiformes - Herrings
Perciformes - Perches
Spariformes - Breams and porgies
Carangiformes - Jacks
Beloniformes - Needlefishes
Labriformes - Wrasses
Scombriformes - Mackerels
Scorpaeniformes - Mail-cheeked fishes
Gadiformes - Cods
Mulliformes - Goatfishes
Gobiiformes - Gobies
Istiophoriformes - Barracudas
Pleuronectiformes - Flatfishes
Trachiniformes - Weeverfishes
Aulopiformes - Grinners
Blenniiformes - Blennies
Lamniformes - Mackerel sharks
Carcharhiniformes - Ground sharks
Torpediniformes - Electric rays
Rajiformes - Skates and rays
Orectolobiformes - Carpet shark
Osmeriformes - Smelts
Elopiformes - Tarpons and tenpounders
Chimaeriformes - Chimaeras
Squatiniformes - Angelsharks
Albuliformes - Bonefishes
Hexanchiformes - Six-gill sharks
Rhinopristiformes - Shovelnose rays
Myliobatiformes - Stingrays
Myxiniformes - Hagfishes
Acanthuriformes - Surgeonfishes
Zeiformes - Dories
Tetraodontiformes - Puffers and filefishes
Holocentriformes - Squirrelfishes
Dactylopteriformes - Flying gurnards
Lophiiformes - Anglerfishes
Lampriformes - Lamprids
Squaliformes - Sleeper and dogfish sharks
Siluriformes - Catfishes
Batrachoidiformes - Toadfishes
Centrarchiformes - Basses and sunfishes
Gasterosteiformes - Sticklebacks
Cyprinodontiformes - Toothcarps
Notacanthiformes - Spiny eels
Saccopharyngiformes - Swallowers and Gulpers
Gonorynchiformes - Milkfishes
Argentiniformes - Marine smelts
Myctophiformes - Lanternfishes
Stylephoriformes - Tube-eyes
Beryciformes - Sawbellies
Ophidiiformes - Cusk-eels
Kurtiformes - Nurseryfishes & Cardinalfishes
Acropomatiformes - Oceanic basses
Atheriniformes - Silversides
Callionymiformes - Dragonets
Gobiesociformes - Clingfishes
Catches
