The document summarizes the major ocean basins of the world. It describes the general characteristics of the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic, and Southern Oceans, including their average depths, geological features, and freshwater inputs. It also lists marginal seas surrounding each ocean and provides additional details on the largest/smallest oceans, deepest ocean trenches, saltiest seas, and historical definition of "the seven seas".

1. Major basins

2. Major basins42135

3. Major basins – General CharacteristicsPacific Oceanaverage depth 3,940 m extensive marginal seas, volcanic island systems, and trenches considerable mountain building and earthquake activity along boundaries (Ring of Fire) little freshwater input Atlantic Ocean average depth 3,310 m large freshwater input (Amazon, Congo, Mississippi, Niger, Orinoco Rivers) Indian Ocean average depth 3,840 m

4. large sediment input (Indus and Ganges River Deltas) Arctic Ocean average depth 1,038 m

5. centered on the north pole

6. shallow and land-locked

7. covered by sea ice

8. large sediment input from active glaciers Southern Ocean average depth 4,000 m

9. continuous ring of water around Antarctica

10. coldest of all oceans (near freezing)

11. extensive winter sea ice coverage

12. most biologically productive ocean Marginal SeasSurrounding the Atlantic Ocean is the Sargasso Sea (1), Weddell Sea (2), the Caribbean Sea (3), the North Sea (4), and the Mediterranean Sea (5). Surrounding the Pacific Ocean is the Ross Sea (6), the Coral Sea (7), the South China Sea (8), the Sea of Japan (9), the Sea of Okhotsk (10), the Bering Sea (11), and the Sea of Cortez (12) (also called the Gulf of California). Surrounding the Indian Ocean is the Red Sea (13), the Arabian Sea (14), and the Bay of Bengal (15). Surrounding the Arctic Ocean is the Bering Sea (11), the Laptev Sea (16), the Barents Sea (17), and the Beaufort Sea (18).

13. Largest, smallest, deepest, saltiestPacific Ocean = 1/3 globe (18 x US)1/2 world oceanThe Arctic Ocean is the smallest (area = 9,485,000 sq km, or < 1/10 Pacific)

14. Top 10 Deepest Trenches891537106241 Mariana 2 Tonga 3 Philippine 4 Kermadec 5 Bonin 6 New Britain 7 Kuril 8 Izu 9 Puerto Rico 10 Yap Mariana Trench = 35,802 ft (10,912 m)

15. Puerto Rico Trench8,400 m (5.2 miles)

16. Red Sea salinity ranges between 36 and 38 psuHighest SalinityDead Sea salinity = 360 psu

17. Ocean basins

18. Ocean basins

19. Ocean basinsTo “sail the seven seas” (< 1400’s) =1. Adriatic Sea2. Black Sea3. Caspian Sea4. Mediterranean Sea5. Red Sea6. Persian Gulf7. Indian Ocean