Abdul Wahab - science4fun

The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest among the five Major Oceans of the Earth. The surface area of the Pacific Ocean is so large that it can fit all seven continents. It covers around 30% surface area of the Earth while the remaining 70% is covered with all other oceans and continents. The continents that surround the Pacific Ocean are Asia, Austria, South American, and North America.

The name Pacific is derived from the Portuguese and Spanish word “Mar Pacifico”, which means a “peaceful sea”. This name was given by Ferdinand Magellan, who is a Portuguese explorer.

Characteristics

Temperature

The temperature gradient of the Pacific Ocean ranges from −1.4 °C to 30 °C. The surface temperature of the Pacific Ocean depends on the weather and location. The surface temperature is highest in equatorial regions and lowest near Polar Regions.

Salinity

The salinity of the Pacific Ocean is less than the Atlantic Ocean. Salt content is around 3.5% by mass which changes along the latitude. The salt content is lowest in equatorial regions nearly 3.2% by mass due to heavy rainfall.

Water Circulation

In the North Pacific Ocean, water moves in the clockwise direction, and in the South Pacific Ocean, water moves in the anti-clockwise direction.

Ring of Fire

Ring of Fire, also known as Rim of Fire, is a ring-shaped region in the Pacific Ocean (highlighted in the above image) in which most of the volcanoes are located. These volcanoes are located on islands, along the coast of countries, and submerged in the Ocean. Many volcanoes in the Ring of Fire are active that is where the name came from. Furthermore, 90% of all Earth Quakes happen alongside the Ring of Fire due to volcanic activities.

Great Barrier Reef

Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef system that stretches 2,300 kilometers long. Coral reefs are structures that are formed by corals (species of marine creatures) with calcium carbonate which they excrete. Reefs formation also contains rocks and sand.

Great Barrier Reef is placed in the World Heritage Sites because it is an important site for all humans worldwide. It is located in Australia and covers an area of 348,700 km².

Garbage Patches in the Pacific Ocean

Garbage thrown by humans is not only polluting the land, lakes, ponds, and river. But, it is also polluting the oceans. The Pacific Ocean has few patches or regions of floating plastic garbage that cover an area of two times the size of Texas. These garbage patches were first discovered in 1997, since then they have grown rapidly in size.

Garbage patches were formed in the Pacific Ocean due to the system of water currents that gathered plastic from around the Pacific Ocean. The garbage patches are very harmful to marine life, they cause the marine animal to die from suffocation when they tangle in plastics or eat them.

Interesting Facts

The Pacific Ocean contains around 25,000 islands and most of them are located in the South Pacific Ocean.
The Mariana Trench is the deepest place of the planet Earth which is located in the Pacific Ocean at the depth of 11,034 meters.
Pacific Ocean islands are divided into three categories; Micronesia, Melanesia, Polynesia.

The Atlantic Ocean is the 2^nd largest among the five major oceans of the Earth. It is surrounded by Europe, Africa, South America, and North America. The ocean takes up approximately 20% of Earth’s surface area. There are many features, such as Gulf Stream, in this ocean that impact the weather of the US and Europe.

The ocean was first named by Greeks as “Atlantikos”, which means “Sea of Atlas”. The word “Atlantic” is derived from that Greek name. Atlas is one of the Greek gods, which they believe to be the god of astronomy and navigation. Furthermore, the Atlantic Ocean was considered to be the end of our Earth, which means a ship will fall into dark space if it crossed the edge of the ocean.

Characteristics of Atlantic Ocean

Temperature and Water Circulations

The surface temperature of the Atlantic Ocean changes between -2 °C to 30 °C along the latitude. The ocean is cold in Polar Regions and hot in equatorial region. The Atlantic Ocean is divided into two parts; North Atlantic and South Atlantic Ocean. Water currents in North Atlantic Ocean move in the clockwise direction, whereas, South Atlantic Ocean currents move in the anti-clockwise direction.

Salinity

The Atlantic Ocean is the saltiest of all the five oceans. The quantity of salt in the ocean is around 3.7% by mass, which varies along latitude and also depends on season. The parts of the Atlantic Ocean which receive heavy rainfall have lower salinity as compared to low rainfall and high evaporations parts. Furthermore, when the ice melts in the Atlantic Ocean during summer, its salinity decrease.

Sinking of Titanic in the Atlantic Ocean

Titanic-departing-from-Southampton — Titanic Ship departing from Southampton in 1912

Titanic is one of the most famous ships in the history of mankind. It was the state-of-the-art passenger voyage ship of its time. Titanic is mostly known for its deadly disaster that happened on 15 April 1912. On that day, the ship got an accident with an iceberg which resulted in the death of 1,500 human lives. The accident occurred in the Atlantic Ocean during the Titanic’s voyage from Southampton to New York City. The wreckage of the Titanic was first discovered in 1985 at the depth of 4 kilometers.

Bermuda Triangle in the Atlantic Ocean

Bermuda Triangle, also known as Devil’s Triangle, is famous for engulfing ships and aircraft. There have been several events in which ships and aircraft that crossed Bermuda Triangle disappeared. The Bermuda Triangle is the region located in the Atlantic Ocean within three points, which are Bermuda Island, Miami City, and Puerto Rico Island.

Bermuda Triangle is not a scary place in reality. Many boats and planes cross Bermuda Triangle on daily basis. However, the weather sometimes changes suddenly in Bermuda Triangle which may have caused airplane and ships accidents. Furthermore, the deepest place in the Atlantic Ocean, the Milwaukee Depth, is also located within Bermuda Triangle. The Milwaukee Depth is located near Puerto Rico Island and is nearly 27,493 feet (8,380 meters) deep.

Facts

The Sargasso Sea is located within the Atlantic Ocean and is the only sea that is not enclosed by any land. It is enclosed by four water currents in the Atlantic Ocean.
The Sargasso Sea looks different from its surroundings due to the presence of floating brown-colored Sargassum seaweed.
The Atlantic Ocean is connected with the Pacific Ocean with a manmade passage called Panama Canal.

Soil is one of the important layers of our Earth’s crust on which plants grow. Soil is different from plain clay or sand surface. Soil is a biologically active top layer of the crust which in itself forms an ecosystem. The ecosystem of soil is where plants, insects, bacteria, fungi, and animals interact. Soil is the nutritiously rich crust that supports plant growth.

Composition of Soil

Soil is a mixture of a large variety of materials which include sand, clay, organic matter, silt, gases, water, and various minerals. These soil materials change from one region to another and also depend on the type of soil. Most of the time, soil contains around 50% solids, 50% water, and gases together.

Furthermore, the soil is composed of multiple layers which are called horizons. There are 3 horizons called A, B, and C.

Horizon A – This layer is dark in color due to the high level of organic matter and minerals. It is the layer where plants first start to grow. A good and thick horizon layer boosts the growth of plants.

Horizon B – It mostly consists of clay and sand along with some organic matter. Horizon A and B are mixed such that there is no sharp boundary between the two.

Horizon C – In this layer mostly large objects, such as stones, along with the mix of clay or sand are found.

How Soil is Formed?

Good soil is formed in thousands of years when proper layering of rocks, clay, and organic matter starts. The clay and sand are usually dragged by water which places them in distinct layers. Heavy rainfall usually brings organic matter including fallen trees, smaller plants, and dead bodies of animals. This organic matter is disintegrated by physical, chemical, and biological processes and mixed with clay beneath them. The upper soil layer becomes dark in texture over time and new plants are grown on them.

How Soil Can Die?

Soil is not just dirt, so many living creatures along with various physical, chemical, and biological processes make soil alive. A living soil means it is excellent for the growth of plants. There are various events in which a soil can become dead, which means, it loses the properties of supporting plants. For example, one of the main causes of dead soil is deforestation. When trees and other deep-rooted plants are destroyed, the natural cycle that renews soil is also destroyed.

The other cause that disturbs the health of the soil is heavy rainfall which washes away the top organic-rich layer of soil. This usually happens when trees are destroyed for agricultural purposes. The deep-rooted trees slow down the water flow and keep the soil from washing away. The crops alone are not able to hold the pressure of rainwater flow.

Facts

The crust formed by Lava is very rich in minerals and is quickly converted into soil.
Over-cultivation of crops in farmland can reduce the soil nutrients quickly. As a result, the yield of crops decreases, and soil become sick.

Aquatic plants are categories of plants that are surrounded by water or live in the water. These types of plants are found in ponds, rivers, and other water bodies. Aquatic plants play important role in the pond ecosystem. These plants provide shelter and food to fish and other creatures.

Types of Aquatic Plants

There is a large variety of aquatic plants, but most of them can fall into four main categories; Emergent, Fixed Floating, Free Floating, and Submerged.

Emergent Aquatic Plants

These aquatic plants grow inside water bodies, such as ponds, but eventually, come out to the surface as they grow longer. They have roots attached to the ground, the stem partially remains submerged, and the rest of the plant is exposed to air. These types of aquatic plants perform photosynthesis better than submerged plants and can pollinate with the help of air. Some of the examples of emergent plants are butomus, wild rice, and purple loosestrife.

Fixed Floating Aquatic Plants

These plants have roots fixed in the ground while their leaves and flowers float on the surface of the water. Because their roots are fixed in the ground they are unable to move freely. Examples of these plants are water lilies, lotus, and pond weeds.

Free Floating Aquatic Plants

Free-floating plants have their roots not tied to the ground. These plants can move freely in the whole pond. The leaves of these plants contain many air-filled cavities which helps them to stay afloat on the water. They are easily blown away from one place to other by wind or water ripples. The famous free-floating plants are water lettuce, water cabbage, and duckweed.

Submerged Aquatic Plants

These types of plants grow and remain inside water and don’t come to the surface. They are very important for underwater life because they produce oxygen inside the ponds. As a result, the dissolved oxygen is increased in the pond that is used by fish and other creatures. Examples of these plants are tape grass and hydrilla.

Importance of Aquatic Plants

Aquatic plants play a very important role in the ecosystems of ponds and rivers. They provide food and shelter to fishes and other creatures. They also reduce the velocity of the river and filter out the large object. Many species of aquatic plants consume excessive dissolved nitrogen and phosphorus from polluted water ponds. As a result, the pollution of ponds is reduced.

Facts

Aquatic plants have many species; some grow in freshwater, while others grow in saltwater.
Some species of terrestrial plants can adapt themselves when they submerge underwater partially. They grow thinner leaves and the oxygen level of submerged leaves is increased more than the exposed-to-air leaves.

What Are Animal Adaptations?

Animals have modified themselves in various ways to be able to survive in the environments where they live. Our Earth has various environments with different features and properties. For example, deserts are dry and Polar Regions are cold. Over the time, animals have evolved with the change in Earth’s climate so that they have better chances of survival. For example, camels with their special adaptations can better survive in deserts.

Types of Animal Adaptations

There are various types of adaptations that animals gain to increase their survivability. The main types of adaptations are:

Behavioral Adaptation – The actions and habits of an animal that they learn from events or ancestors to better survive the environment. For example, the migration of birds to different regions according to changing seasons. Many animals can use tools such as stones and sticks to gather food or get protection from predators.
Physical Adaptations – These are the changes in the shape of animals such as skin color, structure, limbs, and other body parts to better cope with the extremities of the environment. For example, birds with long beaks can catch insects from deep cavities in the trees. Polar bears have thick skin and white fur to survive cold temperatures and disguise themselves in snow.
Physiological Adaptations – These adaptations include changes in how the body parts of an organism will function. For example, polar bears hibernate in the winter season to decrease their food intake because food is scarce in the winter season in Polar Regions. Mammals, including humans, can maintain a constant temperature in their bodies and can tolerate both hot and cold environments.

How Animals Have Adapted to Desert?

Deserts are very dry places that receive the least snowfall throughout the year. The temperature gradient in these regions is also high – means hot in the daytime and cold at night. Animals living in deserts have adapted themselves to cope with the environment and survive. Camels are one of the animals that live in deserts. They have the following adaptations for survival:

Long eyelashes protect their eyes from sand and direct sunlight.
They have humps on their back in which fat and vitamins are stored. When the food is unavailable they use fat from their humps to gain energy.
Narrow nostrils help them block the sand from entering the nose while breathing.
Tough and thick lips allow them to pick and eat spiky plants in the desert such as cactus.
Their whole body is covered with thick fur which protects them in cold nights.
They have wide and flat feet which keeps them from sinking into the sand.
Their legs are longer which lifts their body quite high and protect them from the heat of the sandy ground.
Their body color matches with the sandy environment which provides them good camouflage.

How Animals Have Adapted to Grasslands?

Grasslands are open grounds covered with different species of grass. They also have trees but very less as compared to forests. They receive less rainfall as compared to forests, but rainfall is sufficient enough to support grass growth. Animals living in grasslands have adapted to open ground and grassy habitats habitat. Bison are one of the animals that live in these grasslands. The adaptations of bison for grassland are:

Bison have adapted their teeth to process various species of grass in their mouth.
In open grounds, bison can be visible from far distances. To flee from predators, their strong legs can push them to 50 kilometers per hour. Moreover, they also have sharp horns to fight off their predators.

How Animals Have Adapted to Rainforests?

Rainforests are highly rainy regions covered with very dense plants. The Rainforest biome is very moist and hot in climate. Rainforests don’t have any scarcity of vegetation. Due to this reason, there are so many species of animals living in the rainforests compared to other biomes. One of the famous birds living in tropical rainforests is the toucan. Toucans have many adaptations to effectively survive in rainforests. Some of the adaptations are:

Toucans love to eat fruits which they pick with their large and lightweight bill.
Rainforests have long and short dense trees, toucans mostly sit on their branches. They have four toes in each foot for better grip.
They have bright-colored feathers and bills which help them blend in the environment and avoid being spotted by predators.
The eyesight of toucans is very sharp. They can spot and flee their predators in very dense forests.

How Animals Have Adapted to Polar Regions?

Polar Regions are very cold places on our earth that are covered with glaciers throughout the year. These are some of the extreme environments on the earth. Animal species that can survive Polar Regions have specialized adaptations. For example, polar bears can survive in this harsh environment due to the following adaptations:

They have a thick layer of fat, called blubber, under their skin which provides them excellent insulation to keep their body warm.
They have white fur on their entire body which further insulates them and provide them a good camouflage to blend with the environment.
They have wide paws with many lumps beneath which makes it easier for them to walk on the ice surface and swim in the water.
Food is very scarce in Polar Regions, especially in the winter months. Polar bears store the food in the form of fat inside their bodies in the summer months.

Facts

Wood frogs have a special adaptation, they freeze their entire body in cold regions and become clinically dead. They come to life again when the temperature becomes favorable.
Kangaroo rats live in deserts and are famous for not drinking water in their entire life. They get the water from the food they eat.