Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. Its name is derived from the Latin name Mare Pacificum, "peaceful sea", bestowed upon it by the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan. It extends from the Arctic in the north to Antarctica in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west and the Americas in the east. At 169.2 million square kilometres (65.3 million square miles) in area, this largest division of the World Ocean – and, in turn, the hydrosphere – covers about 46% of the Earth's water surface and about 32% of its total surface area, making it larger than all of the Earth's land area combined. The equator subdivides it into the North Pacific Ocean and South Pacific Ocean. The Mariana Trench in the western North Pacific is the deepest point in the Pacific and in the world, reaching a depth of 10,911 metres (35,798 ft).
The Pacific Ocean's Garbage Patch needs more study
Last Updated on 2010-02-16 at 13:45
I keep reading about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, that floating island of trash between California and Hawaii. Can we ever clean it up? And should we even bother?
The... More »
Assignment Blog--Brian Skerry: One Fish, Two Fish,...
Last Updated on 2009-11-10 at 10:20
Monday September 14 - I felt like I was in the middle of a Dr. Seuss story on my third dive today at Nikumaroro. Rob Barrel, the owner of our expedition vessel NAI'A, took me to... More »
The eradication of rats on McKean Island
Last Updated on 2009-11-10 at 10:08
The expedition has been going fast and furious and moments to write blog entries are sometimes fleeting. The deck salon and cabins are spaces with the constant motion of people,... More »
Why are sharks important?
Last Updated on 2009-11-10 at 10:03
This entry is written by Stuart Sandin, Assistant Researcher of Marine Ecology at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
When taking toll of the ocean, there is no organism... More »
Tukabu Terooko Kiribati and the Phoenix Islands...
Last Updated on 2009-11-10 at 09:58
This entry is written by Tukabu Terooko, a Director of the Phoenix Islands Protected Area.
The designation of the Phoenix Islands a protected area is part of fulfilling Kiribati... More »
Blue water diving to study deep-sea jellies in...
Last Updated on 2009-11-10 at 09:51
Yesterday, Larry Madin, Kate Madin, Alan Dynner, myself and a Fijian crew member named Koroi drove one of NAI'A's diving skiffs four miles off Nikumaroro and came to a stop.... More »
-
Articles -
Blog Posts -
Galleries -
News -
Resources -
Videos
- Include Content from all Sub-Sections
| Type | Title | Author | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retrieving data... | |||
Site Options