Waterbodies

• The Earth is known as the 'Blue Planet', as waterbodies cover nearly 71% of its surface.
• Oceans and seas contain saline water, which makes up for 96.5% of all the water on the Earth.
• Lakes, ponds and rivers contains fresh water and occupy only 0.5% of the Earth's surface.
• It is this fresh water that is indispensable for all organisms, both plants and animals.
• The remaining fresh water lies as frozen ice sheets of the Arctic and Antarctic regions.
• The liquid water component of the Earth including the oceans, seas, lakes, ponds, rivers and streams together form the hydrosphere.
• Most of the world's water is being recycled by this continuous process called the hydrological cycle or the water cycle.
• The largest ocean, Pacific Ocean is almost circular in shape.
• On its edges is the concentration of maximum active volcanoes, termed as the 'Ring Of Fire'.
• In the north, it is linked to the Arctic Ocean.
• Equator lies the North Pacific Ocean, and below it lies the South Pacific Ocean.
• Large groups of islands (archipelago) such as Polynesia, Micronesia and Melanesia are located in this ocean.
• The Atlantic is the second largest ocean in the world.
• The Atlantic ocean is shaped like the letter 'S'.
• The coastlines of Europe and North America are highly indented or irregular in shape. Therefore, there are a number of natural harbours on the Atlantic coastline of Europe and North America.
• The Arctic Ocean in the north polar regions is the smallest of all oceans.
• It is mostly surrounded by land masses.
• The water remains nearly frozen throughout the year.
• However, due to global warming, the ice in the Arctic Ocean is melting.
• Days are not far when the Arctic Ocean route will cut short travel times between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
• Till 2009, the Arctic ice park prevented year-round regular shipping in this region.
• But with the melting and decline of Arctic ice, navigation has now been possible.
• The vast oceans help maintain the hydrological cycle, which brings us rain.
• Ocean currents play a major role in shaping the climate on the Earth.
• Warm ocean currents keep cold coastal areas ice-free and also bring in moist winds that shed rain.
• Cold ocean currents, on the other hand, make a place colder or drier.
• The meeting of the cold and warm ocean currents brings rich fish food called planktons and hence these areas develop as ideal fishing grouds.
• For example of fishing grounds, Grand Banks off the coast of Newfoundland in North America is the meeting place for the cold Labrador and the warm Gulf Stream currents.
• Oceans have vast reserves of minerals such as petroleum, magnesium, bromine and salt.
• Oceans link distant land masses through sea routes.
• Oceans are sources of renewable energy such as tidal energy and ocean thermal energy.
• Renewable sources of energy is cheap, abundant and eco-friendly, so it is becoming very popular.
• Seas are similar to oceans but are smaller in size. These are also called marginal seas as these are large waterbodies along the the continental edges or margins.
• Some examples of marginal seas are Bering Sea, Carribean Sea, North Sea, Arabian Sea and Red Sea.
• Some lakes are too big for their size and are termed as inland seas. The Caspian Sea is one of them.
• The Caspian Sea is the largest saltwater lake of the world. It lies between Europe and Asia.
• Oceans have vast reserves of minerals such as petroleum, magnesium, bromine and salt.
• Oceans link distant land masses through sea routes.
• Oceans are sources of renewable energy and tidal energy such as ocean thermal energy.
• Renewable energy is cheap, abundant and eco-friendly, so it is becoming very popular.