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UNIT 4
THE SEVEN SEAS
The World’s ocean is the largest unexplored territory we have
left. It covers 71 percent of the earth. Nevertheless we know very little
about it. In 1872 an English ship, the Challenger began her three-
and-a half-year voyage around the world. Thanks to this journey
principles were laid of oceanographic studies for the next half century.
During this voyage the Challenger has been almost in every
important corner of the world’s ocean. Only six scientists on her
board established 362 observing «stations». Measurements were taken
of chemical composition and temperature of water, direction and
speed of the surface and deep-sea currents. There were collected samples
of water and ocean bed as well as of plant and animal life and about
5 000 kinds of which had been never known before.
The oceans influence the global climate greatly, they cool and
water the earth, warm the colder regions, and keep the air we
breath fresh and pure.
It is well known that the water holds 3 000 times more heat
than the air, so the ocean is the huge container of the earth’s heat
energy.
There are two main qualities of the ocean water. They are
temperature and salinity. The third important factor of quality is air
pressure. The temperature of the sea water varies considerably
throughout the world ocean. In some parts of the ocean the surface
temperature can vary from -2
0
C in the arctic regions, to 30
0
C in the
hot climates of he world. How can water remain at —2 degrees without
freezing? The secret is that the water contains salt, which gives it a
lower freezing point than the 0
0
C at which «usual» water freezes.
The warmest water in the world is in the Red sea — 32
0
C. —
almost hot to the touch. The Indian Ocean is also very warm with
average temperatures of 27
0
C. But 90 per cent of the world ocean is
cold, always below 4.5
0
C. The ocean is deep, most of it is two miles
deep. The reason of sea water salinity is that salt and minerals are
washed from the rocks on land and discharged to the ocean by rivers,
streams and rain. The water salinity depends on how warm the water
is and how much surface water is transforming into vapour. The Red
Sea contains about 40 parts of salt to 1 000 parts of water. The cold
waters are freshest, for very little of their water changes to vapour.
UNIT 4
THE SEVEN SEAS
The World’s ocean is the largest unexplored territory we have
left. It covers 71 percent of the earth. Nevertheless we know very little
about it. In 1872 an English shi p, the Challenger began her three-
and-a half-year voyage around the world. Thanks to this journey
princi ples were laid of oceanographic studies for the next half century.
During this voyage the Challenger has been almost in every
important corner of the world’s ocean. Only six scientists on her
board established 362 observing «stations». Measurements were taken
of chemical composition and temperature of water, direction and
speed of the surface and deep-sea currents. There were collected samples
of water and ocean bed as well as of plant and animal life and about
5 000 kinds of which had been never known before.
The oceans influence the global climate greatly, they cool and
water the earth, warm the colder regions, and keep the air we
breath fresh and pure.
It is well known that the water holds 3 000 times more heat
than the air, so the ocean is the huge container of the earth’s heat
energy.
There are two main qualities of the ocean water. They are
temperature and salinity. The third important factor of quality is air
pressure. The temperature of the sea water varies considerably
throughout the world ocean. In some parts of the ocean the surface
temperature can vary from -20C in the arctic regions, to 300C in the
hot climates of he world. How can water remain at —2 degrees without
freezing? The secret is that the water contains salt, which gives it a
lower freezing point than the 00C at which «usual» water freezes.
The warmest water in the world is in the Red sea — 320C. —
almost hot to the touch. The Indian Ocean is also very warm with
average temperatures of 270C. But 90 per cent of the world ocean is
cold, always below 4.50C. The ocean is deep, most of it is two miles
deep. The reason of sea water salinity is that salt and minerals are
washed from the rocks on land and discharged to the ocean by rivers,
streams and rain. The water salinity depends on how warm the water
is and how much surface water is transforming into vapour. The Red
Sea contains about 40 parts of salt to 1 000 parts of water. The cold
waters are freshest, for very little of their water changes to vapour.
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