Oceans

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/oceans

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How big is Oceans?Approximately 361 million square kilometers (139 million square miles)
2. How deep is Oceans?Approximately 3,688 meters (12,099 feet)
3. What is the primary language(s) for maritime communication?English is the de facto international language for maritime communication and navigation
4. What are the five major oceans on Earth?The five major oceans are the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern, and Arctic. They cover about 71% of the planet's surface.
5. How do ocean currents help keep the Earth warm?Ocean currents, driven by temperature and salt differences, move heat from the equator toward the poles. This circulation helps regulate the Earth's temperature and weather.

Thermohaline Circulation: A global system of ocean currents driven by differences in temperature and salinity, crucial for heat distribution and climate regulation.
Ocean Acidification: The ongoing decrease in the pH of the Earth's oceans, caused by the absorption of excess atmospheric carbon dioxide, threatening marine life.
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ): A maritime zone extending 200 nautical miles from the coast, in which a coastal state has sovereign rights for exploration and resource management.