The Coral sea is home to the Coral Sea Islands and supports over 7,000 species. The wind-driven surface water accumulates in the Yucatn Basin and the Gulf of Mexico, where it results in a higher average sea level than in the Atlantic, forming a hydrostatic head that is believed to constitute the main driving force of the Gulf Stream. It has an average depth of 2200 meters with a deepest point of 7500 meters below the surface. North Atlantic deep water enters the Caribbean beneath the Windward Passage and is characterized by its rich oxygen content and by a salinity of slightly less than 35 parts per thousand. Water covers about 71% of the Earth. Scientific data reveals that over the last 500 years the area has seen a dozen earthquakes above 7.5 magnitude. Omissions? Area: 1,491,000 sq. Oceans are divided into three zones based on depth and light level. The Windward Islands comprising of Trinidad and Tobago, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Barbados, Martinique, and Saint Vincent and Grenadines. During the Cretaceous the Caribbean acquired the shape close to that seen today. During the first and second phases the basin was free of deformation. The Coral Sea is located southwest of the Pacific Ocean and is surrounded by Australia, New Guinea, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, and New Hebrides. 200 3, 330 10, 920. The Southern Ocean basin (Antarctic Ocean) encircles Antarctica and extends to parts of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. expeditions have come across unknown species, recorded known animals exhibiting never-before-seen behaviors and sighted live animals previously only observed as lifeless specimens, Kennedy said. Some of these notable endemic floral species include guaiac wood, Bayahibe rose, and ceiba. Approximately 1,000 fishes have been recorded in the Caribbean Sea including flying fish, angelfish, manta ray, Caribbean reef shark, silky shark, bull shark, tiger shark, butterflyfish, Atlantic Goliath grouper, moray eels, lobsters, sardines, parrotfish, etc. The Indian Ocean is home to several islands, including Madagascar (4th largest island globally). There are more than 7000 islands in the Caribbean, and they belong to over 28 distinct nations. The northernmost of these, the Yucatn Basin, is separated from the Gulf of Mexico by the Yucatn Channel, which runs between Cuba and the Yucatn Peninsula and has a sill depth (i.e., the depth of the submarine ridge between basins) of about 5,250 feet (1,600 metres). The Pacific Ocean is the oldest of all existing oceans. This article explores ten of the worlds largest oceans and seas, including the Pacific Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Indian Ocean. The islands are further divided into three distinct island groups: the Greater Antilles, the Lesser Antilles, and the Bahamas Archipelago. Papahnaumokukea Marine National Monument, Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, Scientists discover hydrothermal vent activity in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Watch live April 15-26: NOAA expedition to the deep ocean off the U.S. West Coast. Its home to over 1,769 species, including whales, sharks, sardines, tuna, sea turtles, and wahoo. In the Caribbean, 600 species of birds have been recorded, of which 163 are endemic such as todies, Fernandina's flicker and palmchat. Simon Dannhauer . But with each expedition we reach new audiences who are fascinated by what we are seeing in the deep ocean. Throughout history, the Arabian Sea served as an essential water body for numerous seaports and trade routes. The NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer is the only federally funded US ship assigned to systematically explore our largely unknown ocean for the purpose of discovery and the advancement of knowledge. Covering an area of about 2,754,000 sq. The deepest point in the Caribbean sea is the Cayman Trough between Jamaica and Cuba. The deepest part of the Caribbean Sea, the Cayman Trench, has an average depth of 2,200 meters, with the deepest point being 7,500 meters below the surface. Since there are multiple large coral reefs in the Caribbean Sea, it is no surprise that marine life is so diverse! 3. It is estimated that 13 thousand species of plants grow in the Caribbean of which 6.5 thousand are endemic. We dont know exactly what we can expect to see, said Lt. Brian Kennedy, the expeditions coordinator and a member of NOAAs Commissioned Officers Corps. Powerful rifting led to the formation of narrow troughs, stretching from modern Newfoundland to the west coast of the Gulf of Mexico which formed siliciclastic sedimentary rocks. The result of the death and dispersal of these tiny plants is called coral bleaching, and can lead to the devastation of large areas of reef. The Caribbean Sea is connected with the Gulf of Mexico in the north via the Yucatan Channel. Throughout the Caribbean there is industrial catching of lobster and sardines (off the coast of Yucatn Peninsula). [1][2] The sea's deepest point is the Cayman Trough, between the Cayman Islands and Jamaica, at 7,686m (25,217ft) below sea level. The eastern trade winds blow across the region leading to the creation of semi-arid and rainforest climates in the area. In the early Carboniferous movement of Gondwana to the north and its convergence with the Euramerica basin decreased in size. The sea is home to several islands, including Lakshadweep Islands, Astola Island, Socotra, and Masirah. This Caribbean bottom water also enters the Venezuelan Basin, thus introducing high-oxygen water at depths of 5,900 to 9,800 feet (1,800 to 3,000 metres). Official websites use .gov The project "Sustainable finance methods for marine preservation in the Caribbean" will assist remove solid waste and keep it out of the marine and coastal environment by establishing a new facility under the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF). This ocean is relatively calm and offers significant sea routes for transporting materials such as oil, rice, sugar, and silk. After Christopher Columbus landed in the Bahamas in 1492, the Spanish term Antillas applied to the lands; stemming from this, Sea of the Antilles became a common alternative name for "Caribbean Sea" in various European languages. So far, at least 12,046 species have been reported in this sea. In neither hydrology nor climate, however, does the Caribbean resemble the Mediterranean. The average depth of the ocean measures about 12,100 feet (3600 meters) or about 2.3 miles down! The Caribbean Sea is also massive, with an area of 1,063,000 square miles. The geological age of the Caribbean Sea is estimated to be between 160 and 180million years and was formed by a horizontal fracture that split the supercontinent called Pangea in the Mesozoic Era. There was a very serious eruption of Mount Pele in 1902 which caused many casualties. But how deep is the Caribbean Sea, and what mysterious creatures lurk there? The average depth is about 2,200 meters (7,220 feet) below the sea's surface. Some of the major rivers that drain into the Caribbean Sea include Magdalene, San Juan, Chagres, Coco, etc. Subantarctic intermediate water (i.e., water differing in several characteristics from the surface and bottom layers of water that it separates) enters the Caribbean below the Anegada Passage at depths of 1,600 to 3,300 feet (500 to 1,000 metres). Cuba, with an area of 109,884 square kilometers (42,426 square miles), is the largest island in the Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. Global Land One-kilometer Base Elevation (GLOBE) v.1. Warm, moist trade winds blow consistently from the east, creating both rainforest and semi-arid climates across the region. The Caribbean Sea has a diverse and rich ecosystem. These plants provide food for the corals and give them their color. The Caribbean's greatest known depth is Cayman Trench (Bartlett Deep) between Cuba and Jamaica, approximately 25,216 feet (7,686 metres) below sea level . Keep reading to find out! [27] In the Caribbean Sea there are around 1,000 documented species of fish, including sharks (bull shark, tiger shark, silky shark and Caribbean reef shark), flying fish, giant oceanic manta ray, angel fish, spotfin butterflyfish, parrotfish, Atlantic Goliath grouper, tarpon and moray eels. This public engagement improves science literacy and fosters an interest in the sciences among young people perhaps leading to the next generation of ocean explorers.. they had been visited in the 10th century, List of Caribbean countries by population, "Tsunamis in the Caribbean? Mount Jamanota of 188 m (617 ft) is the highest point. The average depth is about 4,280 m. The volume of the Pacific Ocean reaches up to some 714 million cubic kilometers. The Atlantic Ocean is important to the world's weather (as are all oceans) because strong Atlantic hurricanes often develop off the coast of Cape Verde, Africa and move toward the Caribbean Sea . But how deep is the Caribbean Sea, and what mysterious creatures lurk there? Thats precisely why we explore.. The Caribbean Sea experiences a tropical climate that is highly influenced by elevations, trade winds, and tropical ocean currents. The project results were presented in Vienna in the forum "Water Matters", and the 2011 General Conference of said multilateral organization. New York: Random House. The Caribbean sea floor is divided into five basins separated from each other by underwater ridges and mountain ranges. [1] [2] The sea's deepest point is the Cayman Trough, between the Cayman Islands and Jamaica, at 7,686 . km, the Caribbean Sea is bordered by the countries of Colombia, Panama, and Venezuela in the south; by Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula in the west; by the Greater Antilles islands in the north; and by the Lesser Antilles islands in the east. 150m. The tropical rainforest climates include lowland areas near the Caribbean Sea from Costa Rica north to Belize, as well as the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, while the more seasonal dry tropical savanna climates are found in Cuba, northern Venezuela, and southern Yucatn, Mexico. The Caribbean Sea has the world's second largest barrier reef, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. The highly indented Caribbean coastline features many bays and gulfs including the Gulf of Venezuela, Gulf of Honduras, Gulf of Darin, Gulf of Paria, etc. The Caribbean has fewer hurricanes than either the western Pacific (where these storms are called typhoons) or the Gulf of Mexico. Pollution (in the form of up to 300,000 tonnes of solid garbage dumped into the Caribbean Sea each year) is progressively endangering marine ecosystems, wiping out species, and harming the livelihoods of the local people, which is primarily reliant on tourism and fishing. The rhinoceros iguana from the island of Hispaniola which is shared between Haiti and the Dominican Republic is also endangered. The sea is one of the largest oil production areas in the world, producing approximately 170 million tons per year. 100m. American Oceans, Stingray vs Manta Ray: Their Differences Explained. The sea is one of the largest oil production areas in the world, producing approximately 170million tons[clarification needed] per year. The Caribbean Sea is one of the largest seas and has an area of about 2,754,000km2 (1,063,000sqmi). The Pan American Health Organization estimated in 1993 that only about 10% of the sewage from the Central American and Caribbean Island countries is properly treated before being released into the sea. There are 90 species of mammals in the Caribbean including sperm whales, humpback whales and dolphins. The Caribbean Sea is also massive, with an area of 1,063,000 square miles. Below is a list of how weve ranked the worlds most extensive oceans and seas, including their area, average depth, and deepest point. Have a comment on this page? Its also home to over 3,000 fish species and 600 types of coral reefs. The climate of the Caribbean generally is tropical, but there are great local variations, depending on mountain elevation, water currents, and the trade winds. The Caribbean sea floor is also home to two oceanic trenches: the Cayman Trench and Puerto Rico Trench, which put the area at a high risk of earthquakes. Such storms also have been a major cause of crop failure in the region. He also traveled to the deepest point in the world, Marianas trench. As part of the Central American Sea, it is presumed to have been connected with the Mediterranean during Paleozoic times (i.e., about 541 to 252 million years ago) and then gradually to have separated from it as the Atlantic Ocean was formed. Halophila baillonii has been found only in the Lesser Antilles.[26]. Elder, Danny and Pernetta, John. The climate of the area is tropical, varying from tropical rainforest in some areas to tropical savanna in others. ( the 377ft. Over 42% of corals are completely bleached, and 95% are experiencing some type of whitening. Deepest Point: Calypso Deep (17,280 feet). The Southern Ocean is geologically the worlds youngest ocean. You can still find creatures such as seals, penguins, and whales. It is broadest in the west and at the head of Kerch Strait but elsewhere forms a rim about 6 to 7 miles (10 to 11 km) wide, and the depth of the edge is usually less than 360 feet (110 metres). Virtually all temperature extremes were associated with the phenomena of El Nio and La Nia. Clay minerals likely having been deposited by the mainland river Orinoco and the Magdalena River. The average depth of the Caribbean Sea is approximately 7,220 feet below the seas surface. The average depth of the Caribbean Sea is approximately 7,220 feet. A lock ( The Cayman Basin, to the south, is partially separated from the Yucatn Basin by Cayman Ridge, an incomplete fingerlike ridge that extends from the southern part of Cuba toward Guatemala, rising above the surface at one point to form the Cayman Islands. 177178. During the dives, Okeanos Explorers two-body ROV system will continuously capture high-definition video, which the ship will transmit to the Office of Ocean Exploration and Researchs website, www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov, where anyone can follow along in near-real time. Please select which sections you would like to print: Alternate titles: Antillean-Caribbean Sea. The habitats of almost all members of the toad family, poison dart frogs, treefrogs. Ocean is home to over 9,000 species, most are near extinction. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. There are many bays and gulfs along the sea's coastline. le grand bleu docked there on numerous occasions) the main dock is 380ft. NOAAs mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources. The Pacific Ocean basin covers approximately 1/3 of the Earths surface, making up about 46% of the water surface globally. Amante, C. and B.W. The name Caribbean derives from the Caribs, one of the region's dominant Native American groups at the time of European contact during the late 15th century. Over the open sea can be seen frigatebirds and tropicbirds. The basins are connected by the submerged Aruba Gap at depths greater than 13,000 feet (4,000 metres). Representatives of three species belonging to the genus Halophila, (Halophila baillonii, Halophila engelmannii and Halophila decipiens) are found at depths of up to 30m (98ft) except for Halophila engelmani which does not grow below 5m (16ft) and is confined to the Bahamas, Florida, the Greater Antilles and the western part of the Caribbean. The Mediterranean Sea has an average depth of 1,500 m (4,900 ft) and the deepest recorded point is 5,109 m (16,762 ft) 1 m (3 ft) in the Calypso Deep in the Ionian Sea. It runs 1,000km (620mi) along the coasts of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras.[3]. Moll's map covers all of the West Indies . Updates? Of all the five oceans, the Pacific is the largest. Right now, there is a debate over how many oceans exist. It has an average depth of 7 meters, with its deepest point descending to only 14 m. Oceans and seas cover approximately 97% of Earths water. The younger Cenozoic beds (formed during the last 65 million years) are generally horizontal, having been laid down after the deformations occurred. It runs 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) along the coasts of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras. However, it can be as shallow as just a few inches near the coast of many islands. See also: Types of Ocean Storms Ways to Save the Ocean Overfishing in the Ocean List of Marine Invertebrates 2. There's a pesky problem in a wide stretch of the Atlantic Ocean that's likely to wash up on some beaches later this year: Seaweed. Research Vehicles. The findings indicate that heavy metals such as mercury, arsenic, and lead, have been identified in the coastal zone of the Caribbean Sea. 21st Century. It offers a suitable habitat for over 9,000 species, including dugongs, whales, sea snakes, sharks, and turtles. The surface water colour is blue-green to green. Other areas to be explored include the Muertos Trough, Mona Channel and Virgin Islands Trough. There are also some locations that are arid climates with considerable drought in some years. Islands are inhabited by some endemic species such as rock iguanas and American crocodile. The Cayman Trough, located between Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, is the sea's deepest point. The Caribbean Sea region, including islands and adjacent coasts, is known as the Caribbean. This sea has an average depth of 2,200 m, with the deepest point in Cayman Trough descending to 7,686 m. The formation of the Caribbean Sea dates back around 160 and 180 million years. During dives that are expected to go as deep as 3.7 miles, a sophisticated unmanned submarine, called a remotely operated vehicle, or ROV, will broadcast live video from the seafloor, allowing anyone with Internet access to watch the expedition as it unfolds. On continental slopes and ridges calcareous silts are found. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The age and size of an ocean influence its depth. Today, large coastal populations, pollution, and intense fishing are the primary concerns in this sea. Surface currents, bearing both high- and low-salinity water depending on the source, enter the Caribbean mainly through the channels and passages of the southern Antilles. The Yucatan Basin is partially separated from the Cayman Basin by the Cayman Ridge, which rises above to form the Cayman Islands. The Caribbean is home to about 9% of the world's coral reefs, covering about 50,000km2 (19,000sqmi), most of which are located off the Caribbean Islands and the Central American coast. The Mediterranean sea covers 0.7% of the planets ocean surface, making it one of the largest seas globally. The Caribbean's floor is composed of sub-oceanic sediments of deep red clay in the deep basins and troughs. Forces producing the Panamanian isthmus and the Antillean arc were vertical, resulting in no ultimate horizontal movement. More than 170 species of amphibians are found in the Caribbean including poison dart frogs, tree frogs, etc. area volume average depth. ADDITIONAL FACTS. The Caribbean monk seal which lived in the Caribbean is considered extinct. The zone between 40 0 -60 0 latitudes in both the hemispheres records low salinity where it is 31 0 / 00 and 33 0 / 00 in the northern and the southern hemispheres respectively. During both its mapping and ROV expedition legs, the ship routinely collects data on seafloor depth, the makeup of the seafloor, and water temperature and chemistry. The Nicaraguan Rise, a wide triangular ridge with a sill depth of about 4,000 feet (1,200 metres), extends from Honduras and Nicaragua to Hispaniola, bearing the island of Jamaica and separating the Cayman Basin from the Colombian Basin. Covering an area of about 2,754,000 sq. Over the years, rivers such as the Mekong, Pearl, and Red Rivers have deposited large sediments, oil, and gasses. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The region has a high level of biodiversity and many species are endemic to the Caribbean. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The American Oceans Campaign is dedicated primarily to the restoration, protection, and preservation of the health and vitality of coastal waters, estuaries, bays, wetlands, and oceans. It is a unique sea with lots of wildlife, over 7,000 islands, and thousands of miles of coral reefs. The Mona ground iguana which inhabits the island of Mona, Puerto Rico, is endangered. The Bahamas (Lucayan) Archipelago includes the island of the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Eakins, 2009. Its average depth is 1,212 m, and the deepest point in the China Sea Basin descends to around 5,016 m. Below the South China Sea is the submerged continental shelf near the Philippine islands. Sea surface temperature is defined as the average temperature of the top few millimeters of the ocean. The maps show the seafloor in detail, making them useful for biologists, geologists, oceanographers and geophysicists. Did you know that an explorer once traveled to the bottom of the Puerto Rico Trench in a private mission? There are 170 species of amphibians that live in the region. The rainfall varies with the elevation and water current and ranging from less than 12 inches a year on the Bonaire Island to about 350 inches a year in the areas around Dominica. Former Professor of Oceanography, Florida State University, Tallahassee, 196776. The sea vents in the Cayman Trough reach up to 400 Celsius (752 Fahrenheit). Deepest Point: Cayman Trough (25,216 feet). Following the colonization of the Caribbean islands, the Caribbean Sea became a busy area for European-based marine trading and transports, and this commerce eventually attracted pirates such as Samuel Bellamy and Blackbeard. Atlantic Ocean water enters the Caribbean through the Anegada Passage lying between the Lesser Antilles and Virgin Islands and the Windward Passage located between Cuba and Haiti. PC-566 began dropping depth charges on a sonar contact, . Bodies of water all over North America are drying up due to drought. At least 9% of all coral reefs in the world are found in the Caribbean Sea. The mahogany is the national tree of the Dominican Republic and Belize. Can You Eat Seagulls and How Do They Taste. website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. The average depth of the Caribbean Sea is approximately 7,220 feet below the sea's surface. As many as 40 scientists ashore are expected to participate remotely in the expedition. Technically, the Caribbean Sea is a suboceanic basin of the Atlantic Ocean. Privacy Policy. The preferred oceanographic term for the Caribbean is the Antillean-Caribbean Sea, which, together with the Gulf of Mexico, forms the Central American Sea. It has an average depth (with its seas) of 11,962 feet (3,646 metres) and a maximum depth of 27,493 feet (8,380 metres) in the Puerto Rico Trench, north of the island of Puerto Rico. This sea has a rich history of exploration, especially by Christopher Columbus. The Caribbean Sea is divided into five submarine basins, each roughly elliptical in shape, which are separated from one another by submerged ridges and rises. URL accessed on 28/07/2007. Caribbean, followed by Hispaniola and Jamaica. [31] The black-fronted piping guan is endangered. Solenodons and hutias are mammals found only in the Caribbean; only one extant species is not endangered. Politically, Aruba is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. 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