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While there is only one global ocean, the vast body of water that covers 71 percent of the Earth is geographically divided into distinct named regions. The boundaries between these regions have evolved over time for a variety of historical, cultural, geographical, and scientific reasons.
1) The Earth has one big ocean with many features. The ocean is the defining physical feature on our planet Earth—covering approximately 70% of the planet’s surface.
2) The ocean and life in the ocean shape the features of Earth. Many earth materials and biogeochemical cycles originate in the ocean.
3) The ocean is a major influence on weather and climate. The interaction of oceanic and atmospheric processes controls weather and climate by dominating the Earth’s energy, water, and carbon systems. B The ocean moderates global weather and climate by absorbing most of the solar radiation reaching Earth.
4) The ocean makes Earth habitable. The ocean provided and continues to provide water, oxygen, and nutrients, and moderates the climate needed for life to exist on Earth
5) The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems. Ocean life ranges in size from the smallest living things, microbes, to the largest animal on Earth, blue whales
6) The ocean and humans are inextricably interconnected. The ocean affects every human life. It supplies freshwater (most rain comes from the ocean) and nearly all Earth’s oxygen. (Read more at the link below). The ocean moderates the Earth’s climate, influences our weather, and affects human health.
7) The ocean is largely unexplored. The ocean is the largest unexplored place on Earth—less than 5% of it has been explored.