OCEANS

BY SUSTAITA & AURA

SECTIONS:
introduction

structure & composition

oceans circulation, currents & climate cycles

thermohaline circulation

biological activity

biological pump

conclusion
INTRODUCTION

The oceans are essential for supporting life on Earth. They

help regulate global temperatures, weather patterns, and
climate, while also cycling important elements and housing
diverse ecosystems. Despite significant scientific
advancements in the 20th century, many aspects of the
oceans, such as marine biodiversity, coral reef health, and
the impact of climate change on ocean circulation, remain
poorly understood.
 OCEANS
STRUCTURE
The ocean is divided into layers. At the surface, the epipelagic zone (0-200
meters) is warm and full of life. Further down, the mesopelagic zone (200-1,000
meters) is colder and darker, home to creatures adapted to the dim light. In the
bathypelagic zone (1,000-4,000 meters), there is no light, the water is freezing,
and the pressure is extreme. Finally, at the depths (more than 6,000 meters),
there are ocean trenches, such as the Mariana Trench, where life is scarce but
resilient.

COMPOSITION

The deep ocean is home to unique creatures, such as fish and microbes,
that survive in extreme conditions. These zones are also geologically active:
where tectonic plates collide, trenches form and earthquakes and tsunamis
occur, such as the one in Sumatra in 2004. The Ring of Fire in the Pacific is
an example of this activity. Although the deep ocean seems distant, its
dynamics affect the entire planet.
 OCEAN CIRCULATION AND CLIMATE
CYCLES
Ocean circulation patterns drive predictable climate variations.
Changes in ocean temperature and atmospheric pressure are key indicators for climate cycles.

CLIMATE CYCLES

Monsoons (Seasonal Cycle):

Monsoons are like a "seasonal switch" in weather caused by the land and ocean heating up unevenly.
Summer: The land gets very warm, creating low pressure. This pulls moist winds from the ocean, bringing
heavy rain.
Winter: The land cools down, creating high pressure. This pulls dry winds, leading to clear weather.

Hurricanes (Annual Cycle):

Hurricanes are like "storm engines" that form in warm ocean waters, with lots of moisture and light winds.
Atlantic season: June to November.
Pacific season: May to November.
On average, there are 11 named storms, 6 hurricanes, and 2 major hurricanes each year.
 CLIMATE CYCLES

El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO):

This is a cycle that happens every 3-7 years in the Pacific Ocean and can change weather around the world.
El Niño: Trade winds get weaker, warm water moves east, causing heavy rain in the Americas and droughts in Asia.
La Niña: Trade winds get stronger, cold water becomes more intense, bringing rain to Asia and dry weather to the
Americas.
This cycle lasts about 4 years.

Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO):

This is a longer cycle, lasting 20-30 years, that affects the North Pacific.
Warm phase: Coastal waters are warm, and the central Pacific is cool. This makes the western USA warmer and drier.
Cool phase: Coastal waters are cool, and the central Pacific is warm. This makes the western USA cooler and wetter.

North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO):

This is a cycle between Iceland (low pressure) and the Azores (high pressure).
Positive phase: There’s a big pressure difference, bringing mild winters to the eastern USA and Europe.
Negative phase: The pressure difference is weak, causing cold winters in the USA and Europe, but milder weather
in Greenland.
Ocean Mixing:
OCEAN CURRENTS
Climate Regulation:
Moves heat and nutrients, shaping coastal climates.
Moves heat from equator to poles.
Surface currents: Driven by wind and Earth’s rotation.
Keeps coastal areas mild (warmer winters,
Deep currents: Driven by water density (temperature
cooler summers).
and saltiness).
Heat Capacity:
Gyres: Oceans absorb heat, slowing climate change
Big circular currents: clockwise in the North, counter- impacts.
clockwise in the South.
Western currents: Fast and warm.
Eastern currents: Slow and cool.

Upwelling:
Winds push warm water away, letting cold, nutrient-
rich water rise.
Supports marine life and cools coasts.
 THERMOHALINE
What is it?
CIRCULATION
A global system of ocean currents that moves cold and warm water around
the planet.

How does it work?

Cold, salty water sinks in the polar regions, travels deep across the oceans,
warms up in the Pacific, and rises to the surface to complete the loop.

Why does it matter?

It redistributes heat, keeping climates stable (e.g., warming Europe).
If it slows down due to global warming, it could disrupt weather patterns
worldwide.
BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY IN THE UPPER OCEAN
Phytoplankton
Microorganisms that photosynthesize, forming the basis of the marine food chain.
Some, such as Synechococcus and Prochlorococcus, are among the most abundant organisms on Earth.

Primary Production

The oceans produce nearly half of the world's organic matter.

They require sunlight and nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus) that reach the surface by currents and upwelling.

Phytoplankton Blooms

They grow rapidly with light and nutrients, creating "red" or green tides.
Some blooms deplete oxygen or produce harmful toxins.

Marine Food Chain

Phytoplankton → Zooplankton → Small fish → Predators (whales, birds).

Climate Impact

El Niño and other weather patterns affect plankton growth and food chains.

Global Importance

Regulate the climate by absorbing CO₂.

Support fisheries and marine biodiversity.
THE BIOLOGICAL PUMP
Marine snow, made up of organic particles like fecal pellets and
dead plankton, transports nutrients and carbon from surface
waters to the deep ocean. As it sinks, it feeds deep-sea organisms,
recycles nutrients like CO2, nitrate, and phosphate, and
contributes to long-term carbon storage in sediments, influencing
today's offshore oil and gas deposits. This process, known as the
biological pump, helps regulate atmospheric CO2 and global
temperatures by preventing excess carbon from remaining in the
air. Phytoplankton drive this cycle by fixing CO2 through
photosynthesis and forming calcium carbonate shells. However,
factors like ocean warming, pollution, and reduced mixing can
weaken the pump by limiting nutrient availability and light
penetration.
 Conclusion
the oceans are vital for life, regulating

climate and sustaining biodiversity. Despite

their importance, they face increasing

threats from human activities. Continued

research is crucial to understand and

protect these complex and essential systems.

 THANK YOU FOR
PAYING ATTENTION