Student Article

The Pacific Ocean, the largest and deepest ocean on Earth, lies between the Americas, Oceania, and Asia. The Atlantic Ocean, the second largest, is situated between Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Despite their distinct names and characteristics, the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans do mix.

How do the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans mix?

There is no physical border separating these two great oceans. Currents continually flow between them, blending their waters. The meeting point of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans is at Cape Horn, located at the southernmost tip of South America. In this region, strong currents carry water from the Pacific into the Atlantic.

What makes each ocean unique?

Each ocean has unique properties. For instance, the Atlantic Ocean has higher surface salinity compared with the Pacific Ocean. The enclosed waters of the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea are even saltier due to faster evaporation rates and limited inflow of lower salinity waters.

Why do videos show two different colored bodies of water?

Viral videos showing two different colored bodies of water meeting are often misinterpreted. These videos typically depict light-colored, sediment-rich fresh water from melted glaciers meeting dark, salty ocean water in the Gulf of Alaska. Over time, currents and eddies cause these waters to mix as well.

In conclusion, while the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans have distinct names and characteristics, they do mix and are not separate entities.

© Alexandra Franklin-Cheung / Our Media