Student Article
Is It True That the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans Don’t Mix?
Sediment (noun): Particles of sand, silt, and other materials that settle at the bottom of a liquid.
Eddies (noun): Circular movements of water that create small whirlpools.
Entities (noun): Things that exist as a distinct and independent unit.
The Pacific Ocean, the world's largest and deepest ocean, spans approximately 102.5 million square miles (165 million square kilometers) and has an average depth of 14,042 feet (4,280 meters). It lies between the Americas, Oceania, and Asia. The Atlantic Ocean, covering around 66.5 million square miles (107 million square kilometers) with an average depth of 11,962 feet (3,646 meters), 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 boundary separating these two vast oceans. Currents continuously 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, a strong current carries water from the Pacific into the Atlantic, creating a dynamic and often turbulent environment.
What makes each ocean unique?
Each ocean possesses unique properties. For example, the surface salinity of the Atlantic Ocean is higher than that of the Pacific Ocean. The enclosed waters of the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea are even saltier due to higher evaporation rates and limited inflow of lower salinity waters from the deep sea.
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 summary, while the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans have distinct names and characteristics, they are not separate entities. Their waters mix continuously, driven by ocean currents and other natural processes, highlighting the interconnectedness of the world's oceans.
© Alexandra Franklin-Cheung / Our Media
Sediment (noun): Particles of sand, silt, and other materials that settle at the bottom of a liquid.
Eddies (noun): Circular movements of water that create small whirlpools.
Entities (noun): Things that exist as a distinct and independent unit.