Ocean Geography
This is the smallest of the three major oceans and is bordered by Africa, Asia, and Australia.
What is the Indian
These seasonal winds bring wet and dry seasons to the Indian Ocean region.
What are monsoons?
These colorful structures are formed by polyps and are home to many marine species.
What are coral reefs?
This ancient maritime network linked Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
What are ancient trade routes?
Catching too many fish too quickly leads to this issue, threatening marine food webs.
What is overfishing?
This deepest point in the world
What is the Mariana Trench?
This climate event causes warming of the eastern Pacific and disrupts global weather.
What is El Niño?
These plants grow underwater in shallow areas and help absorb carbon dioxide.
What are seagrass meadows?
This valuable commodity drove global trade across the Indian Ocean for centuries.
What are spices?
This floating mass of plastic pollution is trapped in the North Pacific
What is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?
This geological feature explains why the Pacific Ocean has so many earthquakes and volcanoes.
What is the Ring of Fire?
This event causes cooler Pacific waters and stronger trade winds.
What is La Niña?
These coastal trees reduce erosion and are vital fish nurseries.
What are mangroves?
These navigators used stars and ocean swells to explore and settle Pacific Islands.
Who are the Polynesians?
These special zones restrict human activity to help conserve marine species and ecosystems.
What are Marine Protected Areas?
These flat, deep-sea areas cover much of the ocean floor and are among the least explored places on Earth.
What are abyssal plains?
This Indian Ocean climate pattern affects rainfall in Africa and Asia and can cause droughts or floods.
What is the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)?
These deep-sea features release hot, mineral-rich water and support unique ecosystems without sunlight.
What are hydrothermal vents?
This explorer charted much of the Pacific and made detailed maps of Australia and New Zealand.
Who is Captain Cook?
This Pacific location was heavily affected by U.S. nuclear testing, causing long-term environmental harm.
What is Bikini Atoll?
These rotating ocean current systems influence climate and concentrate pollution.
What are ocean gyres?
This process, caused by warming oceans and melting ice caps, threatens coastal cities worldwide.
What is sea level rise?
This process brings cold, nutrient-rich water to the ocean surface, supporting productive fisheries.
What is upwelling?
This period saw European powers fight over control of trade routes and exploit ocean resources.
What is colonial history?
These nations are losing land due to rising seas and face challenges like displacement and freshwater scarcity.
What are small island nations?