As children, we may have questioned: Why don't the two huge oceans of the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean mix? This question has plagued humanity for hundreds of years, and only recently has some answer been available. What are the forces hidden at the boundaries of this mysterious ocean that keep these two oceans so clearly boundary? Perhaps we can find a scientific explanation: everything from the dynamic world of mixed seawater diving out to the folded strata of prevailing wind belts and ocean circulation, everything says that the two oceans are different.
Density differences
The effect of temperature on density. Since the Atlantic and Pacific oceans are located at different latitudes and longitudes, they are subject to different climatic and environmental conditions. The Atlantic Ocean is relatively warm because it is close to the equator and the warm North Atlantic Current. In contrast, the Pacific Ocean is colder, especially in areas closer to Antarctica. Heat intensifies the molecular movement of the water body, which reduces the density of the water. As a result, the Atlantic Ocean has a relatively low density of seawater, while the Pacific Ocean has a relatively high density of seawater.
Salinity also has an important effect on the density of seawater. Salinity is the mass ratio of salts dissolved in water. The Atlantic Ocean is in greater contact with the surrounding land and is therefore affected by freshwater imports from nearby rivers and marine life. In addition, the Atlantic Ocean receives more precipitation and evaporation than other oceans.
These factors result in the lower salinity of the Atlantic Ocean, which makes its seawater relatively less dense. In contrast, the Pacific Ocean is relatively closed and does not have much fresh water input, as well as a balance of precipitation and evaporation. As a result, the salinity of the Pacific Ocean is higher, making seawater relatively dense.
In addition, pressure is also one of the factors affecting the density of seawater. Because the Atlantic Ocean is located deeper than the Pacific Ocean, it is under greater pressure than the Pacific Ocean. According to the principles of physics, under high pressure, the voids between molecules decrease, which increases the density of the object. As a result, the Atlantic Ocean has a relatively high density of seawater.
Temperature difference
The geographic location and distribution of currents in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans lead to different temperature stratifications. The Atlantic Ocean is located in the Eastern Hemisphere, while the Pacific Ocean is located in the Western Hemisphere. Due to the rotation of the Earth, this means that the water in the eastern hemisphere is relatively warmer than in the western hemisphere. In addition, the waters of the Atlantic Ocean receive strong sunlight near the equator, making it warmer. In contrast, the waters of the Pacific Ocean receive less solar radiation near the equator and are therefore cooler.
Ocean current systems in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans also have an impact on sea temperatures. The North Atlantic Current, which extends northeast from the North Atlantic, is a powerful tropical ocean current system that allows surface convection of Atlantic waters to flow from east to west. In the Pacific, there are strong equatorial currents along the equator to the west, Peruvian currents from south to north, and the North Pacific current.
These currents make the surface sea temperature of the Pacific Ocean cool, and there is also a cold and warm convergence zone between the north and south Pacific Oceans, which means that the sea temperature changes significantly, which tends to make the sea temperature in the area cooler.
The Atlantic and Pacific also differ in geography and terrestrial obstacles, which affect the spread of sea temperatures. There is a chain of islands and continents in the Pacific Ocean, and these terrestrial obstacles limit the movement and mixing of currents, making it difficult for sea temperatures to spread rapidly to each other. The Atlantic Ocean, on the other hand, is relatively open and has no obvious land obstacles, allowing the Atlantic sea temperature to flow and mix freely.
Salinity differences
Hydrological factors. The Atlantic Ocean is a semi-enclosed ocean with narrow gaps with land, such as the Strait of Bass, the Strait of Gibraltar, etc. These gaps limit the direct connection of the Atlantic Ocean to other oceans, forming relatively independent waters. In contrast, the Pacific Ocean is mainly composed of vast seas between continents and has more extensive connections with other oceans. These gaps between land sources cause water currents to exchange with each other, including the amount of dissolved salt, creating a difference in salinity between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Geographical factors. The geographical location and hydrosphere layers of the Atlantic and Pacific also have an impact on salinity. The Atlantic Ocean is located near the equator, with abundant sunlight and high evaporation, resulting in relatively high salinity. The Pacific Ocean, on the eastern side of the equator, is in a nutrient-poor ocean region with lower salinity in comparison. In addition, the Pacific Ocean has a relatively large water area and a stronger heat dissipation capacity, so more water evaporates, resulting in a further decrease in salinity.
Ocean current movement. Ocean currents play an important role in cycling movements in the ocean, affecting the distribution and salinity of seawater. There are ocean currents such as the North Atlantic Current, the Barents Sea Current, and the North Atlantic Cold Current in the Atlantic Ocean, and their presence makes the salinity distribution of the Atlantic Ocean uneven. Ocean currents in the Pacific Ocean mainly include the equatorial current, the North Pacific warm current, the Peruvian warm current, etc., which also affect the salinity of the Pacific Ocean. The constant movement and mixing of these currents leads to different salinity distributions in water bodies, which in turn creates a difference in salinity between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
The incompatibility of seawater between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans is mainly due to the difference in currents and water temperature between the two oceans. The Atlantic and Pacific Oceans have their own oceanic circulation systems, and their water temperature, salinity and marine ecology are different. These differences lead to changes in the density of seawater, creating different water masses that make it difficult to mix where they meet. This phenomenon has led to deep thinking about the marine environment on Earth.
We can see that each ocean has unique characteristics and functions that make up the world's complex ocean systems. However, we should also be aware that the interconnectedness and interaction of these oceans plays an important role in the overall ecological balance of the planet. In the future, we should pay more attention to the protection and sustainable use of the marine environment to ensure that the differences between oceans such as the Atlantic and Pacific oceans are maintained and that we will leave a better planet for future generations.
Proofreading: Hahaha
Reviewed: Hotaru