Oceans

Oceans cover approximately 70% of the earth’s surface with an average depth of 3,800 meters. The marine ecosystem, includes the shorelines, with mud flats, rocky and sandy shores, tide pools, barrier islands, estuaries, salt marshes, and mangrove forests making up the shoreline segment.  Marine ecosystems support a great diversity of life and variety of habitats. The ocean is a major influence on weather and climate. The ocean has been divided into four major ocean basins: Atlantic, Indian, Pacific and Artic Oceans.