Because the ocean is a big place and difficult to study, if you search online to find the depth of the ocean, you may end up with a range of results. The Atlantic is home to many seas, islands, gulfs, and bays. It is estimated that 13,000 species of plants grow in the Caribbean of which 6,500 are endemic. Many of the expeditions anticipated 20 ROV dives will take place in the Puerto Rico Trench, which is nearly 500 miles long and nearly 5.4 miles at its deepest deeper than anywhere else in the Atlantic Ocean basin. Sea surface temperature monitoring tells us how the ocean and atmosphere interact, as well as providing fundamental data on the global climate system . The Caribbean Sea experiences a tropical climate that is highly influenced by elevations, trade winds, and tropical ocean currents. About 600 avian species such as the American yellow warbler, Fernandinas flicker, palmchat, black-fronted piping guan, etc have also been recorded here. [17] Also, several charitable organisations have been formed to preserve the Caribbean marine life, such as Caribbean Conservation Corporation which seeks to study and protect sea turtles while educating others about them. The hurricane season is from June to November, but hurricanes occur most frequently in September. The Caribbean coastline has many gulfs and bays: the Gulf of Gonve, Gulf of Venezuela, Gulf of Darin, Golfo de los Mosquitos, Gulf of Paria and Gulf of Honduras. It runs 1,000km (620mi) along the coasts of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras.[3]. [33], Human activity in the area also accounts for a significant amount of pollution. The pressure of the South American Plate to the east of the Caribbean causes the region of the Lesser Antilles to have high volcanic activity. Such storms also have been a major cause of crop failure in the region. The Caribbean Beaches are without a doubt among the best in the world. Public can watch seafloor discoveries live online from April 10 to 30, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The average depth of the Caribbean Sea is approximately 7,220 feet below the seas surface. As part of the expedition, Kennedy and the two lead scientists aboard the ship will be leading a Reddit Ask Us Anything, or AUA, session on April 16, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm EDT. The Caribbean monk seal which lived in the Caribbean is considered extinct. The Caribbean region has rich biodiversity containing many endemic species. It is also well known as the location of the Pirates of the Caribbean films. Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer, named this massive water body Pacific in 1520, meaning peaceful.. [20] Non-governmental organizations, universities, public institutions, civil society organizations, and the corporate sector are all eligible for financing. website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. [11] The surface water (30m; 100ft) acts as an extension of the northern Atlantic as the Guiana Current and part of the North Equatorial Current enter the sea on the east. PC-566 began dropping depth charges on a sonar contact, . Its also home to over 3,000 fish species and 600 types of coral reefs. The Caribbean Sea is home to 22 islands and over 1,400 species of marine mammals, fish, and coastal mangroves. The entire area of the Caribbean Sea, the numerous islands of the West Indies, and adjacent coasts are collectively known as the Caribbean. Tropical storms reaching a hurricane velocity of more than 75 miles (120 km) per hour are seasonally common in the northern Caribbean as well as in the Gulf of Mexico; they are almost nonexistent in the far south. How Deep Can We Go? The name Caribbean derives from the Caribs, one of the regions dominant Native American groups at the time of European contact during the late 15th century. Amante, C. and B.W. It is estimated that the geological age of the Caribbean Sea is between 160 and 180 million years, and was formed during the Mesozoic Era when a horizontal fracture led to the split of the supercontinent of Pangea. Trying to understand the differences and boundaries between multiple oceans and seas is difficult. The caimito (Chrysophyllum cainito) grows throughout the Caribbean. So far, at least 12,046 species have been reported in this sea. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. [9] It is assumed the proto-caribbean basin existed in the Devonian period. The Caribbean's depth in its wider basins and deep-water temperatures are similar to those of the Atlantic. As part of the Central American Sea, it is presumed to have been connected with the Mediterranean during Paleozoic times (i.e., about 541 to 252 million years ago) and then gradually to have separated from it as the Atlantic Ocean was formed. The vegetation of the region is mostly tropical but differences in topography, soil and climatic conditions increase species diversity. Buffalo, NY: Firefly Books, Inc. pp. The average depth of the Caribbean Sea is approximately 7,220 feet. (2004). As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Area: 1,491,000 sq. Its, therefore, the largest ocean in the world. Covering an area of about 2,754,000 sq. The Mona ground iguana which inhabits the island of Mona, Puerto Rico, is endangered. Below is a list of how weve ranked the worlds most extensive oceans and seas, including their area, average depth, and deepest point. Guide to the Oceans. Keep reading to find out! A lock ( The Caribbean Sea is also considered to be home to a large fishing industry. The Caribbean Sea is one of the largest seas and has an area of about 2,754,000 km 2 (1,063,000 sq mi). The average depth of this ocean is 3,741 m, deeper than the Atlantic Ocean. The Mediterranean Sea formed about 5.9 million years ago when it cut off from the Atlantic Ocean. The region is mostly dominated by tropical vegetation and comprises more than 13,000 plant species of which 6,500 plant species are endemic to the region. We dont know exactly what we can expect to see, said Lt. Brian Kennedy, the expeditions coordinator and a member of NOAAs Commissioned Officers Corps. The Lesser Antilles are further divided into three major island groups: the Leeward Islands comprising of Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Guadeloupe, US Virgin Islands, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Martins, Saint Kitts, and Nevis, Saint Barthelemy, and Montserrat. The average water temperature is around 27C (80F) and varies as little as 3C (37F) throughout the year. Over the open sea can be seen frigatebirds and tropicbirds. The hydrology of the sea has a high level of homogeneity. The Caribbeans greatest known depth is Cayman Trench (Bartlett Deep) between Cuba and Jamaica, approximately 25,216 feet (7,686 metres) below sea level. The Caribbean Sea has the worlds second largest barrier reef, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. Updates? The eastern trade winds blow across the region leading to the creation of semi-arid and rainforest climates in the area. During this mission, they discovered extremely hot black smokers at the deepest point yet (3.1 miles). It has an average depth (with its seas) of 11,962 feet (3,646 metres) and a maximum depth of 27,493 feet (8,380 metres) in the Puerto Rico Trench, north of the island of Puerto Rico. Deepest Point: China Sea Basin (16,456 feet). Tropical cyclones are a threat to the nations that rim the Caribbean Sea. An official website of the United States government. Caribbean. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, and is bounded by the continents of Asia and Oceania in the west and the Americas in the east.. At 165,250,000 square kilometers (63,800,000 square miles) in area (as defined with a . Pollution (in the form of up to 300,000 tonnes of solid garbage dumped into the Caribbean Sea each year) is progressively endangering marine ecosystems, wiping out species, and harming the livelihoods of the local people, which is primarily reliant on tourism and fishing. Lake Enriquillo, located in the Dominican Republic is the largest lake in the entire Caribbean region. Other areas to be explored include the Muertos Trough, Mona Channel and Virgin Islands Trough. ETOPO1 1 Arc-Minute Global Relief Model: Procedures, Data Sources and Analysis. Despite the vast ice in the Arctic Ocean, you can find over 5,500 animal species adapted to the cold habitats. This Caribbean bottom water also enters the Venezuelan Basin, thus introducing high-oxygen water at depths of 5,900 to 9,800 feet (1,800 to 3,000 metres). In summer, the average monthly temperature everywhere is about +28 C. Cloudiness is 4-5 points. URL accessed on 28/07/2007. It is broadest in the west and at the head of Kerch Strait but elsewhere forms a rim about 6 to 7 miles (10 to 11 km) wide, and the depth of the edge is usually less than 360 feet (110 metres). Deepest Point: Factorian Deep (24389 feet). In coastal zones there are coconut palms and in lagoons and estuaries are found thick areas of black mangrove and red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle). It has an average depth of 7,220 feet or 2,200 meters. Youll also discover their deepest point, the marine life available, their economic purposes, and more. without marginal seas 82. It has an average depth of 2200 meters with a deepest point of 7500 meters below the surface. [14] Historically the Caribbean is thought to contain 14% of the world's coral reefs. The International Hydrographic Organization defines the limits of the Caribbean Sea as follows:[5], Note that, although Barbados is an island on the same continental shelf, it is considered to be in the Atlantic Ocean rather than the Caribbean Sea.[6]. Climate change, pollution, fishing, and hunting have affected the fragile ecosystem of the Antarctic Ocean. Technically, the Caribbean Sea is a suboceanic basin of the Atlantic Ocean. Within the boundaries of the Caribbean itself, Jamaica, to the south of Cuba, is the largest of a number of islands. 21st Century. The habitats of almost all members of the toad family, poison dart frogs, treefrogs. It is bordered by Venezuela, Colombia and Panama to the south, Central American countries (Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras and Belize) on the west; with the Greater Antilles (Cuba, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico) on the north and the Lesser Antilles on the east. Panel Chairman in Marine Biology, Gulf University Research Corporation. Caribbean Basin and Western Atlantic Elevation highest point: sea level lowest point: Puerto Rico Trench -8,605 m mean depth: -3,646 m ocean zones: Composed of water and in a fluid state, the oceans are delimited differently than the solid continents. Subsurface water enters the Caribbean Sea across two sills. Interestingly, the deepest point in the Atlantic Ocean is close to the Cayman Trough. So far, scientists have discovered that the maximum depth of the Caribbean Sea is 25,217 feet. [30] The Golden coqui is in serious threat of extinction. km, the Caribbean Sea is bordered by the countries of Colombia, Panama, and Venezuela in the south; by Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula in the west; by the Greater Antilles islands in the north; and by the Lesser Antilles islands in the east. Keep reading to find out! Please select which sections you would like to print: Alternate titles: Antillean-Caribbean Sea. From its summit to the sea surface over 2100 m. The straits have a depth of more than one and a half kilometers. Many James Bond adventures were set there. The Windward Islands comprising of Trinidad and Tobago, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Barbados, Martinique, and Saint Vincent and Grenadines. The 15 Deepest Lakes in the United States, Meet the 10 Largest Land Owners in Montana. The climate of the area is tropical, varying from tropical rainforest in some areas to tropical savanna in others. During dives that are expected to go as deep as 3.7 miles, a sophisticated unmanned submarine, called a remotely operated vehicle, or ROV, will broadcast live video from the seafloor, allowing anyone with Internet access to watch the expedition as it unfolds. provide an annual economic value to Caribbean nations of $3.1$4.6 billion. The Pacific Ocean is the oldest of all existing oceans. The Gulf of Mexico lies to the northwest. Copyright 2023. The Caribbean hurricane season as a whole lasts from June through November, with the majority of hurricanes occurring during August and September. Deepest Point: Cayman Trough (25,216 feet). The Earths surface comprises about 71% water, with continents and islands covering the remaining part. Average depth: 1,615 metres (5,299 ft) Max. To understand how vast water bodies are, you may consider looking into the sizes of various oceans and seas. Surface. Off the northeastern coast of South America, this current splits into the Caribbean Current, which passes into the Caribbean Sea and through the . Treaty on maritime boundaries between the United States of America and the United Mexican States (Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean), . 000, 000 sq km 000, 000 sq mi 000, 000 cu km 000, 000 cu mi m ft. Atlantic Ocean. Situated on the floor of the western Caribbean Sea between the Jamaica and Cayman Islands is the Cayman Trench (Bartlett Deep), which reaches a depth of 7,686m below the sea level and is the deepest point of the Caribbean Sea. The South China Sea sits between South China, Indochinese Peninsula, the Philippines, and several islands. Its average depth is 1,212 m, and the deepest point in the China Sea Basin descends to around 5,016 m. Below the South China Sea is the submerged continental shelf near the Philippine islands. Underwater earthquakes pose a threat of generating tsunamis which could have a devastating effect on the Caribbean islands. However, a devastating tsunami in 2004 led to the loss of over 200,000 deaths and the massive destruction of property. Here is the list of All Caribbean Charts marine charts and fishing maps available on iBoating : Caribbean Marine & Fishing App.Marine charts app now supports multiple plaforms including Android, iPhone/iPad, MacBook, and Windows/PC based chartplotter.The Marine Navigation App provides advanced features of a Marine Chartplotter including adjusting water level offset and custom depth shading. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS The Arctic Ocean is in the north polar region and borders North America and Eurasia. The island of Jamaica is home to seals and manatees. It borders several countries in East Africa, Asia, and western Australia. Sea level rise seen along the U.S. Southeast and Gulf coasts over the last decade are "unprecedented in at least 120 years," scientists found. He also traveled to the deepest point in the world, Marianas trench. The Caribbean Sea is the Atlantic Ocean's second-largest sea and the world's deepest sea, with a maximum depth of 7,686 m below sea level. [13] Among them stands out the Belize Barrier Reef, with an area of 963km2 (372sqmi), which was declared a World Heritage Site in 1996. The Aves Ridge, incomplete at its southern extremity, separates the Venezuelan Basin from the small Grenada Basin, which is bounded to the east by the Antillean arc of islands. It is 27,480 feet deep. There are 90 species of mammals in the Caribbean including sperm whales, humpback whales and dolphins. Near the end of the second phase, gentle warping and faulting occurred, forming the Aves and Beata ridges. The Caribbean's floor is composed of sub-oceanic sediments of deep red clay in the deep basins and troughs. The project is estimated to prevent and remove at least 15 000 tonnes of marine trash, benefiting at least 20 000 individuals.[20]. [1] [2] The sea's deepest point is the Cayman Trough, between the Cayman Islands and Jamaica, at 7,686 . The existing sediment cover of the seabed consists of red clay in the deep basins and trenches, globigerina ooze (a calcareous marine deposit) on the rises, and pteropod ooze on the ridges and continental slopes. Some of these notable endemic floral species include guaiac wood, Bayahibe rose, and ceiba. The Caribbean coastline has many gulfs and bays: the Gulf of Gonve, Gulf of Venezuela, Gulf of Darin, Golfo de los Mosquitos, Gulf of Paria and Gulf of Honduras. In the Caribbean Sea there are around 1,000 documented species of fish, including sharks (bull shark, tiger shark, silky shark and Caribbean reef shark), flying fish, giant oceanic manta ray, angel fish, spotfin butterflyfish, parrotfish, Atlantic Goliath grouper, tarpon and moray eels. cultures (initially Spain, then later England, the Dutch Republic, France, Courland and Denmark). The sill depth of Anegada Passage is between 6,400 and 7,700 feet (1,950 and 2,350 metres), whereas that of the Windward Passage is between 5,250 and 5,350 feet (1,600 and 1,630 metres). Located between the islands of the Greater Antilles and the continent of South America on the Caribbean Seas eastern part is the Lesser Antilles. Former Professor of Oceanography, Florida State University, Tallahassee, 196776. But, he added, scientists do know a few things about the area: They know that it is tectonically active, with some seismic hazards such as earthquakes and tsunamis. Today, large coastal populations, pollution, and intense fishing are the primary concerns in this sea. From the 16th century, Europeans visiting the Caribbean region distinguished the "South Sea" (the Pacific Ocean south of the isthmus of Panama) from the "North Sea" (the Caribbean Sea north of the same isthmus).[4]. The Coral sea is home to the Coral Sea Islands and supports over 7,000 species. It covers about 1/3 of the Earth. The Atlantic Ocean basin is the 2nd biggest ocean in the world, covering about 20% of the Earths surface. Interesting Caribbean Sea Facts: The deepest part of the Caribbean Sea is the Cayman Trench, located between Jamaica and Cuba. Scientific data reveals that over the last 500 years the area has seen a dozen earthquakes above 7.5 magnitude. Right now, there is a debate over how many oceans exist. The green iguana is invasive to Grand Cayman. 1m. Throughout the Caribbean there is industrial catching of lobster and sardines (off the coast of Yucatn Peninsula). The most-recent estimate of the average ocean depth of 3,682 meters (12,080 feet) was calculated in 2010 by scientists from NOAA and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution using satellite measurements. Tourism based upon scuba diving and snorkeling on coral reefs of many Caribbean islands makes a major contribution to their economies.[34]. Surface area, volume, and average depth of oceans and seas. The average depth of the Caribbean Sea is approximately 7,220 feet below the sea's surface. Elder, Danny and Pernetta, John. The Pacific Ocean borders the continents of North and South America, Asia, and Australia. In the Caribbean 600 species of birds have been recorded of which 163 are endemic. Seafloor Depth Data from: August 2008 National Geophysical Data Center, NOAA The depth of the ocean floor varies widely, from large shallow coastal areas full of sun and life to the darkness of. Caribbean Sea, suboceanic basin of the western Atlantic Ocean, lying between latitudes 9 and 22 N and longitudes 89 and 60 W. It is approximately 1,063,000 square miles (2,753,000 square km) in extent. In the Caribbean Sea, piracy was very rampant during the 1500s and 1600s. Following the regions discovery by Columbus, the Caribbean islands began to be colonized by several countries including Spain, Dutch Republic, France, England, Denmark, etc. Below are answers to questions you might ask about the worlds largest Seas and Oceans. In shallow waters, sand or coral . Victor Vescovo used his private submersible, the Limiting Factor, to reach the bottom of the trench safely. [15], The habitats supported by the reefs are critical to such tourist activities as fishing and diving, and provide an annual economic value to Caribbean nations of US$3.14.6billion. The average depth of the Atlantic Ocean is 12,880 feet (3,926 meters) and the deepest point is the Puerto Rico Trench at -28,231 feet (-8,605 meters). Average monthly air temperatures in winter vary from +23 in the north to +27 C on the southern coast of the sea. The Caribbean Sea is connected with the Gulf of Mexico in the north via the Yucatan Channel. The expedition team also relied on these maps to determine where the ROV dives will take place. Guide to the Oceans. The northeast trade winds dominate the region with an average velocity of 10 to 20 miles (16 to 32 km) per hour. The sea has shipping routes where about 33.33% of the worlds shipping takes place. [20][21][22][23], KfW took part in a 25.7 million funding agreement to eliminate marine trash and boost the circular economy in the Caribbean's Small Island Developing States. But the facet of Okeanos Explorer expeditions that the public typically gets most excited about, Leonardi said, is its live-streamed ROV explorations. 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