Seas and Oceans
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Seas and Oceans |
Marine biology etextbook
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Most of the planet earth is covered by seas and oceans. Earth appears to be unique in our solar system because most surface temperatures are between the freezing point (0 degrees Celsius) and the boiling point (100 degrees Celsius)
of water, so most of it remains in the liquid state. Most other planets in our solar system are either too hot (where any water would exist as vapor) or too cold (where any water would exist as ice) for water to exist as a liquid.
Liquid water is essential to life as we know it, and the earth fortunately has an abundance of it. Approximately 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by seas and oceans, however, this is distributed unequally between the
Northern and Southern hemispheres. North of the equator, where most major landmasses are located, 39% of the surface is covered by land, and 61% by seawater. In contrast, the southern hemisphere has only 20% of its surface
covered by land, and 80% covered by seawater.
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