Despite being integral to our planet’s health and history, oceans remain largely unexplored. Let’s navigate through five remarkable oceanic revelations:
Breathing Oceanic Air: When you take a deep breath, thank the ocean. Contrary to popular belief, trees aren’t the primary providers of Earth’s oxygen. A significant majority of the oxygen we breathe—over half—originates from marine photosynthesizers, such as phytoplankton and seaweed.
A Sea-Level Speculation: Imagine if every human on Earth simultaneously decided to take a dip in the ocean. The impact? A seemingly minuscule yet fascinating sea-level rise of 0.00012 inches!
Uncharted Waters: The enormity and depth of our oceans remain a great enigma. A staggering 80% of these underwater realms has never been mapped, explored, or even witnessed by human eyes. Intriguingly, we have more intricate maps of Mars’ surface than of our own oceanic floors.
Spain’s Oceanic Monopoly: In a bold historical move during the 16th and 17th centuries, Spain proclaimed dominion over the entire Pacific Ocean. They went so far as to deem any foreign ship’s entry into this vast expanse as a breach of law.
The Genesis of Oceans: The Earth wasn’t always blessed with its abundant oceans. Picture this: several hundred million years of incessant rain that gradually pooled together, laying the foundation for the vast oceans we see today.