5 Amazing facts you didn't know about our oceans

1. 5 AMAZING FACTS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT OUR OCEANS www.smartminds.io

2. 1. Why is the Ocean Blue? www.smartminds.io

3. Have you ever stopped to question why the ocean is blue? After all, when you turn your tap on and fill a glass with water, it doesn’t appear blue, does it? Nope! It’s actually as clear as crystal. So why would the ocean be blue? For a long time, many people thought (and some still do) that the ocean appears blue because of reflection from the blue sky. The real reason why the ocean appears blue is that of the way it absorbs sunlight. When sunlight hits the surface of the ocean’s water, the water molecules naturally absorb the rays of light. However, not all rays are absorbed. Water molecules mainly absorb light rays with longer wavelengths, such as those in the orange, red and yellow wavelengths. Shorter wavelengths, like the blue wavelengths, are least absorbed by water molecules. They tend to get reflected back into our eyes. This is why we usually see as if the ocean water is blue. 1. Why is the Ocean Blue? www.smartminds.io

4. 2. 94% of all Life on Earth is Aquatic www.smartminds.io

5. You probably already know that there are 5 oceans and that over 75% of the earth’s surface is covered by water. But did you know that 94% of all life in the world is aquatic? According to researchers, life began in the ocean about 3.5 million years ago. Today, the ocean is home to most of the planet’s dominant forms of life. In fact, over 94% of all life on Earth is aquatic. These life forms include the world’s greatest structure- the Great Barrier Reef and over five thousand species of coral. With all of these living forms down there, it’s high time we take a keen interest in the oceans around us. And because very little is known about the oceans and the forms of life found in it, the possibilities are far-reaching for terrific discoveries. 94 Percent of all Life on Earth is Aquatic www.smartminds.io

6. 3. 2/3 of All Marine Life Remain Unidentified www.smartminds.io

7. Up to 2/3 of all plant and animal species in the oceans are yet to be explored. This is according to a recent study conducted by marine scientists. Ten years ago, we thought there were about 10 million species in the ocean; now we believe there are less than 1 million. If you consider fish, for example, it is estimated that there are 5000 species unexplained. And 150 new species of fish are discovered every year. Besides fish, the study suggests that there are more than eight species of whale and dolphin waiting to be explored, ten undiscovered marine reptiles and thousands of unidentified crustaceans, sponges, algae and other plant species. So far, only 220,000 species have been discovered, with another 60,000 species waiting to be discovered. The rate of new discoveries is increasing, and more and more people are involved with describing new species. But despite an increasing rate of species discovery, as much as 95 percent of all aquatic life remains unexplored. 2/3 of All Marine Life Remain Unidentified www.smartminds.io

8. 4. The world’s oceans contains nearly 20 million tons of gold www.smartminds.io

9. It is quite a wonder that there are an estimated 20 million tons of gold in the oceans of the world. This is enough gold for every person in the world to own nearly nine pounds each. But why don’t we all head down the oceans with our gold pans in search of this rare and precious commodity? While it is indeed true that gold is found in the oceans, the difficulty of extracting it lies in its extremely minute existence. Although 20 million tons of gold may look like a massive amount, when you spread that amount throughout the oceans, you get a quantity of 0.004 parts per billion. Another way to think about this is that you would have to process 30 million pounds of ocean water to extract a single ounce of gold. We are talking such minuscule quantities that it’s even impossible to wrap our heads around it. The world’s oceans contains nearly 20 million tons of gold www.smartminds.io

10. 5. 70% of the Oxygen We Breathe is Produced by the Oceans www.smartminds.io

11. The ocean is the most potent force on the planet. It feeds us and everything else around us. The big question is: how does it feed all of us? Details surrounding the answer are what we all hope to learn today. Well, for starters, 50-70% of the oxygen we breathe comes from the ocean. Humans, fish, dolphins, seabirds, crabs and just about every other living thing owes its existence to phytoplankton. Phytoplankton is single-celled plants that live on the ocean’s surface. These one-celled plants are behind what the scientists call marine biological productivity- the ability of oceans to support animals, plants and fish. They use energy from the sun to convert nutrients and carbon dioxide into organic compounds that form new plant material. This process is called photosynthesis. For photosynthesis to occur, phytoplankton needs two things: nutrients from the water and energy from the sun. They absorb both of these across their cell walls. In the process, they release oxygen into the water. 70% of the Oxygen We Breathe is Produced by the Oceans www.smartminds.io

12. Still want to know more about oceans?Read our article here:Amazing facts about oceans you didn’t know

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