About what the sea is from a scientific point of view

Nowadays, every child almost from the first of his conscious days knows what the sea is. We all carry kids to rest on the shore of salt water, breathe the air filled with iodine ions, and all this for the sake of healing, strengthening of immunity and pleasure. But since the children enter the school, and in their program there are lessons in geography, the sea is not only a place for spending holidays, but also a separate topic that must be learned and handed over. What is the sea from the scientific point of view, what is it characterized by and what is different from other water arteries and basins, we will consider right now.

Interpretation of the main term

The sea is a separate part of the whole world ocean. As a rule, these waters are separated by a special relief, which is under their thickness, or land. It is also characteristic that any sea, even if it openly enters the ocean, lives its own life. Above its surface, weather conditions are not as severe and sharp as above the surface of the latter.

Similarly, things are developing underwater - life is more measured, calm, there are no sharp changes in cold and warm currents, deep depressions and large whirlpools. It should be noted that the more closed the land is, the less diverse the fauna is observed in it. After all, it would be logical to assume that whale sharks will not be able to get to the Caspian Sea from the waters of the Atlantic.

How to distinguish the seas on the planet

With a general concept of what the sea is, we figured it out. Now let's look at the types of such water bodies. Firstly, the seas are open and closed. In the first case, they are associated with other, larger water reservoirs (large sea or ocean). For example, Azov has access to the Black, the second - to the Mediterranean, and the last - to the Atlantic Ocean. But the Caspian Sea is, in fact, a salt lake, as no strait connects it to a larger water reservoir.

The boundaries of the seas are also distinguished according to the peculiarities of the microclimate and the inhabitants in this or that part of the waters. For example, the Aegean Sea on the map is part of the Mediterranean. Between them there is no land, no subterranean elevation, or a depression. However, the fish and animals that live in the waters of these two seas are significantly different from each other.

What else can be the sea?

Often the sea is called very large oceanic bays. In some of them, in fact, a separate meteorological and hydrological stratum is formed over time, while others still remain part of their ocean. For example, the Gulf of Mexico by many residents of surrounding countries is referred to as the sea, while in these waters no features distinct from the Atlantic are observed.

Nearby the Caribbean Sea is separated only by islands from large waters, however its microflora is too different with them. The neighbor of these two natural reservoirs is the Sargasso Sea, whose boundaries reach the middle of the Atlantic Ocean in longitude. However, this term was applied only because this region is surrounded from different sides by three currents.

The sea beyond our planet

And the concept of what is the sea, and understand the astronomers. Only areas of their research go beyond the globe. As a rule, this term refers to all sorts of abysses, very large pits, most often formed due to a collision with asteroids, craters. If you begin to study the map of the Moon or Mars, you will find there is not only one "sea" that is devoid of water. So those dark parts of the surface of cosmic bodies are called, which in their forms remind us of our earthly seas. Perhaps, if there was an atmosphere on these planets, these abysses could be filled with water and fully justify their names.

Where you can relax

The seas, listed below, are the most popular for recreation. Therefore, every child should know their location, features and climate. Among them there will also be large bays, which have much in common with the seas. So, this is Black, Azov, Mediterranean, Aegean, Adriatic, Red, Caribbean, Andaman, Yellow Seas, Persian Gulf.