The Atlantic Ocean: Earth's Second-Largest Ocean

The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest ocean (~106.4 million km² / 41.1 million mi²), covering ~20% of Earth's surface. It separates the Americas (west) from Europe and Africa (east).

Geographic Boundaries

• North: Arctic Ocean (Fram Strait, Barents Sea).
• South: Southern Ocean (60°S).
• West: North & South America.
• East: Europe, Africa.
• Connections: Mediterranean (Gibraltar), Caribbean (Antilles), Gulf of Mexico, Baltic (Danish straits), North Sea, Norwegian Sea.

Major Structural Feature

Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR): Divergent plate boundary running N-S down the center. Creates rift valley, hydrothermal vents, seamounts, islands (Iceland, Azores, Ascension, St. Helena, Tristan da Cunha). Splits Atlantic into East & West Atlantic basins.

Subdivisions

• North Atlantic: North of equator; includes Gulf Stream, Sargasso Sea, Labrador Sea.
• South Atlantic: South of equator; includes Brazil Current, Benguela Current, Scotia Sea.

Key Roles

• Climate: AMOC (Gulf Stream) warms NW Europe.
• Trade: Busiest ocean for transatlantic shipping.
• Fisheries: Grand Banks, Benguela, Patagonian Shelf.
• Resources: Oil/gas (North Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Brazil, West Africa).
• Biodiversity: Coral reefs (Caribbean), deep-sea vents, migratory whales, tuna, seabirds.