The only sea in the world without a coast geography realm. The north atlantic gyre ocean plastics leadership summit. Unlike similar species, those of the genus sargassum can spend their whole life cycle floating free, rather than binding to rocks or reefs. Geographicus ameriqueseptentrionalecovensmortier1708. Media in category sargasso sea the following 11 files are in this category, out of 11 total. Oceanographic characteristics sargasso sea commission. Its borders are delineated by its own unique ecosystem, which has historically been fed by the currents of the north atlantic gyre. The north atlantic gyre is one of the three great endpoints for the worlds plastic. The mysterious life of the sargasso sea sail magazine. It is nearly 1,000 miles wide and 2,000 miles long. Even though the sargasso sea is surrounded by such strong currents, its currents are largely immobile. The sargasso sea is a region in the gyre in the middle of the north atlantic ocean. Sep 08, 2017 the sargasso sea lies within the north atlantic ocean, surrounded by four currents that form an ocean gyre. The sargasso sea the only sea that is bounded by four currents forming an ocean gyre the sea is bounded on the west by the gulf stream, on the north by the north atlantic current, on the east by the canary current, and on the south by the north atlantic equatorial current.
The sargasso sea is a fundamentally important part of the worlds ocean, located within the north atlantic subtropical gyre with its boundaries defined by the surrounding currents. Jan 15, 2016 the sargasso sea is a region in the gyre in the middle of the north atlantic ocean. Esa eduspace en weather and climate the north atlantic gyre. The spawning and larval development area of both freshwater and marine eels t he sargasso sea is a large oceanic region that makes up the western portion of the subtropical gyre of the north atlantic and is perhaps most famous among. Sargasso sea simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. On the forth day the wind died and at around midnight i turned on a deck light and went outside the pilot house to. It is the home waters of sargassum, a genus of brown macroalgae seaweed that inhabit the open ocean. The sargasso sea is a region in the middle of the north atlantic ocean, surrounded by ocean currents. The north atlantic gyre traps anthropogenic marine debris in the north atlantic garbage patch, similar to how the north pacific gyre traps debris in the great pacific garbage patch. Jean rhyss wide sargasso sea takes a stab at what that story might have been. Sargasso sea project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Any pollutants that get into the central sargasso sea are trapped there by the encircling currents, and the area is now home to the north atlantic garbage patch an accumulation of mostly degraded plastic covering an area larger than the state of texas, which is held in place by the gyre.
Under the influence of the trade winds, the north equatorial current drifts towards the caribbean sea. Most turtles steered clear of the continental shelf, but there was a lot of variation in their routes. Sargasso sea area, north atlantic ocean britannica. The sargasso sea lies within the north atlantic ocean, surrounded by four currents that form an ocean gyre. Oct 09, 2019 it lies within the northern atlantic subtropical gyre. These currents form a clockwisecirculating gyre that surrounds the sargasso sea much like a terrestrial coastline would. The sargasso sea was even mentioned in jules vernes twenty thousand leagues under the sea. Noted as oligotrophic, the sargasso sea also known as the north atlantic. Unlike similar species, those of the genus sargassum can spend their whole life cycle floating free. The sargasso sea, part of the vast whirlpool known as the north atlantic gyre, often has been described as an oceanic desertand it would appear to be, if it werent for the floating mats of.
The sargasso sea is a region of the atlantic ocean bounded by four currents forming an ocean gyre. The sargasso sea is 700 statute miles wide and 2,000 statute miles long 1,100 km wide and 3,200 km long. The sargasso seas importance derives from the interdependent mix of its. This is extremely important because although the sargasso sea and the rest of the north atlantic gyre have a favorable environment for the sea turtles to grow in, going north of the gyre to lower temperatures could be detrimental to the turtles survival lohmann et al. The gulf stream is part of a clockwiserotating system of currents in the north atlantic known as the north atlantic gyre. Life in the north atlantic depends on this floating seaweed. The sargasso sea, a region in the middle of the north atlantic ocean, is perhaps best known to caribbean people because of its use in the title of jean rhys most famous novel, wide sargasso sea 1966, where it symbolizes the cultural divide between the caribbean and england the respective homelands of the novels. All the currents deposit the marine plants and garbage they carry into this sea. The only sea on earth without a land boundary, the sargasso sea is. The sargasso sea takes its name from sargassum, a freefloating. Oceanography of the sargasso sea sargasso sea commission. Sargasso sea alliance the sargasso sea subtropical gyre the sargasso sea subtropical gyre. Plastic pollution in the sargasso sea repeating islands. The northern extension of the gulf stream in the northern atlantic ocean.
For the uninitiated, an ocean gyre is a huge system of circulating ocean currents that are formed due to global wind patterns and the effects of earths rotation coriolis effect. An ocean plastics field trip for corporate executives. It covers an area roughly the size of the united states and is uniquely bounded by the surrounding currents, not land. Unlike all other regions called seas, it has no land boundaries. The gulf stream establishes the sargasso sea s western boundary, while the sea is further defined to the north by the north atlantic current, to the east by the canary current, and to the south by the north atlantic equatorial current. The north atlantic gyre forms the sargasso sea, noted for its still waters and dense seaweed accumulations. Instead of being bounded by land, it is defined by four ocean currents. Nov 17, 2014 the sargasso sea occupies almost two thirds of the north atlantic ocean. The currents that form the north atlantic gyre make up the border of the sargasso sea, whose name owes to its plentiful sargassum seaweed. Justin lewis and michelle stauffer is raising funds for a documentary about plastic pollution in the atlantic ocean on kickstarter. The encircling currents of the sargasso sea figure 1 trap water at the core of the sargasso sea for estimated periods of up to ca 50 years maximenko, hafner and niller 2011 and concentrate sargassum, plastics and other pollutants. A novel delta subdivision proteobacterial lineage from the lower ocean surface layer. Current, a clockwisecirculating system of ocean currents termed the north atlantic gyre.
The sargasso sea, as a vast track of the western subtropical north atlantic ocean is known, has a special characteristic something noted by portuguese sailors for centuries and even visible from space. The lesserknown cousin of the great pacific trash island. Wide sargasso sea ideas and concepts flashcards quizlet. The gulf stream and north atlantic drift form the western and northern boundaries, the.
It and the indian ocean gyre each hold about 60,000 tons of. It and the indian ocean gyre each hold about 60,000 tons of the stuff, a figure topped only by the trash in. Knap t he sargasso sea is an anticyclonic gyre in the central north atlantic ocean. It is distinguished from other parts of the atlantic ocean by its characteristic brown sargassum seaweed and often calm blue water. The sargasso sea, home of the north atlantic gyre, is the worlds only sea without shores. In the sargasso sea, life depends on floating sargassum. Within this sea, circling ocean currents accumulate mats of sargassum seaweed that shelter a surprising variety of fishes. Results from first set of samples in the north atlantic sargasso sea separated samples by size, type, and color 12. Don sturdy novel don sturdy in the port of lost ships. Within the atlantic ocean is the worlds only sea without shores, its borders defined by the currents of the north atlantic gyre. More unfortunately, the stillness of the sargasso s calm waters allows the sea to trap up to 200,000. Sargasso sea, area of the north atlantic ocean, elliptical in shape and relatively still, that is strewn with freefloating seaweed of the genus sargassum.
The sargasso sea occupies almost two thirds of the north atlantic ocean. Stramma and siedler 1988 determined that the gyre expands and contracts with a seasonal variance. It is distinguished from other parts of the atlantic ocean by its characteristic brown sargassum seaweed and often calm blue water the sea is bounded on the west by the gulf stream, on the north by the. Sargasso sea of space maveric universe wiki fandom. The sargasso sea, part of the vast whirlpool known as the north atlantic gyre, often has been. In the sargasso sea, life depends on floating sargassum seaweed. Jules verne, in his 1870 book twenty thousand leagues under the sea, likened. The sargasso sea is a region in the gyre in the middle o the north atlantic ocean. Bermuda island is near the western fringes of the sea. It is the only sea on earth which has no coastline. On the forth day the wind died and at around midnight i turned on a deck light and went outside the pilot house to adjust a lifeline.
Pdf the sargasso sea is a fundamentally important part of the worlds ocean, located within the north atlantic subtropical gyre with its boundaries. It is the only sea without land boundaries with water depths ranging from the surface coral reefs of bermuda to abyssal plains at 4500 m. The sargasso sea lies within the subtropical north atlantic gyre. North atlantic sargasso sea gyre oceanresearchproject. The sargasso sea, some 1,300 kilometers southeast of north carolina, lies in the middle of the north atlantic gyre, a system of clockwise rotating currents that are related to global climate patterns. North atlantic garbage patch sargasso sea, atlantic ocean. Microplastics discovered in extreme concentrations in.
A documentary about plastic pollution in the atlantic ocean. Aug 02, 2017 because the sargasso, like the rest of the north atlantic gyre, is enclosed within the enormous whirlpool created by the gulf stream to the west, the north atlantic current to the north, the canary current to the east and the north atlantic equatorial current to the south, debris that gets in is unlikely to get out. Rochester antoinette cosway aka madwoman in the attic. Seasonal variations as with many oceanographic patterns, the north atlantic gyre experiences seasonal changes. Nov 10, 2015 justin lewis and michelle stauffer is raising funds for a documentary about plastic pollution in the atlantic ocean on kickstarter. Jun 02, 20 the sargasso sea is a region in the gyre in the middle of the north atlantic ocean. Or, adrift in the sargasso sea, and several related short stories. Aug 08, 2019 the north atlantic gyre is one of the three great endpoints for the worlds plastic. The waters that feed the gulf stream begin flowing off the west coast of northern africa. The wolds most dreaded seas by sailors interesting earth. The sargasso sea, part of the vast whirlpool known as the north atlantic gyre, often has been described as an oceanic desertand it would appear to be, if. Mar 24, 2014 the currents that form the north atlantic gyre make up the border of the sargasso sea, whose name owes to its plentiful sargassum seaweed. The sargasso sea is located in the midst of gulf stream on the west, north atlantic current in the north, canary current on the east and the north atlantic equatorial current on the south. The gulf stream establishes the sargasso seas western boundary, while the sea is further defined to the north by the north atlantic current, to the east by the canary current, and to the south by the north atlantic equatorial current.
This system of ocean currents forms the north atlantic gyre. Mystery of sargasso sea sea without shores or coastline. Pdf the protection and management of the sargasso sea. The plastic ocean university of maryland center for.
North atlantic gyre definition of north atlantic gyre by. It lies between the parallels 20 n and 35 n and the meridians 30 w and 70 w inside a clockwisesetting oceancurrent system, of which the. North atlantic garbage patch sargasso sea, atlantic. The sargasso seas importance derives from the interdependent.
Found in the middle of the northern atlantic subtropical gyre a gyre is a. Discover north atlantic garbage patch in sargasso sea, atlantic ocean. Sargasso sea alliance oceanography of the sargasso sea chapter 1 overview of the importance of the sargasso sea and this report a. It lies within the northern atlantic subtropical gyre.
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