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Difference between Ocean and Sea

Difference between Ocean and Sea

If you want to learn the difference between Ocean and Sea, then you are at the correct place. Here we will explain the key difference between Ocean and Sea in our article.

An ocean is a large open area covered with water and the vast majority of the area of earth’s surface is covered with oceans while the sea is smaller than ocean but it is also a water body of salty water. Seas are located where the land and oceans meet like the Bering Sea. The largest ocean covering an area of 64,186,000 square miles is the Pacific Ocean.

It is important to learn the definition of both the terms before the differences for better understanding.

Ocean

The ocean covers 71% of the earth’s surface. Oceans contain 97% of the planet’s water. There are five biggest oceans on the earth in which the Pacific Ocean is the largest and the Arctic Ocean is the smallest amongst five. The oceans are deeper than the sea and are away from the land and thus decrease the aquatic life in them. Marine life is less in the ocean than the sea.

The ocean can affect the world’s weather when they move the currents which result in hot or cold air, while the seas are not able to do it, and themselves depend on the oceans.

Sea

Sea is a water body of salty water but is smaller than oceans. The biggest sea is smaller than the smallest ocean. Sea is an area which is partially enclosed by land. The Mediterranean Sea is the largest sea in the world. There are only 5 oceans on the earth but there is the number of seas. The seas are shallower than oceans. The most important seas are the Caribbean Sea, the South China Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea.

A sea can be a part of the ocean but the ocean cannot be part of the sea. Seas are smaller than ocean but bigger than rivers. They are not deep as oceans because the land connects it.

For complete knowledge, you should learn the difference between ocean and sea.

Weather change

The ocean can affect the world’s weather when they move the currents which result in hot or cold air while the sea does not have the ability to influence any change and depend on the ocean for any changes.

Depth

Oceans are deeper than seas.

Number

There are only five oceans on the earth while there are numerous seas in the world.

Area

Oceans cover the larger area and are bigger than seas.