The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest ocean of the world’s oceans, after the Pacific Ocean.
The Atlantic Ocean covers 41 million mi2 (more than 106 million km2) of the Earth’s surface. It is bounded by the continents of North America and South America on the west and the continents of Europe and Africa on the east.
The Atlantic Ocean is usually thought of as two separate bodies of water: the North Atlantic and the South Atlantic, divided by the equator.
The North Atlantic is divided into the Arctic Mediterranean, the American Mediterranean and the European Mediterranean. These areas are further divided into seas and bays. For example, the Arctic Mediterranean is divided into the North Polar Sea, Norwegian Sea, Baffin Bay, and the waters of the Canadian Archipelago. The American Mediterranean includes the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. The European Mediterranean includes the Black Sea. The North Atlantic also includes the Hudson Bay, the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the North Sea, and the Irish Sea.
The topography of the ocean floor is being studied extensively.
Ocean water currents transport warm and cold water from one area to another. They are extensively studied due to their profound effects upon the climate and weather of the surrounding continents. They are present even without wind, since water density differs in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Winds increase the power of the water circulation and transport warm and cool air from the ocean over land areas. Currents in the North Atlantic generally run clockwise, whereas currents in the South Atlantic generally run counter-clockwise.
The Gulf Stream, a system of warm water currents, is the most significant of the North Atlantic Ocean currents, and exerts a significant effect on the climate and weather of the countries bordering the Atlantic Ocean.
There are also cold water currents originating in the Polar Sea.
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