CitizenKid: The Global Ocean

CitizenKid: The Global Ocean — page 3
EARTH'S BEATING HEART What if Earth had a beating heart that powered everything on the planet In a way the global ocean is like Earth's heart When you look on a map of the world you see five great oceans the Atlantic Ocean the Pacific Ocean the Indian Ocean the Arctic Ocean and the Southern Ocean also called the Antarctic Ocean But what you may not realize is that these oceans are all linked by a system of water that moves between them So these five oceans are actually connected to form one single circulating ocean the global ocean This global ocean is Earth's most important feature It moves heat oxygen and nutrients around the planet supporting all life on Earth much like your heart pumps blood through your body to move oxygen and nutrients It is also home to more species and more habitats than anywhere else on the planet Its water shapes Earth's climate and influences its weather The global ocean stores carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and supplies oxygen for us to breathe It is also a source of food for many of Earth's inhabitants living in the ocean and on land And for humans it provides food energy minerals and transportation as well as a place to play explore and enjoy A healthy global ocean is what keeps the planet flourishing and sustains all life on Earth just like the beat of your heart keeps you alive and well But the global ocean is in trouble Let's dive into the pages of this book to learn about the issues affecting the global ocean and what we can do to help it and the planet heal