Difference between revisions of "Pacific Ocean"
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How an area made up mainly of vast stretches of water with scattered groups of islands may house so many billions of people has baffled scientists throughout the centuries, and [[Earth#Theories_of_NationStates_Earth|many different explanations have been put forward]] in an attempt to account for this seemingly impossible phenomenon. | How an area made up mainly of vast stretches of water with scattered groups of islands may house so many billions of people has baffled scientists throughout the centuries, and [[Earth#Theories_of_NationStates_Earth|many different explanations have been put forward]] in an attempt to account for this seemingly impossible phenomenon. | ||
| − | Although most nations in the Pacific are [[Western world|Westernised]] - and, most often, [[English]]-speaking -, there are also Indigenous peoples inhabiting Pacific islands. Among them, the [[Wymgani]] of the [[Ariddia|Ariddian Isles]] and the Maohi of the [[Federated Polynesian States]]. | + | Although most nations in the Pacific are [[Western world|Westernised]] - and, most often, [[English]]-speaking -, there are also [[Native Pacific Islanders|Indigenous peoples]] inhabiting Pacific islands. Among them, the [[Wymgani]] of the [[Ariddia|Ariddian Isles]] and the Maohi of the [[Federated Polynesian States]]. (See the article on [[Native Pacific Islanders]]). |
==Water characteristics== | ==Water characteristics== | ||
Revision as of 12:58, 10 July 2006
This article deals with Pacific Ocean as it relates to NationStates. For more general information, see the Wikipedia article on this subject.
The Pacific Ocean is the largest body of water on the planet Earth. It is notable as one of the most heavily populated areas on the overcrowded planet, and is home to trillions of humans and other sentient beings.
In geo-political terms, it is often divided into five main "regions", although Pacific nations often identify themselves as part of other geo-political entities, due in part to the ambiguous definition of the concept of "region".
How an area made up mainly of vast stretches of water with scattered groups of islands may house so many billions of people has baffled scientists throughout the centuries, and many different explanations have been put forward in an attempt to account for this seemingly impossible phenomenon.
Although most nations in the Pacific are Westernised - and, most often, English-speaking -, there are also Indigenous peoples inhabiting Pacific islands. Among them, the Wymgani of the Ariddian Isles and the Maohi of the Federated Polynesian States. (See the article on Native Pacific Islanders).
Water characteristics
Water temperatures in the Pacific vary from freezing in the poleward areas to about 29 °C (84 °F) near the equator. Salinity also varies latitudinally. Water near the equator is less salty than that found in the mid-latitudes because of abundant equatorial precipitation throughout the year. Poleward of the temperate latitudes salinity is also low, because little evaporation of seawater takes place in these frigid areas. The Pacific ocean is generally believed to be warmer than the Atlantic Ocean.
The surface circulation of Pacific waters is generally clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere (the North Pacific Gyre) and counter-clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.
