Indian Ocean facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Indian Ocean |
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Extent of the Indian Ocean according to The World Factbook
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| Location | South Asia, Southeast Asia, Western Asia, Northeast Africa, East Africa, Southern Africa and Australia |
| Coordinates | 20°S 80°E / 20°S 80°E |
| Type | Ocean |
| Max. width | 6,200 mi (10,000 km) |
| Surface area | 70,560,000 km2 (27,240,000 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 3,741 m (12,274 ft) |
| Max. depth | 7,906 m (25,938 ft) |
 Earth's ocean, showing common divisions Earth's thermohaline circulation seawater flow Map with five-oceans (approximate boundaries) |
| Earth's ocean |
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Main five oceans division:
Further subdivision: Marginal seas |
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering 70,560,000 km2 (27,240,000 sq mi) (approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface). It is bounded by Asia on the north, on the west by Africa, on the east by Australia, and on the south by the Southern Ocean or, depending on definition, by Antarctica. It is named after India.
The deepest point in the Indian Ocean is in the Java Trench near the Sunda Islands in the east, 7500 m (25,344 feet) deep. The average depth is 13,002 feet deep. The Indian Ocean is the third largest ocean, 28,350,000 square miles in size. The majority is in the southern hemisphere.
Contents
Climate
The Indian Ocean is the warmest ocean in the world. Long-term ocean temperature records show a rapid, continuous warming in the Indian Ocean, at about 0.7–1.2 °C (1.3–2.2 °F) during 1901–2012. Indian Ocean warming is the largest among the tropical oceans, and about 3 times faster than the warming observed in the Pacific. Research indicates that human induced greenhouse warming, and changes in the frequency and magnitude of El Niño events are a trigger to this strong warming in the Indian Ocean.
Marine life
Among the tropical oceans, the western Indian Ocean hosts one of the largest concentration of phytoplankton blooms in summer, due to the strong monsoon winds. The Indian Ocean accounts for the second largest share of the most economically valuable tuna catch. Its fish are of great and growing importance to the bordering countries for domestic consumption and export. Fishing fleets from Russia, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan also exploit the Indian Ocean, mainly for shrimp and tuna.
Research indicates that increasing ocean temperatures are taking a toll on the marine ecosystem. A study on the phytoplankton changes in the Indian Ocean indicates a decline of up to 20% during the past six decades. The tuna catch rates have also declined abruptly during the past half century, mostly due to increased industrial fisheries, with the ocean warming adding further stress to the fish species.
Endangered marine species include the dugong, seals, turtles, and whales.
An Indian Ocean garbage patch was discovered in 2010 covering at least 5 million square kilometres (1.9 million square miles). Riding the southern Indian Ocean Gyre, this vortex of plastic garbage constantly circulates the ocean from Australia to Africa, down the Mozambique Channel, and back to Australia in a period of six years.
In 2016, UK researchers from Southampton University identified six new animal species at hydrothermal vents beneath the Indian Ocean. These new species were a "Hoff" crab, a "giant peltospirid" snail, a whelk-like snail, a limpet, a scaleworm and a polychaete worm.
Images for kids
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The Indian Ocean, according to the CIA The World Factbook (blue area), and as defined by the IHO (black outline - excluding marginal waterbodies).
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During summer, warm continental masses draw moist air from the Indian Ocean hence producing heavy rainfall. The process is reversed during winter, resulting in dry conditions.
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Air pollution in South Asia spread over the Bay of Bengal and beyond.
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Madagascar's Elephant bird, Mauritius's Dodo bird and ostrich (from left to right)
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According to the Coastal hypothesis, modern humans spread from Africa along the northern rim of the Indian Ocean.
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The Austronesian maritime trade network was the first trade routes in the Indian Ocean.
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Greco-Roman trade with ancient India according to the Periplus Maris Erythraei 1st century CE
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The economically important Silk Road was blocked from Europe by the Ottoman Empire in c. 1453 with the fall of the Byzantine Empire. This spurred exploration, and a new sea route around Africa was found, triggering the Age of Discovery.
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For most of the 16th century, the Portuguese dominated the Indian Ocean trade.
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Malé's population has increased from 20,000 people in 1987 to more than 220,000 people in 2020.
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An unnamed Chagossian on Diego Garcia in 1971 shortly before the British expelled the islanders when the island became a U.S. military base. The man spoke a French-based creole language and his ancestors were most likely brought to the uninhabited island as slaves in the 19th century.
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Major ocean trade routes in the world includes the northern Indian Ocean.
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Mombasa Port on Kenya's Indian Ocean coast
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See also
In Spanish: Océano Índico para niños
