Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
sea
References
Images
World map displaying the boundaries of major oceans and seas, each labeled with a number corresponding to a list below the map. The map uses simple blue and tan color coding for water and land, with numbered points marking locations such as the Mediterranean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, South China Sea, and others. A locator inset and scale are included for reference.
Britannica AI Icon

sea

body of water
Written by
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

The Information Architects maintain a master list of the topics included in the corpus of  Encyclopædia Britannica, and create and manage the relationships between them.
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Last updated

Quick Summary

World map displaying the boundaries of major oceans and seas, each labeled with a number corresponding to a list below the map. The map uses simple blue and tan color coding for water and land, with numbered points marking locations such as the Mediterranean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, South China Sea, and others. A locator inset and scale are included for reference.
Boundaries of the world's oceans and seas

A sea is a large body of saltwater, often partially enclosed by land, and is generally smaller and shallower than an ocean. Oceans are vast, continuous expanses of saltwater covering about 71% of Earth's surface. The term "sea" can also refer to any large body of saltwater, including inland ones like the Caspian Sea, or metaphorically to something vast, like a "sea of faces".123

Seas and oceans are interconnected and play a crucial role in Earth's climate by transferring heat and moisture between the water and the atmosphere. Ocean currents, driven by factors like Earth's rotation and wind, move water around the globe, influencing climate patterns and the distribution of marine life. The chemical composition of seawater is influenced by geological processes, atmospheric exchange, and biological activity.456

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
8 Britannica Sources
  1. Ocean vs. Sea: What’s the Difference?
  2. climate - Influence on atmospheric circulation and rainfall
  3. sea
  4. sea
  5. Which Waters Do You Pass Through When You “Sail the Seven Seas”?
  6. ocean: Top Questions
  7. marine ecosystem - Physical and chemical properties of seawater
  8. marine ecosystem - Ocean currents

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.