The quick answer to are oceans and seas the same thing?
No, oceans and seas are not the same things. The ocean is a large body of water that covers more than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface. Seas are smaller bodies of water found within the ocean or along the coast.
More detailed answer
The basic answer to “are oceans and seas the same thing?” is NO, oceans and seas are not the same things. The main difference is size; an ocean is vast, while a sea is relatively tiny. However, there are a few other critical distinctions between the two.
An ocean is a large body of water covering a significant portion of the Earth’s surface. The five oceans of the world are the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern (or the Antarctic), and the Arctic. In terms of size, the Pacific Ocean is the largest, followed by the Atlantic, Indian, Southern, and finally the Arctic.
On the other hand, a sea is a much smaller body of water, typically located within an ocean. For example, the Caribbean Sea is situated in the Atlantic Ocean. Additionally, seas are often defined by their geographic boundaries, such as the Baltic Sea or the Sea of Japan.
One of the most essential distinctions between oceans and seas is that only oceans experience tides. Tides are caused by the moon’s and sun’s gravitational pull on the Earth’s water. The size and shape of an ocean’s coastline also play a role in the strength of the tide.
While oceans and seas are not the same things, they are interconnected. They are both parts of the Earth’s hydrosphere, including all of its freshwaters, such as rivers and lakes. Additionally, the water in oceans and seas eventually evaporates and falls back to Earth as rain or snow.