Earth from Space
More than two-thirds of the world’s surface is covered by vast oceans. Viewed from space, Earth looks like a watery world. The world’s oceans are the oldest and largest living environments and life began here more than 3,500 million years ago. But although oceans dominate the world map, we have only just begun to explore their hidden depths.
Seen from above, the world’s oceans appear empty and unchanging, but beneath the surface is a unique world. There are rugged mountains, active volcanoes, vast plains and seemingly bottomless trenches. The deepest ocean trenches could easily swallow up the tallest mountains on land! There is also an amazing mix of plants and animals that live in these waters, from minute plankton to the giant blue whale.
But there is considerably more to our oceans than the thousands of plants and animals that live beneath its surface. Oceans shape our lives as they provide food, water, energy and industrial materials. They also influence our weather and atmosphere, and provide recreation and transport. As an island nation, the UK has a historic involvement with the sea. Shipping is particularly important because we depend on sea transport for our trade and our traditional maritime strength.
Here we present an awareness of the importance of the oceans to our environment as we often take water for granted, despite it being one of Earth’s most important features. Life on Earth depends on water in all its forms, as Earth’s temperature is just right for water to be present in the oceans, atmosphere, soil and icecaps. Without water, there would be no animals or plants, and no weather as the way that heat and water move between the oceans and the air creates the world’s weather and climates.
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