Chapter 24, Problem 1RCC

What percentage of the Earth is covered with ocean?

To determine

To find:

The percentage of Earth covered by ocean

Answer to Problem 1RCC

Solution:

The ocean covers about 71% of the Earth’s surface. The other 29% is covered by the land masses that form continents.

Explanation of Solution

An ocean is a vast expanse of water that covers about 71% of the surface of the Earth. The oceans of the world are divided into the largest Pacific ocean, Atlantic ocean, Antarctic or Southern, and Indian ocean. The rest of the 29% of the area is covered by the landmasses that form the continents. There is a total of 315 billion cubic miles of water that is present in the ocean. The oceans are made up of three topographical units that are continental margins, deep-ocean basins, and midocean ridge.