Oceans and seas:Indian Ocean
Published: October 3, 2009, 3:54 pm
Updated: May 13, 2013, 7:35 pm
This article has been reviewed by the following Topic Editor:
J. Emmett Duffy
The Indian Ocean covers about 14% of the Earth’s surface area. This ocean region is enclosed on three sides by the landmasses of Africa, Asia, and Australia.
The Indian Ocean's southern border is open to water exchange with the much colder Southern Ocean. Average depth of the Indian Ocean is 3,900 meters (12,800 feet).
The deepest point in this ocean region occurs in the Java Trench with a depth of 7,258 meters (23,812 feet) below sea level.
The Indian Ocean region has relatively few islands. Continental shelf areas tend to be quite narrow and not many shallow seas exist.
Relative to the Atlantic Ocean, only a small number of streams drain into the Indian Ocean. Consequently, the surface area of the Indian Ocean is approximately 400% larger than the land area supplying runoff into it.
Some of the major rivers flowing into the Indian Ocean include the Zambezi, Arvandrud/Shatt-al-Arab, Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra, and the Irrawaddy.
Seawater salinity ranges between 32 and 37 parts per 1000. Because much of the Indian Ocean lies within the tropics, this basin has the warmest surface ocean temperatures.
Further Reading
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Citation
Michael Pidwirny (Lead Author);J. Emmett Duffy (Topic Editor) "Indian Ocean". In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth October 3, 2009; Last revised Date May 13, 2013; Retrieved May 18, 2013 <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Indian_Ocean?topic=49523>
The Author
Michael Pidwirny studied Physical Geography at the University of Winnipeg and the University of Manitoba. He received his PhD from the Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia in 1994. He currently is an Associate Professor of Physical Geography at the University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus. Pidwirny’s research interests include climate change, the influence of land-use change on biodiversity, and the use of technology in education. He publishes regularly in encyclop ... (Full Bio)
The Indian Ocean covers about 14% of the Earth’s surface area. This ocean region is enclosed on three sides by the landmasses of Africa, Asia, and Australia.
The Indian Ocean's southern border is open to water exchange with the much colder Southern Ocean. Average depth of the Indian Ocean is 3,900 meters (12,800 feet).
The deepest point in this ocean region occurs in the Java Trench with a depth of 7,258 meters (23,812 feet) below sea level.
The Indian Ocean region has relatively few islands. Continental shelf areas tend to be quite narrow and not many shallow seas exist.
Relative to the Atlantic Ocean, only a small number of streams drain into the Indian Ocean. Consequently, the surface area of the Indian Ocean is approximately 400% larger than the land area supplying runoff into it.
Some of the major rivers flowing into the Indian Ocean include the Zambezi, Arvandrud/Shatt-al-Arab, Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra, and the Irrawaddy.
Seawater salinity ranges between 32 and 37 parts per 1000. Because much of the Indian Ocean lies within the tropics, this basin has the warmest surface ocean temperatures.
Further Reading
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Figure 3: Indian Ocean region (Source: CIA World Factbook).
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