Description of the Atlantic Ocean. Atlantic Ocean: characteristics according to plan

The Sea of Okhotsk is located in the northwestern part of the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Asia and is separated from the ocean by the chain of the Kuril Islands and the Kamchatka Peninsula. From the south and west it is limited by the coast of the island of Hokkaido, the eastern coast of the island of Sakhalin and the coast of the Asian continent. The sea extends significantly from southwest to northeast within a spherical trapezoid with coordinates 43°43’–62°42’ N. w. and 135°10’–164°45′ E. d. The greatest length of the water area in this direction is 2463 km, and the width reaches 1,500 km. The surface area of the sea surface is 1,603 thousand km2, the length of the coastline is 10,460 km, and the total volume of sea water is 1,316 thousand km3. According to its geographical location, it belongs to marginal seas mixed continental-marginal type. The Sea of Okhotsk is connected to the Pacific Ocean by numerous straits of the Kuril island chain, and with Sea of Japan- through the La Perouse Strait and through the Amur Estuary - through the Nevelskoy and Tatar Straits. The average sea depth is 821 m, and the greatest is 3521 m (in the Kuril Basin).

The main morphological zones in the bottom topography are: the shelf (the mainland and island shoals of Sakhalin Island), the continental slope, on which individual underwater hills, depressions and islands are distinguished, and the deep-sea basin. The shelf zone (0–200 m) has a width of 180–250 km and occupies about 20% of the sea area. The wide and gentle continental slope (200–2000 m) in the central part of the basin occupies about 65%, and the deepest basin (more than 2500 m), located in the southern part of the sea, occupies 8% of the sea area. Within the area of the continental slope, several hills and depressions are distinguished, where the depths change sharply (the rise of the Academy of Sciences, the rise of the Institute of Oceanology and the Deryugin Basin). The bottom of the deep-sea Kuril Basin is a flat abyssal plain, and the Kuril ridge is a natural threshold that fences off the sea basin from the ocean.

The Sea of Okhotsk is connected to the Sea of Japan through the Amur Estuary, Nevelskogo in the north and La Perouse in the south, and the numerous Kuril Straits are connected to the Pacific Ocean. The chain of the Kuril Islands is separated from the island of Hokkaido by the Izmena Strait, and from the Kamchatka Peninsula by the First Kuril Strait. The straits connecting the Sea of Okhotsk with adjacent areas of the Sea of Japan and the Pacific Ocean provide the possibility of water exchange between basins, which, in turn, have a significant impact on the distribution of hydrological characteristics. The Nevelskoy and La Perouse straits are relatively narrow and shallow, which is the reason for the relatively weak water exchange with the Sea of Japan. The straits of the Kuril island chain, which stretches for about 1200 km, on the contrary, are deeper, and their total width is 500 km. The deepest waters are the Bussol (2318 m) and Kruzenshtern (1920 m) straits.

The northwestern coast of the Sea of Okhotsk is practically devoid of large bays, while the northern coast is significantly indented. The Taui Bay juts into it, the shores of which are indented by bays and bays. The bay is separated from the Sea of Okhotsk by the Koni Peninsula.

The largest bay of the Sea of Okhotsk lies in its northeastern part, extending 315 km into the mainland. This is Shelikhov Bay with Gizhiginskaya and Penzhinskaya bays. The Gizhiginskaya and Penzhinskaya bays are separated by the elevated Taygonos Peninsula. In the southwestern part of Shelikhov Bay, north of the Pyagina Peninsula, there is a small Yamskaya Bay.
The western coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula is leveled and practically devoid of bays.

The shores of the Kuril Islands are complex in their outline and form small bays. On the Sea of Okhotsk side, the largest bays are located near the island of Iturup, which are deep and have a very complexly dissected bottom.

Quite a lot of mostly small rivers flow into the Sea of Okhotsk, therefore, despite the significant volume of its waters, the continental flow is relatively small. It is approximately 600 km3 per year, with about 65% of the flow coming from the Amur River. Other relatively large rivers - Penzhina, Okhota, Uda, Bolshaya (in Kamchatka) - bring significantly less to the sea fresh water. The flow comes mainly in spring and early summer. At this time, its greatest influence is felt mainly in the coastal zone, near the mouths of large rivers.

The shores of the Sea of Okhotsk in different areas belong to different geomorphological types. For the most part, these are abrasive shores modified by the sea, and only on the Kamchatka Peninsula and Sakhalin Island are there accumulative shores. The sea is mainly surrounded by high and steep banks. In the north and northwest, rocky ledges descend directly to the sea. Along the Sakhalin Bay the shores are low. The southeastern coast of Sakhalin is low, and the northeastern coast is low. The shores of the Kuril Islands are very steep. The northeastern coast of Hokkaido is predominantly low-lying. The coast of the southern part of Western Kamchatka has the same character, but the shores of its northern part are somewhat elevated.

According to the characteristics of composition and distribution bottom sediments Three main zones can be distinguished: the central zone, which is composed predominantly of diatomaceous silt, silty-clayey and partially clayey silts; zone of distribution of hemipelagic and pelagic clays in the western, eastern and northern parts of the Sea of Okhotsk; as well as a zone of distribution of heterogeneous sands, sandstones, gravels and silts - in the northeast of the Sea of Okhotsk. Coarse clastic material, which is the result of ice rafting, is ubiquitous.

The Sea of Okhotsk is located in the monsoon climate zone of temperate latitudes. A significant part of the sea in the west extends deep into the mainland and lies relatively close to the cold pole of the Asian landmass, therefore main source the coldest point for the Sea of Okhotsk is to the west of it. The relatively high ridges of Kamchatka make it difficult for warm Pacific air to penetrate. Only in the southeast and south is the sea open to the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, from where a significant amount of heat enters it. However, the influence of cooling factors is stronger than warming ones, so the Sea of Okhotsk is generally cold.

In the cold part of the year (from October to April), the sea is affected by the Siberian Anticyclone and the Aleutian Low. The influence of the latter extends mainly to the southeastern part of the sea. This distribution of large-scale pressure systems causes strong, sustained northwest and northerly winds, often reaching gale force. In winter, the wind speed is usually 10–11 m/s.

In the coldest month - January - average temperature air in the northwest of the sea is –20…–25°С, in central regions- –10…–15°С, and in the south-eastern part of the sea - –5…–6°С.

In autumn-winter, cyclones are predominantly of continental origin. They bring with them increased wind, sometimes a decrease in air temperature, but the weather remains clear and dry, as continental air arrives from the cooled mainland. In March - April, a restructuring of large-scale pressure fields occurs, the Siberian anticyclone is destroyed, and the Hawaiian maximum intensifies. As a result, during the warm season (from May to October), the Sea of Okhotsk is under the influence of the Hawaiian High and the low pressure area located above Eastern Siberia. At the same time, weak south-easterly winds prevail over the sea. Their speed usually does not exceed 6–7 m/s. These winds are most common in June and July, although stronger northwest and northerly winds are sometimes observed during these months. In general, the Pacific (summer) monsoon is weaker than the Asian (winter) monsoon, since in the warm season the horizontal pressure gradients are smoothed out.

In summer, the average monthly air temperature in August decreases from the southwest to the northeast (from 18°C to 10–10.5°C).

In the warm season above southern part Tropical cyclones pass through the seas quite often. They are associated with increased winds to storm force, which can last up to 5–8 days. The predominance of south-eastern winds in the spring-summer season leads to significant cloudiness, precipitation, and fog.

Monsoon winds and stronger winter cooling of the western part of the Sea of Okhotsk compared to the eastern are important climatic features of this sea.

Geographical location, large length along the meridian, monsoon wind changes and good connection between the sea and the Pacific Ocean through the Kuril Straits are the main ones natural factors, which most significantly influence the formation of the hydrological conditions of the Sea of Okhotsk.

The entry of surface Pacific waters into the Sea of Okhotsk occurs mainly through northern straits, in particular through the First Kuril Strait.

IN upper layers The southern part of the Kuril ridge is dominated by the flow of Sea of Okhotsk waters, and in the upper layers of the northern part of the ridge there is an influx of Pacific waters. In the deep layers, the influx of Pacific waters predominates.

The influx of Pacific waters significantly affects the distribution of temperature, salinity, the formation of the structure and general circulation of the waters of the Sea of Okhotsk.

The following water masses are distinguished in the Sea of Okhotsk:

superficial water mass, which has spring, summer and autumn modifications. It is a thin heated layer 15–30 m thick, which limits the upper maximum of stability, mainly determined by temperature;
The Sea of Okhotsk water mass is formed in winter from surface water and in spring, summer and autumn it appears in the form of a cold intermediate layer lying between horizons of 40–150 m. This water mass is characterized by a fairly uniform salinity (31–32‰) and varying temperatures;
The intermediate water mass is formed mainly due to the descent of water along underwater slopes, within the sea, located from 100–150 to 400–700 m, and is characterized by a temperature of 1.5 ° C and a salinity of 33.7‰. This body of water is distributed almost everywhere;
the deep Pacific water mass is the water of the lower part of the warm layer of the Pacific Ocean, entering the Sea of Okhotsk at horizons below 800–1000 m. This water mass is located at horizons of 600–1350 m, has a temperature of 2.3 ° C and a salinity of 34.3‰ .

The water mass of the southern basin is of Pacific origin and represents deep water of the northwestern part of the Pacific Ocean near the 2300 m horizon. This water mass fills the basin from the 1350 m horizon to the bottom and is characterized by a temperature of 1.85 ° C and a salinity of 34.7‰, which change only slightly with depth.

The water temperature at the sea surface decreases from south to north. In winter, almost everywhere the surface layers are cooled to a freezing temperature of –1.5…–1.8°C. Only in the southeastern part of the sea does it remain around 0°C, and near the northern Kuril Straits, under the influence of Pacific waters, the water temperature reaches 1–2°C.
Spring warming at the beginning of the season mainly leads to the melting of ice, only towards the end of it does the water temperature begin to rise.

In summer, the distribution of water temperature on the sea surface is quite varied. In August, the warmest waters (up to 18–19°C) are those adjacent to the island of Hokkaido. In the central regions of the sea, the water temperature is 11–12°C. The coldest surface waters are observed off the island of Jonah, off Cape Pyagin and near the Krusenstern Strait. In these areas, the water temperature is between 6–7°C. The formation of local centers of increased and decreased water temperatures on the surface is mainly associated with the redistribution of heat by currents.

The vertical distribution of water temperature varies from season to season and from place to place. In the cold season, temperature changes with depth are less complex and varied than in warm seasons.

In winter, in the northern and central regions of the sea, water cooling extends to horizons of 500–600 m. The water temperature is relatively uniform and varies from –1.5…–1.7°С on the surface to –0.25°С at horizons of 500–600 m , deeper it rises to 1–0°С, in the southern part of the sea and near the Kuril Straits the water temperature from 2.5–3°С on the surface decreases to 1–1.4°С at horizons of 300–400 m and then gradually increases up to 1.9–2.4°C in the bottom layer.

In summer, surface waters are heated to a temperature of 10–12°C. In the subsurface layers, the water temperature is slightly lower than on the surface. A sharp drop in temperature to -1...-1.2°C is observed between horizons of 50–75 m, deeper, to horizons of 150–200 m, the temperature quickly rises to 0.5–1°C, and then it rises more smoothly, and at horizons of 200–250 m it is 1.5–2°С. Further, the water temperature remains almost unchanged until the bottom. In the south and southeastern parts sea, along the Kuril Islands, water temperature from 10–14°С on the surface drops to 3–8°С at a horizon of 25 m, then to 1.6–2.4°С at a horizon of 100 m and to 1.4–2 °C at the bottom. The vertical temperature distribution in summer is characterized by a cold intermediate layer. In the northern and central regions of the sea the temperature is negative, and only near the Kuril Straits is it positive values. In different areas of the sea, the depth of the cold intermediate layer is different and varies from year to year.

The distribution of salinity in the Sea of Okhotsk varies relatively little between seasons. Salinity increases in the eastern part, which is under the influence of Pacific waters, and decreases in the western part, desalinated by continental runoff. In the western part, the surface salinity is 28–31‰, and in the eastern part it is 31–32‰ and more (up to 33‰ near the Kuril ridge).

In the northwestern part of the sea, due to desalination, the salinity on the surface is 25‰ or less, and the thickness of the desalinated layer is about 30–40 m.

Salinity increases with depth in the Sea of Okhotsk. At horizons of 300–400 m in the western part of the sea, salinity is 33.5‰, and in the eastern part it is about 33.8‰. At a horizon of 100 m, salinity is 34‰ and then towards the bottom it increases slightly, by only 0.5–0.6‰.

In individual bays and straits, the salinity value and its stratification may differ significantly from the waters open sea depending on local conditions.

In accordance with temperature and salinity, denser waters are observed in winter in the northern and central areas of the sea, covered with ice. The density is somewhat lower in the relatively warm Kuril region. In summer, the density of water decreases, its lowest values are confined to zones of influence of coastal runoff, and the highest are observed in areas of distribution of Pacific waters. In winter, it rises slightly from the surface to the bottom. In summer, its distribution depends on temperature in the upper layers, and on salinity in the middle and lower layers. IN summer time a noticeable density stratification of waters is created vertically, the density increases especially noticeably at horizons of 25–50 m, which is associated with the heating of waters in open areas and desalination near the coast.

Intense ice formation over most of the sea stimulates enhanced thermohaline winter vertical circulation. At depths of up to 250–300 m, it spreads to the bottom, and below it is prevented by the maximum stability that exists here. In areas with rugged bottom topography, the spread of density mixing into the lower horizons is facilitated by the sliding of water along the slopes.

Under the influence of winds and the influx of water through the Kuril Straits, the characteristic features of the system of non-periodic currents of the Sea of Okhotsk are formed. The main one is a cyclonic system of currents, covering almost the entire sea. It is caused by the predominance of cyclonic atmospheric circulation over the sea and the adjacent part of the Pacific Ocean. In addition, stable anticyclonic gyres can be traced in the sea.

Strong currents move around the sea along the coastline counterclockwise: the warm Kamchatka Current, the stable East Sakhalin Current and the rather strong Soya Current.

And finally, another feature of the circulation of the waters of the Sea of Okhotsk is two-way stable currents in most of the Kuril Straits.

Currents on the surface of the Sea of Okhotsk are most intense near western shores Kamchatka (11–20 cm/s), in the Sakhalin Gulf (30–45 cm/s), in the area of the Kuril Straits (15–40 cm/s), over the Kuril Basin (11–20 cm/s) and in the Soya Current (up to 50–90 cm/s).

In the Sea of Okhotsk are well expressed different kinds periodic tidal currents: semidiurnal, diurnal and mixed with a predominance of semidiurnal or diurnal components. Tidal current speeds range from a few centimeters to 4 m/s. Far from the coast, current speeds are low - 5–10 cm/s. In straits, bays and off the coast, their speeds increase significantly. For example, in the Kuril Straits, current speeds reach 2–4 m/s.

In general, tidal level fluctuations in the Sea of Okhotsk are very significant and have a significant impact on its hydrological regime, especially in the coastal zone.
In addition to tidal fluctuations, surge level fluctuations are also well developed here. They occur mainly when deep cyclones pass over the sea. Surge levels reach 1.5–2 m. The largest surges are observed on the coast of Kamchatka and in Terpeniya Bay.

The considerable size and great depths of the Sea of Okhotsk, frequent and strong winds above it determine the development here large waves. The sea is especially rough in the fall, and in some areas in the winter. These seasons account for 55–70% of storm waves, including those with wave heights of 4–6 m, and highest altitudes waves reach 10–11 m. The most turbulent are the southern and southeastern regions of the sea, where the average frequency of storm waves is 35–40%, and in the northwestern part it decreases to 25–30%.

IN normal years southern border The relatively stable ice cover bends to the north and runs from the La Perouse Strait to Cape Lopatka.
The extreme southern part of the sea never freezes. However, thanks to the winds, significant masses of ice are carried into it from the north, often accumulating near the Kuril Islands.

Ice cover in the Sea of Okhotsk lasts for 6–7 months. floating ice more than 75% of the sea surface is covered. The compact ice of the northern part of the sea poses serious obstacles to navigation even for icebreakers. Total duration The ice period in the northern part of the sea reaches 280 days a year. Some of the ice from the Sea of Okhotsk is carried into the ocean, where it almost immediately collapses and melts.

The forecast hydrocarbon resources of the Sea of Okhotsk are estimated at 6.56 billion tons of oil equivalent, proven reserves are over 4 billion tons. The largest deposits are on the shelves (along the coast of Sakhalin Island, the Kamchatka Peninsula, Khabarovsk Territory and the Magadan Region). The deposits of Sakhalin Island are the most studied. Exploration work on the island's shelf began in the 70s. XX century, by the end of the 90s, seven large deposits(6 oil and gas condensate and 1 gas condensate) and a small gas field in the Tatar Strait. General reserves gas on the Sakhalin shelf is estimated at 3.5 trillion m3.

The flora and fauna are very diverse. The sea ranks first in the world in terms of commercial crab reserves. Salmon fish are of great value: chum salmon, pink salmon, coho salmon, chinook salmon, sockeye salmon - a source of red caviar. Intensive fishing is carried out for herring, pollock, flounder, cod, navaga, capelin, etc. The sea is inhabited by whales, seals, sea lions, seals. Shellfish fishing is gaining increasing interest and sea urchins. Various algae are ubiquitous in the littoral zone.
Due to the poor development of adjacent territories sea transport has acquired fundamental significance. Important sea routes lead to Korsakov on Sakhalin Island, Magadan, Okhotsk and other settlements.

The areas of Tauya Bay in the northern part of the sea and the shelf areas of Sakhalin Island are subject to the greatest anthropogenic load. About 23 tons of petroleum products enter the northern part of the sea annually, with 70–80% coming from river runoff. Pollutants enter Tauyskaya Bay from coastal industrial and municipal facilities, and Magadan wastewater enters the coastal zone practically without treatment.

The shelf zone of Sakhalin Island is polluted by coal, oil and gas production enterprises, pulp and paper mills, fishing and processing vessels and enterprises, and wastewater from municipal facilities. The annual supply of petroleum products to the southwestern part of the sea is estimated at approximately 1.1 thousand tons, with 75–85% from river runoff.

Petrocarbons enter the Sakhalin Bay mainly with the runoff of the Amur River, so their maximum concentrations are usually observed in the central and western parts of the bay along the axis of the incoming Amur waters.

The eastern part of the sea - the shelf of the Kamchatka Peninsula - is polluted by river runoff, with which the bulk of petroleum carbons enter the marine environment. Due to the reduction in work at the fish canning enterprises of the peninsula since 1991, there has been a decrease in the volume Wastewater discharged into the coastal zone of the sea.

The northern part of the sea - Shelikhov Bay, Tauyskaya and Penzhinskaya bays - is the most polluted area of the sea with the average content of petroleum carbons in water 1–5 times higher than the permissible concentration limit. This is determined not only by the anthropogenic load on the water area, but also by low average annual water temperatures and, consequently, the low ability of the ecosystem to self-purify. Most high level pollution of the northern part of the Sea of Okhotsk was noted in the period from 1989 to 1991.

South part seas - La Perouse Strait and Aniva Bay - are subject to intense oil pollution during the spring-summer period shopping and fishing fleets. On average, the content of petroleum carbons in the La Perouse Strait does not exceed the permissible concentration limit. Aniva Bay is slightly more polluted. The highest level of pollution in this area was observed near the port of Korsakov, once again confirming that the port is a source of intense pollution of the marine environment.

Pollution coastal zone sea along the northeastern part of Sakhalin Island is mainly associated with the exploration and production of oil and gas on the shelf of the island and until the end of the 80s of the last century did not exceed the maximum permissible concentration.

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The Sea of Okhotsk is one of the largest bodies of water on the entire planet. It is also one of the richest in terms of biological resources. The sea provides about 60% of the entire Russian Federation. Its waters are home to rare and endangered species, and its banks are home to bustling bird colonies.

The western border of the Sea of Okhotsk is drawn along the eastern shore of two islands: Sakhalin and Hokkaido. According to its physical and geographical characteristics, it is an inland sea. The Sea of Okhotsk also belongs to the seas of the so-called mixed continental-margin type. Its area is 1603 thousand square meters. km. And the average depth is 821 m. The maximum depth of the Sea of Okhotsk is 3916 m.

Straits of the Sea of Okhotsk

The Amur Estuary, as well as those canals through which the Sea of Okhotsk is connected to the Sea of Japan. Which ocean gives rise to the Sea of Japan? It, like Okhotsk, belongs to the waters of the Pacific Ocean. With the help of a huge number of Kuril straits, the sea is also connected to the Pacific Ocean. The deepest are the straits of the Bussol and Krusenstern islands. In accordance with the classification of geographer N. Zubov, the Sea of Okhotsk belongs to the category of basin seas. The depth of its straits is much less than the depth of the basin.

Islands of the Sea of Okhotsk

Which ocean the Sea of Okhotsk is part of determines its outline. This part of the Pacific Ocean is located a large number of islands of various origins. But she herself coastline considered relatively flat. The islands of the sea differ in their shape. There are also those located in the waters in compactly compressed groups. There are also loners. The map of the Sea of Okhotsk is dotted with many islands, including those that are located in a zone of seismic activity (for example, the Kuril Islands). Scientists also identify the so-called islands of the transition zone. The first group includes those formed by a single lithospheric plate with the continent.

And to the second, geographers include those that have the shape of elongated archipelagos. The first group includes small islands located near Eastern Sakhalin. This is the Seal and the Danger Stone. Seal Island has a flat surface and steep banks. And the Danger Stone is essentially a group of bare rocks located in the La Perouse Strait. Two hundred km. from Fr. Sakhalin is located on. Iona with rocky shores. Its height is about 150 m. And in the north-west is the Shantar archipelago, which includes about 15 islands, the territory of which is 2.5 km 2. The Southern Kuril Islands include the islands of the so-called Great Kuril Ridge.

Salinity and temperature

The salinity of the waters is determined by which ocean the Sea of Okhotsk is part of. The salinity indicators of the sea are in many ways similar to those of the Pacific Ocean. The surface waters of the Sea of Okhotsk have a salinity of 32.8-33.8 ppm. The intermediate layer has a salinity of 34.5 ppm. It is known that in the Pacific Ocean this figure averages 30-35 ppm. The temperature at the surface of the sea water in the cold season ranges from -1.8°C to +2°C. In summer, the readings rise to +18°C. But at a depth of about 50-150 meters, the water temperature remains constant all year round. It is about -1.7°C. Through the Kuril Straits, warmer waters with a temperature of about 2-3°C enter the sea.

Belonging to the sea

Since March 2003, Russia has been recognized as the official right to the sea enclave. The Sea of Okhotsk, or more precisely, a significant part of its shelf with an area of about 52 thousand square meters. km. is now at the disposal of the Russian Federation. This event was especially important for local fishermen. After all, before they could not fish anywhere in the sea. After the transfer of the Sea of Okhotsk to Russia, they will no longer have competitors from other countries, which previously had to give away part of the fish they caught. In addition, other industrial workers have since had the opportunity to cross the maritime territory along the most convenient route.

Biological diversity

“The Sea of Okhotsk is the basin of which ocean?” - this question is also often asked in connection with the description of its marine riches. Animal world The sea is rich in species that came to these waters from the Pacific territories. Crabs, shrimp, sea urchins and stars, seals, whales, and fur seals live here. According to some estimates, it ranks first in the world in terms of the number of crabs. It is in the waters of the Sea of Okhotsk that the giant Kamchatka crab lives, whose leg span can reach 1.5 m.

There are also about 200 species of fish in the sea - herring, cod, navaga, pollock, and capelin. Sharks can also often be seen in this area. Their species composition is similar to the Bering Sea: katran, polar and salmon sharks are found here.

Other wealth

The Sea of Okhotsk is rich not only in fish stocks, crabs and various shellfish. Geologists claim that about 40% of its shelf area is a source of black gold - oil. There are also rich deposits here natural gas. Many experts are inclined to believe that the number of oil deposits at the bottom of the sea exceeds three billion barrels. But the complete transfer of the sea to Russia also means some obligations of Russia. The state must protect against poachers illegally fishing in the sea.

Bottom Features

The seabed is very diverse. There are depressions, troughs, and many hills. The type of ocean the Sea of Okhotsk is part of determines the nature of its shelf. According to its characteristics, it is related to the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. It is known that the Pacific Ocean contains the most big number deep-sea trenches on the planet. The Sea of Okhotsk is located in transition zone between the Asian continent and the Pacific Ocean. The sea region is a huge lithospheric plate, which is located between the Eurasian, North American and Pacific plates. The Pacific Ocean on the world map is separated from the Sea of Okhotsk by the Kuril-Kamchatka deep-sea trench.

The area of the Sea of Okhotsk is 1.603 million square meters. km. Average depth 1780 m maximum depth 3521 m. West Side The sea has shallow depth and is located on the continental shelf. In the center of the sea are the Deryugin depression (in the south) and the TINRO depression. In the eastern part there is the Kuril Basin, where the depth is maximum.

From October to May-June, the northern part of the sea is covered with ice. The southeastern part practically does not freeze.

The coast in the north is heavily indented; in the northeast of the Sea of Okhotsk its largest bay is located - Shelikhov Bay. Of the smaller bays in the northern part, the most famous are the Eirine Bay and the bays of Sheltinga, Zabiyaka, Babushkina, Kekurny, Odessa Bay on the island of Iturup. In the east, the coastline of the Kamchatka Peninsula is practically devoid of bays. In the southwest, the largest are Aniva and Terpeniya bays.

Fishing (salmon, herring, pollock, capelin, navaga, etc.).

Main ports: on the mainland - Magadan, Ayan, Okhotsk (port point); on the island of Sakhalin - Korsakov, on the Kuril Islands - Severo-Kurilsk.

The Sea of Okhotsk is named after the Okhot River, which in turn comes from the Even word okat - “river”. The Japanese traditionally called this sea "Hokkai" (北海), literally "North Sea". But since now this name refers to the North Sea of the Atlantic Ocean, they changed the name of the Sea of Okhotsk to “Ohotsuku-kai” (オホーツク海), which is an adaptation of the Russian name to the norms of Japanese phonetics.

The sea is located on the Okhotsk subplate, which is part Eurasian plate. The crust under most of the Sea of Okhotsk is of continental type.

Map of the Sea of Okhotsk - water temperature of the Sea of Okhotsk

The water temperature at the sea surface decreases from south to north. In winter, almost everywhere the surface layers are cooled to a freezing temperature of –1.5...–1.8°C. Only in the southeastern part of the sea does it remain around 0°C, and near the northern Kuril Straits, under the influence of Pacific waters, the water temperature reaches 1–2°C.
Spring warming at the beginning of the season mainly leads to the melting of ice, only towards the end of it does the water temperature begin to rise.

In winter, in the northern and central regions of the sea, water cooling extends to horizons of 500–600 m. The water temperature is relatively uniform and varies from –1.5...–1.7°С on the surface to –0.25°С at horizons of 500– 600 m, deeper it rises to 1–0°С, in the southern part of the sea and near the Kuril Straits the water temperature from 2.5–3°С on the surface decreases to 1–1.4°С at horizons of 300–400 m and further gradually increases to 1.9–2.4°C in the bottom layer.

In summer, surface waters are heated to a temperature of 10–12°C. In the subsurface layers, the water temperature is slightly lower than on the surface. A sharp drop in temperature to –1...–1.2°С is observed between horizons of 50–75 m; deeper, to horizons of 150–200 m, the temperature quickly rises to 0.5–1°С, and then it rises more smoothly , and at horizons of 200–250 m is equal to 1.5–2°С. Further, the water temperature remains almost unchanged until the bottom. In the southern and southeastern parts of the sea, along the Kuril Islands, the water temperature from 10–14°С on the surface drops to 3–8°С at a horizon of 25 m, then to 1.6–2.4°С at a horizon of 100 m and up to 1.4–2°С at the bottom. The vertical temperature distribution in summer is characterized by a cold intermediate layer. In the northern and central regions

The sea temperature there is negative, and only near the Kuril Straits does it have positive values. In different areas of the sea, the depth of the cold intermediate layer is different and varies from year to year.

Sea of Okhotsk (from the name of the river Okhota)

Lama Sea (from the Evenki lama - sea), Kamchatka Sea, a semi-enclosed sea in the northwestern part of the Pacific Ocean, limited by the eastern coast of the continent of Asia from Cape Lazarev to the mouth of the Penzhina River, the Kamchatka Peninsula, the Kuril Islands, Hokkaido and Sakhalin. It washes the coasts of the USSR and Japan (Hokkaido Island). It is connected to the Pacific Ocean through the Kuril Straits, and to the Sea of Japan through the Nevelskoy and La Perouse Straits. Length from north to south 2445 km, maximum width 1407 km. Area 1583 thousand. km 2, average volume water 1365 thousand km 3, average depth 177 m, largest - 3372 m(Kuril Basin).

The coastline is slightly indented, its length is 10460 km. The largest bays are: Shelikhova (with the Gizhiginskaya and Penzhinskaya bays), Sakhalinsky, Udskaya bay, Tauyskaya bay, Academy, etc. On the southeastern coast of the island. Sakhalin - Aniva and Terpeniya bays. Most of the northern, northwestern and northeastern coasts are elevated and rocky. In the mouth areas of large rivers, as well as in western Kamchatka, in the northern part of Sakhalin and Hokkaido, the banks are predominantly low-lying. Almost all the islands: Shantarskie, Zavyalova, Spafareva, Yamskie and others are located off the coast, and only the Iona islands are in the open sea. Large rivers flow into the Omsk: Amur, Uda, Okhota, Gizhiga, and Penzhina.

Relief and geology of the bottom. O. m. is located in the zone of transition of the continent to the ocean floor. The sea basin is divided into two parts: northern and southern. The first is immersed (up to 1000 m) continental shelf; within its boundaries there are: the heights of the USSR Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Oceanology, occupying central part seas, the Deryugin depression (near Sakhalin) and Tinro (near Kamchatka). The southern part of the Ocean Ocean is occupied by the deep-sea Kuril Basin, which is separated from the ocean by the Kuril island ridge. Coastal sediments are terrigenous, coarse-grained, in the central part of the sea - diatomaceous silts. Earth's crust Under the ocean, the sea is represented by continental and subcontinental types in the northern part and suboceanic type in the southern part. The formation of the Omsk basin in the northern part occurred in Anthropogenic times, as a result of the subsidence of large blocks of continental crust. The deep-sea Kuril Basin is much more ancient; it was formed either as a result of the subsidence of a continental block, or as a result of the separation of part of the ocean floor.

Climate. O. M. lies in the monsoon climate zone of temperate latitudes. Most Every year, cold, dry winds blow from the mainland, cooling the northern half of the sea. From October to April, negative air temperatures and stable ice cover are observed here. On the north-east average monthly air temperatures in January - February from - 14 to - 20 ° C, in the north and west from - 20 to - 24 ° C, in the southern and eastern parts of the sea from - 5 to - 7 ° C; average monthly temperatures in July and August are 10-12° C, 11-14° C, 11-18° C, respectively. Annual quantity precipitation from 300-500 mm in the north up to 600-800 mm in the west, in the southern and southeastern parts of the sea - over 1000 mm. In the northern half of the sea, cloudiness is less than in the southern half, increasing from west to east.

IN water balance O. m. surface runoff, precipitation, and evaporation play an insignificant role; its main part is formed by the inflow and outflow of Pacific Ocean water and the influx of water from the Sea of Japan through the La Perouse Strait. Pacific deep water enters through the straits of the Kuril Islands below 1000-1300 m. Its temperature (about 1.8-2.3 ° C) and salinity (about 34.4-34.7 ‰) change little throughout the year. Surface water of Okhotsk occupies a layer with a depth of up to 300-500 m and with the exception of the coastal zone, it is observed throughout the entire sea. Its temperature in winter is from - 1.8 to 2 ° C, in summer from - 1.5 to 15 ° C, salinity is from 32.8 to 33.8 ‰. As a result of winter convection between the lower boundary of surface water and upper limit deep Pacific water, an intermediate layer of water with a thickness of 150-900 m with temperatures throughout the year from - 1.7 to 2.2 ° C and salinity from 33.2 to 34.5 ‰. In the Omsk region there is a pronounced, although with numerous local deviations, cyclonic system of currents with small (up to 2-10 cm/sec) speeds away from the coast. In narrow places and straits strong tidal currents (up to 3.5 m/sec in the Kuril Straits and in the area of the Shantar Islands). The ocean is dominated by tides mixed type, mostly incorrect daily allowance. Maximum tide (12.9 m) is observed in Penzhinskaya Bay, minimal (0.8 m) - near the southeastern part of Sakhalin. In November, the northern part of the sea is covered with ice, while the middle and southern parts, exposed to incoming cyclones and occasionally typhoons, become the site of severe storms that often do not subside from 7 to 10 days. Water transparency Om. far from the shores is 10-17 m, near the coast it decreases to 6-8 m and less. O. m. is characterized by the phenomenon of glow of water and ice.

Vegetation and fauna. By species composition organisms living in the O. m., it has an arctic character. Species of the temperate (boreal) zone, due to thermal effects ocean waters, inhabited mainly in the southern and southeastern parts of the sea. The phytoplankton of the sea is dominated by diatoms, in zooplankton - copepods and jellyfish, larvae of mollusks and worms. In the littoral zone (See Littoral) there are numerous settlements of mussels, littorinae and other mollusks, barnacles, sea urchins, and many crustaceans of amphinodes and crabs. At great depths of the ocean, a rich fauna of invertebrates (glass sponges, sea cucumbers, deep-sea eight-rayed corals, decapod crustaceans) and fish has been discovered. The richest and most widespread group plant organisms in the littoral zone are brown algae. Red algae are also widespread in the Omsk region, and green algae are widespread in the northwestern part. Of the fish, the most valuable are salmon: chum salmon, pink salmon, coho salmon, chinook salmon, and sockeye salmon. Commercial concentrations of herring, pollock, flounder, cod, navaga, capelin, and smelt are known. Mammals live here - whales, seals, sea lions, fur seals. Big economic importance They have Kamchatka and blue, or flat-footed, crabs (in terms of commercial crab reserves, O. m. ranks first in the world), and salmon fish.

Important sea routes linking Vladivostok with northern regions Far East and the Kuril Islands. Major ports on the coast of the mainland - Magadan (in Nagaev Bay), Okhotsk, on Sakhalin Island - Korsakov, on the Kuril Islands - Severo-Kurilsk.

O. m. was opened in the 2nd quarter of the 17th century. Russian explorers I. Yu. Moskvitin and V. D. Poyarkov. In 1733, work began on the Second Kamchatka expedition, whose participants photographed almost all the shores of the O. m. In 1805, I. F. Kruzenshtern conducted an inventory of the eastern coast of Sakhalin Island. During 1849-55, G. I. Nevelskoy undertook a survey of the southwestern shores of the O. m. and the mouth of the river. The Amur proved that there is a strait between Sakhalin and the mainland. The first complete summary of sea hydrology was given by S. O. Makarov (1894). From works of the early 20th century. The studies of V. K. Brazhnikov (1899-1902) and N. K. Soldatov (1907-13) are of great importance for knowledge of the fauna of the ocean. From foreign expeditions of the late 19th - early 20th centuries. It should be noted the American expeditions of Ringald, Rogers and the US Fisheries Commission on the ship "Albatross", the Japanese expedition of 1915-1917 under the leadership of H. Marukawa. After the October Revolution of 1917, comprehensive research papers under the leadership of K. M. Deryugin a and P. Yu. Shmidt a. In 1932, a complex expedition of the State Hydrological Institute and the Pacific Institute of Fisheries worked in Omsk on the ship Gagara. After this expedition, systematic research in the ocean was carried out for a number of years by the Pacific Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography. Since 1947, oceanic oceans began to be studied by the Institute of Oceanology of the USSR Academy of Sciences on the ship “Vityaz” (1949–54), by ships of the State Oceanographic Institute, the Vladivostok Hydrometeorological Administration, and other institutions.

Lit.: Makarov S. O., “Vityaz” and the Pacific Ocean, vol. 1-2, St. Petersburg, 1894; Leonov A.K., Regional oceanography, part 1, Leningrad, 1960.

T. I. Supranovich, V. F. Kanaev.

Sea of Okhotsk.

Great Soviet Encyclopedia. - M.: Soviet Encyclopedia. 1969-1978 .

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Sea of Okhotsk ... Wikipedia

Pacific Ocean, near the east. coast of the Asian part of Russia. The name appeared in mid-18th century V. Given after the Okhotsk fort (modern Okhotsk), which was named after the Okhota River (distorted Evensk okat river). In the XVII-XVIII centuries. also called Tunguska... ... Geographical encyclopedia

SEA OF OKHOTSK, a semi-enclosed sea of the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Asia. Separated from the ocean by the Kamchatka Peninsula, the ridge of the Kuril Islands and the island. Hokkaido. The Nevelsk, Tatar and La Perouse straits communicate with the Sea of Japan, the Kuril Strait with the Pacific... ... Russian history

Sea of Okhotsk- (Tunguzskoye or Lamutskoye), borders the shores of Sakhalin, Primorsky region. and Kamchatka and the Kurilsk chain. oh wow; Tatarsky and Laperuzov. It connects with Japan through straits. sea, and nearby straits between Kurilsk. about you and Tikh. ok m. V… … Military encyclopedia

Semi-enclosed sea of the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Asia. Separated from the ocean by the Kamchatka Peninsula, the ridge of the Kuril Islands and the island. Hokkaido. Prol. Nevelskoy, Tatarskiy and La Perouse are connected to the Japanese metro station and the Kuril Strait. with Quiet approx. 1603 thousand km².… … Big encyclopedic Dictionary

The semi-enclosed sea of the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Asia. Separated from the ocean by the Kamchatka Peninsula, the Kuril Islands and the island. Hokkaido. The Nevelsk, Tatar and La Perouse straits communicate with the Sea of Japan, the Kuril Straits with the Pacific Ocean... encyclopedic Dictionary

Sea of Okhotsk- Coast of the Sea of Okhotsk. SEA OF OKHOTSK, Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Eurasia. Separated from the ocean by the Kamchatka Peninsula, the Kuril Islands, and the island of Hokkaido. Area 1603 thousand km 2. Depth up to 3521 m. Shantar Islands. Large bays Shelikhova... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

A vast basin located in NE Asia, belonging to the Pacific Ocean. It is located between parallels 44° and 62° 16 s. w. and meridians 135° 15th and 163° 15th century. d. The sea is most extended along the meridian; so from Penzhinskaya Bay to the south. borders... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron

SEA OF OKHOTSK- a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean, separated from it by the Kamchatka Peninsula, the chain of the Kuril Islands and the Hokkaido Island. It is connected to the Japanese Cape by narrow and shallow straits. Nevelskoy and La Perouse, with the Quiet approx. prol. Kuril ridge. Avg. depth 821 m, max... Marine encyclopedic reference book