The Arctic Ocean

Covering 14,056,000 km2, the Arctic Ocean is the smallest ocean in the world, and almost totally surrounded by the landmasses of Siberia and Canada, but linked with the Pacific Ocean via the Bering Strait and the Atlantic via the Fram Strait and the Bering Sea.

This causes a characteristic layering of the water. Precipitation falling on Siberia and Canada is carried by Siberian and Canadian rivers into the Arctic Ocean. This supply of fresh water and fresh water from melting ice in the summer result in a layer of relatively fresh water with temperatures below 0 degrees in the upper 100-200 m. Below this water and separated by a stable layer – the cold halocline – there is a salty water volume, which is heavier, but warmer, with temperatures of 0-3 degrees. Further below, at depths of 1+ km, you will find the most salty – and consequently heaviest – water.