What's the difference between sea and ocean?
This question came up yesterday in one of my classes, I live in Brazil and I teach English. I've already wondered about such a simple question like this, but I found it really relevant to know it when I had to give an answer to a student. He's only 13 and got me with this basic question. So, does this difference lie on how large a specific amount of water is, or on the scale you're looking at (like if you're close it's sea, and if it's an overview it's always simply ocean), or if both actually mean the same as Americans usually say. I'd appreciate an answer from a geographer, but all replies are welcome!
Geography - 7 Answers
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1 :
same thing
2 :
I think of a sea as generally a small area of an ocean. But wikipedia says: A sea is a large expanse of saline water connected with an ocean, or a large, usually saline, lake that lacks a natural outlet such as the Caspian Sea and the Dead Sea. The Sea of Galilee is a small freshwater lake with a natural outlet, but the term was applied to it anyway. The term is used colloquially as synonymous with ocean, as in the tropical sea or down to the sea shore, or even sea water referring to water of the ocean. Large lakes are sometimes referred to as inland seas, such as the Great Lakes. Many seas are marginal seas.
3 :
I'm a geography nut. especially about capital cities and I do want to go to Brazil because of the hot climate...... the Sea is just a small beach and the ocean is more open spaced and can go to different countries. Good Luck..... P.S I rated this question thumbs up
4 :
Hi: I am from Brazil, but I am no Geographer. I think the difference between "sea" and "ocean" is in the first place one of size and importance. An ocean is always large, a sea can be large or small, but never so large as the ocean itself. An ocean tends to be open, a sea is usually (but not always) closed and can be in the hinterland, too. An ocean is always deep, the sea can be deep or shallow. Also, etymologically speaking, "ocean" comes from Greek, whereas "sea" is a pure Germanic word. Therefore, "ocean" is a more learned term: oceanography, oceanology. An ocean is often something unknown and mysterious, whereas the sea seems to be something more knowable and palpable. In many cases and contexts, the two words are interchangeable. But technically, it seems, the ocean always includes the sea. PS> Daniel G, don't be fooled to think that Brazil is always hot. There are parts of the country where it can be very cold in the winter.
5 :
An ocean is: "a large body of water constituting a principal part of the hydrosphere" And oceans are the largest division of open water. A sea is: "a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land" Hence a sea is a smaller division of open water, and attached to an ocean. I assume there are some discrepencies in naming (such as the Caspian), which may have been done by locals and not some ovararching naming authority, or it was named based on attachment to an ocean somewhere in its past.
6 :
one's bigger
7 :
first and foremost.. the spelling and the pronunciation.. and i think its the area and volume that they covered..like a drain and canal difference.. ??
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