What are the five oceans of the world?

There are five oceans that cover around three-quarters of the planet, and they are all connected together:

• the Atlantic Ocean
• the Pacific Ocean
• the Indian Ocean
• the Southern Ocean
• the Arctic Ocean

The nearest ocean to the UK is the Atlantic Ocean. It stretches from Europe to North and South America, and is the second largest of the five oceans.

• The water in the oceans is constantly moving in patterns called currents. Some currents flow quickly, while some move very slowly.
• As the currents flow around the planet, they move cold and warm water from one place to another. This changes climate and temperatures all over the world.
• The UK would be much colder if it wasn’t warmed by water that travels from the Caribbean - called the North Atlantic Drift, or the Gulf Stream.

The ocean currents also help move anything that floats in them.

This can be sea creatures or ships. Unfortunately, this can also be rubbish that people dumped carelessly.

This rubbish finds its way around the world, pollutes the oceans and can be harmful to sea creatures.

Some kinds of rubbish, such as plastic are eaten by sea creatures. This causes them lots of problems and can even kill them.

It's important to look after the planet by recycling and reducing the plastics people use.