Recently, impressive images circulated on social media showing that the waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean do not “mix”. It even appears that both currents are “opposed”, giving the impression that they remain separated.
This visual boundary between two bodies of water has an explanation and is even more fascinating than it seems. What really happens is a unique natural phenomenon between both oceans.
Why the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans Do Not Mix
The Aquae Foundation explained that what appears to be an absolute separation of the oceans is actually an effect created by “eddies”. These are gigantic oceanic whirlpools hundreds of kilometers in diameter.
These “natural engines” move currents and distribute sediments and nutrients.
Unmixed Oceans.
The color contrast between the waters, such as the light and electric blue of rivers and glacial valleys and the dark blue of the ocean, occurs when sediment-laden waters collide as they mix with the open sea.
This phenomenon, especially visible in the Gulf of Alaska, is not a separation, but a unique natural interaction that highlights the complexity of the oceans.
Over a decade ago, researcher Kenneth W. Bruland from the University of California debunked the myth by studying these whirlpools. He discovered that the phenomenon occurs from the coast of Alaska to the Gulf of Alaska and attributed it to the movement of the eddies.
Thus, what seemed like a mystery or a confrontation between oceans is nothing more than a natural work of art, reminding us of how dynamic and surprising our seas are.
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