Oceans

An ocean is a major body of saline water, and a principal component of the hydrosphere. Approximately 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by ocean, a continuous body of water that is customarily divided into several principal oceans and smaller seas.  More than half of this area is over 3,000 meters (9,800 ft) deep. Scientists estimate that 230,000 marine life forms of all types are currently known, but the total could be up to 10 times that number.

World Ocean

Though generally described as several 'separate' oceans, these waters comprise one global, interconnected body of salt water sometimes referred to as the World Ocean or global ocean. This is divided into five principal oceans namely Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic and Antarctic. Smaller regions of the oceans are called seas, gulfs, bays, straits and other names. Despite their names, smaller landlocked bodies of saltwater that are not connected with the World Ocean, such as the Aral Sea, are actually salt lakes.

Pacific

This is the largest ocean covering 1/3 of the earth’s surface and spanning for 169.2 square kilometers. It separates Asia and Australia from the Americas and its name was given by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan.

Atlantic

This is the second largest ocean covering 22% of the earth’s surface and spanning for 106.4 million square kilometers. It separates the Americas from Eurasia and Africa. The first part of its name refers to Atlas from Greek mythology, making the Atlantic the "Sea of Atlas" and first referred to by Herodotus, the historian.

Indian

It is the third largest ocean covering about 20% of the earth’s surface. It is 77.5 million square kilometers in size and the only ocean to be named after a country. It separates South Asia from Africa and Australia.

Antarctic

It is the fourth largest and comprises the southern most waters of the World Ocean. It lies immediately south of Australia surrounding the continent of Antarctica.  

Arctic

The smallest of the earth’s oceans is also the shallowest and is situated in the Northern Hemisphere. Almost completely surrounded by Eurasia and North America, the Arctic Ocean is partly covered by sea ice throughout the year.

Importance

Oceanic evaporation, as a phase of the water cycle, is the source of most rainfall. Ocean temperatures determine climate and wind patterns that affect life on land. Life within the ocean evolved 3 billion years prior to life on land. Ocean currents greatly affect the earth's climate by transferring heat from the tropics to the Polar Regions, and transferring warm or cold air and rain to coastal regions, where winds may carry them inland. The ocean is the biggest natural habitat and more than half of the earth’s life forms live in it. The oceans are essential to transportation as most of the world's goods move by ship between the world's seaports. The ocean is also the biggest source of the fishing industry. 

January

Janus, God of the Doorway and Beginnings

January is the first month in the Julian and Gregorian calendars and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. January is named after Janus, the god of the doorway; in Roman mythology. The original Roman calendar consisted of 10 months, totaling 304 days, winter being considered a monthless period. Around 713 BC, the successor of Romulus, King Numa Pompilius, is added the months of January and February, allowing the calendar to equal a standard lunar year. It is, on average, the coldest month of the year within most of the Northern Hemisphere and the warmest month of the year within most of the Southern Hemisphere. The birthstone of January is the Garnet which represents constancy and its birth flower is the Galanthus. Let’s take a look at some of the celebrations in this month.

Galanthus

Garnet

New Year’s Day- January 1  

It is the first day of the New Year in the modern Gregorian calendar and is celebrated with fireworks at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve. Some churches celebrate the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ, based on the belief that Jesus was circumcised 8 days after his birth. The Independence of Haiti is also on this day.

World Braille Day – January 4

Louis Braille’s birthday is celebrated as the World Braille Day. He was the inventor of the method of writing words, music and song by means of dots to be used by the blind.

Feast of the Epiphany – January 6

Celebrates the visit of the wise men to the infant Jesus and is a Christian feast day for the revelation of God in human form in the person of Jesus Christ. The Ukrainian New Year's Eve also known as Svyat Vechir falls on this day.

Coming of Age Day - Second Monday 

It is a Japanese holiday held annually in order to congratulate and encourage all those who have reached the age of majority (20 years old) over the past year, and to help them realize that they have become adults.

Makara Sankranthi – January 14

An Indian harvest festival where the Sun transitions from Sagittarius to Capricorn on its celestial path. This day marks the Winter Solstice, the beginning of the gradual increase of the duration of the day. 

Thai Pongal – January 14 or 15

This is a harvest festival celebrated by Tamils India, Sri Lanka, Malyasia, Singapore and other parts of Southeast Asia. Pongal is traditionally dedicated to the Sun God Surya, and marks the beginning of the northward journey of the Sun from its southernmost-limit, a movement traditionally referred to as uttarayana.

World Religion Day – Third Sunday

A day to establish interfaith understanding by emphasizing the common denominators underlying all religions.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day – Third Monday

This is a United States holiday marking the birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. King was the chief spokesman for nonviolent activism in the civil rights movement, which protested racial discrimination in law.

Burns Night – January 25

This is a celebration of the life of the poet Robert Burns, author of many Scots poems including "Auld Lang Syne," which is sung at New Year celebrations around the world. 

Republic Day of India and Australia Day – January 26

This day marks the adoption of the Indian Constitution and the transition of India from a British Dominion to a republic on January 26, 1950. It is also the official national day of Australia which commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove in 1788, the hoisting of the British flag and the proclamation of British sovereignty over the eastern seaboard of Australia.

Duruthu Full Moon Poya Day

This day is significant to Sri Lankans as the day Lord Buddha first visited Sri Lanka which took place in the first year of his enlightenment.