Earth Got a New Ocean!

Number or Amount?

Use number when the noun you’re referring to is countable: pencils, days, pieces of popcorn. Use amount for things that cannot be counted: snow, excitement, time.

How many oceans are there on Earth? Technically, the correct number/amount is one! That’s right. One big body of saltwater covers 71 percent of our planet.

But this mega-ocean is divided into regions. For a long time, there were four: the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, and Arctic oceans. Then last year, the National Geographic Society officially recognized a fifth: the Southern Ocean, which circles Antarctica. Scientists hope the change will increase the number/amount of attention given to this part of the world.

The Southern Ocean is a place of wild storms, giant icebergs, and enormous waves. In spite of the extreme environment, a large number/amount of species live there. Scientists are studying how climate change is impacting the region and all the creatures that live there.

If you want to visit the Southern Ocean, you’ll need a large number/amount of money. An expedition can cost many thousands of dollars.

Or perhaps you could become a scientist. During the summer, about 5,000 researchers live in Antarctica. That number/amount drops to about 1,000 during the winter, when the average temperature plummets to -76°F! Brrrrr.