1.
[syn: Pacific, Pacific Ocean]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
pacific \pa*cif"ic\, a. [L. pacificus: cf. F. pacifique. See
Pacify.]
Of or pertaining to peace; of a peaceful character; not
warlike; not quarrelsome; as, a pacific nature or condition.
[WordNet sense 3]
Syn: peaceable.
[1913 Webster]
2. Promoting peace; suited to make or restore peace;
conciliatory; as, pacific words or acts. [WordNet sense 1]
Syn: irenic.
[WordNet 1.5]
3. of or pertaining to the Pacific Ocean; as, Pacific
islands.
[WordNet 1.5]
Pacific Ocean, the ocean between America and Asia, so
called by Magellan, its first European navigator, on
account of the exemption from violent tempests which he
enjoyed while sailing over it; -- called also, simply, the
Pacific, and, formerly, the South sea.
[1913 Webster]
Syn: Peacemaking; appeasing; conciliatory; tranquil; calm;
quiet; peaceful; reconciling; mild; gentle.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
Pacific Ocean
n 1: the largest ocean in the world [syn: Pacific, Pacific
Ocean]
CIA World Factbook 2002:
Pacific Ocean
Introduction Pacific Ocean
--------------------------
Background: The Pacific Ocean is the largest of
the world's five oceans (followed by
the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean,
Southern Ocean, and Arctic Ocean).
Strategically important access
waterways include the La Perouse,
Tsugaru, Tsushima, Taiwan,
Singapore, and Torres Straits.
Geography Pacific Ocean
-----------------------
Location: body of water between the Southern
Ocean, Asia, Australia, and the
Western Hemisphere
Geographic coordinates: 0 00 N, 160 00 W
Map references: Political Map of the World
Area: total: 155.557 million sq km
note: includes Bali Sea, Bering Sea,
Bering Strait, Coral Sea, East China
Sea, Flores Sea, Gulf of Alaska,
Gulf of Tonkin, Java Sea, Philippine
Sea, Savu Sea, Sea of Japan, Sea of
Okhotsk, South China Sea, Tasman
Sea, Timor Sea, and other tributary
water bodies
Area - comparative: about 15 times the size of the US;
covers about 28% of the global
surface; larger than the total land
area of the world
Coastline: 135,663 km
Climate: planetary air pressure systems and
resultant wind patterns exhibit
remarkable uniformity in the south
and east; trade winds and westerly
winds are well-developed patterns,
modified by seasonal fluctuations;
tropical cyclones (hurricanes) may
form south of Mexico from June to
October and affect Mexico and
Central America; continental
influences cause climatic uniformity
to be much less pronounced in the
eastern and western regions at the
same latitude in the North Pacific
Ocean; the western Pacific is
monsoonal - a rainy season occurs
during the summer months, when
moisture-laden winds blow from the
ocean over the land, and a dry
season during the winter months,
when dry winds blow from the Asian
landmass back to the ocean; tropical
cyclones (typhoons) may strike
southeast and east Asia from May to
December
Terrain: surface currents in the northern
Pacific are dominated by a
clockwise, warm-water gyre (broad
circular system of currents) and in
the southern Pacific by a
counterclockwise, cool-water gyre;
in the northern Pacific, sea ice
forms in the Bering Sea and Sea of
Okhotsk in winter; in the southern
Pacific, sea ice from Antarctica
reaches its northernmost extent in
October; the ocean floor in the
eastern Pacific is dominated by the
East Pacific Rise, while the western
Pacific is dissected by deep
trenches, including the Mariana
Trench, which is the world's deepest
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Challenger Deep in the
Mariana Trench -10,924 m
highest point: sea level 0 m
Natural resources: oil and gas fields, polymetallic
nodules, sand and gravel aggregates,
placer deposits, fish
Natural hazards: surrounded by a zone of violent
volcanic and earthquake activity
sometimes referred to as the
"Pacific Ring of Fire"; subject to
tropical cyclones (typhoons) in
southeast and east Asia from May to
December (most frequent from July to
October); tropical cyclones
(hurricanes) may form south of
Mexico and strike Central America
and Mexico from June to October
(most common in August and
September); cyclical El Nino/La Nina
phenomenon occurs in the equatorial
Pacific, influencing weather in the
Western Hemisphere and the western
Pacific; ships subject to
superstructure icing in extreme
north from October to May;
persistent fog in the northern
Pacific can be a maritime hazard
from June to December
Environment - current issues: endangered marine species include
the dugong, sea lion, sea otter,
seals, turtles, and whales; oil
pollution in Philippine Sea and
South China Sea
Geography - note: the major chokepoints are the Bering
Strait, Panama Canal, Luzon Strait,
and the Singapore Strait; the
Equator divides the Pacific Ocean
into the North Pacific Ocean and the
South Pacific Ocean; dotted with low
coral islands and rugged volcanic
islands in the southwestern Pacific
Ocean
Economy Pacific Ocean
---------------------
Economy - overview: The Pacific Ocean is a major
contributor to the world economy and
particularly to those nations its
waters directly touch. It provides
low-cost sea transportation between
East and West, extensive fishing
grounds, offshore oil and gas
fields, minerals, and sand and
gravel for the construction
industry. In 1996, over 60% of the
world's fish catch came from the
Pacific Ocean. Exploitation of
offshore oil and gas reserves is
playing an ever-increasing role in
the energy supplies of US,
Australia, NZ, China, and Peru. The
high cost of recovering offshore oil
and gas, combined with the wide
swings in world prices for oil since
1985, has slowed but not stopped new
drillings.
Transportation Pacific Ocean
----------------------------
Ports and harbors: Bangkok (Thailand), Hong Kong, Kao-
hsiung (Taiwan), Los Angeles (US),
Manila (Philippines), Pusan (South
Korea), San Francisco (US), Seattle
(US), Shanghai (China), Singapore,
Sydney (Australia), Vladivostok
(Russia), Wellington (NZ), Yokohama
(Japan)
Transportation - note: Inside Passage offers protected
waters from southeast Alaska to
Puget Sound (Washington state)
Transnational Issues Pacific Ocean
----------------------------------
Disputes - international: some maritime disputes (see littoral
states)