The Southern Ocean of Antarctica is a circular body of water that surrounds Antarctica. While this ocean was first named in the 16th century and is commonly referred to by scientists in their work, this body of water has been promoted and demoted from “ocean” status several times throughout history. Now it is final thanks to the decision of the National Geographic Society.
Although the designation of the waters around the frigid southern continent as a separate ocean has been around for nearly 100 years and is widely used by scientists, it has so far not had popular endorsement.
The society’s decision to officially recognize it stems from the recognition of the rapid and distinctive Antarctic Circumpolar Current that surrounds the southernmost continent. They also took into account the unique marine ecosystem found in the cold waters of the Southern Ocean.
Since most of the Earth’s surface is covered in water, designating the number and limits of the oceans is actually quite an arbitrary effort. After all, the various oceans are all technically connected to each other and the closest thing to a tangible boundary that separates the Southern Ocean from the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans is a circular current in the area that gives the Southern Ocean a different temperature. and salinity of the others.
The ongoing deliberations on the issue have yet to reach a final consensus of its members in favor of reinstating the name.
