Southern Ocean
Also called: Antarctic Ocean · Topic: Oceans: Hydrological Cycle, Relief of the Ocean Floor, Temperature and Salinity · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 12 "Water (Oceans)"
Meaning
The Southern Ocean is the ocean that surrounds Antarctica. It is usually taken as the water south of about 60°S. It is defined by the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, a strong current that flows eastward all the way around Antarctica. The International Hydrographic Organization proposed it as a separate ocean in a 2000 draft, but that draft was never formally ratified. National Geographic recognised it as the fifth ocean in 2021. It is the fourth largest ocean.
Example
Indian expeditions sail across the Southern Ocean to reach India's Antarctic research stations, Maitri and Bharati, on the coast of Antarctica.
Don't confuse with
- Arctic Ocean: this is the ocean around the North Pole and the smallest of the five. The Southern Ocean surrounds Antarctica, near the South Pole.