Report by Ananya Singh
Antarctica, June 28: The National Geographic Organization officially recognised the body of water circling Antarctica as the Southern Ocean from June 8, on the World Oceans Day. It will now be shown as an ocean in National Geographic’s atlases and maps. It was recognized due to the Antarctic Circumpolar Current that ran through it and the ecological separation it is subject to. Numerous species live in these waters and many migrate to the north during the cold winters. It is also the place where many marine animals go to find food. It is now the only ocean to touch three others and embrace a whole continent. It is also the only Ocean defined by a current rather than a continent.
History of the Southern Ocean?
The Southern Ocean has been recognised by scientists for a long time but due to lack of international agreement, it did not get official recognition. No consensus (agreement) has ever been reached by the geographers on whether the area around the Antarctic should be called a separate ocean or considered cold extensions of the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic Oceans.
The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO – intergovernmental organisation tracks and charts global seas and oceans) recognised the Southern Ocean in 1937. However, derecognized it in 1953 citing controversy. The international community, through the IHO has not agreed on the name and the extent of the fifth ocean. On the other hand, the US Board on Geographic names has used the name, Southern Ocean, since 1999. And since February 2021, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has also officially recognised the Southern Ocean.
What is the National Geographic Society?
National Geographic Society was founded in 1888 by a small group of explorers and scientists. It’s second president was Alexander Graham Bell (1898). It is among the world’s largest scientific and educational societies. It conducts scientific explorations and produces maps since 1915. It is one of the world’s most visible map-making (cartographic) institution.
Ocean Current- Continuous directed movement of sea water.
Ecologically separated- A change or shift in the ecology or environment.
The Antarctic Circumpolar Current?
Unlike other oceans, which are defined by continents, the Southern Ocean is defined by the swift Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC). The ACC formed around 34 million years ago when Antarctica separated from South America. This allowed unobstructed flow of water around the bottom of the Earth. The current flows from west to east around Antarctica. It is roughly centred around the 60 degrees south latitude, which is now defined as the northern boundary of the Southern Ocean.
Why is the ACC special?
The ACC transports more water than any other current as it pulls water from the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans. This further helps drive a global circulation system called the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt transports heat around the planet.
However, it is the ACC which keeps Antarctica cold and therefore ecologically separate. The water of this current is colder and slightly less salty than the other oceans. And the cold dense water that sinks to the ocean floor helps store carbon in the deep ocean. The ACC is a major contributor to controlling climate change and scientists are researching how the rate of climate change is affecting the area.