The Southern Ocean. Copyright 2010 LessonSnips

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1 The Southern Ocean Even though oceanographers currently define five oceans on earth, in reality there is but one ocean. The fact that the ocean is one single entity and the divisions of the ocean are man-made was underscored by recent events in oceanography. In 2000 the International Hydrographic Organization set forth a proposal to its member nations to define an additional ocean called the Southern Ocean. While Southern Ocean is the preferred name, some use the name Antarctic Ocean. The International Hydrographic Organization consists of 68 member nations; a requirement for membership is having a coastline on the ocean. The Pacific, Atlantic, Indian and Arctic Oceans are defined based upon the land boundaries of continents. The Southern Ocean, however, is demarcated solely by the 60 degree South line of latitude. This line of latitude encompasses all of Antarctica (as all lines of latitude south of the equator do) but does not intersect any other continent. This northern boundary for the Southern Ocean was not an arbitrary choice but was based upon the latest oceanographic research into the characteristics of the ocean surrounding Antarctica. The frigid waters near Antarctica are different enough to support the definition of a new ocean and the Southern Ocean has been debated since the 1930s. Before the year 2000, the coastline of Antarctica was southern boundary for the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans. As of 2000, their southern boundary is the 60 degree South line of latitude, which corresponds with the Antarctic Treaty Limit. Physical Features The Southern Ocean ranks fourth among the oceans in size; only the Arctic Ocean is smaller. While the largest ocean, the Pacific, occupies 30.5 percent of the earth s surface, the Southern Ocean is significantly smaller, covering just 4 percent. The Southern Ocean has an average depth of 12,400 feet or 2.3 miles and its deepest point, 23,737 feet or 4.5 miles, occurs in the South Sandwich Trench. An ocean trench is a long, narrow depression in the ocean floor which corresponds to the junction of two tectonic plates. The Southern Ocean remains rather uniformly deep where the other oceans are shallow close the continents; this phenomenon is termed the continental shelf. The continental shelf for the other oceans is an

2 average of about 425 feet below the surface while the floor of the Southern Ocean is between 1,300 and 2,600 feet below the surface surrounding Antarctica. The major defining feature of the Southern Ocean is the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, also called West Wind Drift. This is the strongest current in the entire ocean. The name Antarctic Circumpolar Current provides an accurate description as this current perpetually circles Antarctica in an easterly direction in conjunction with the prevailing west winds. This strong current keeps cold polar water near to the continent of Antarctica; this cold water is responsible for maintaining the ice sheets around the land mass. The Antarctic Circumpolar Current also mixes the southern waters of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Due to its extreme location near the South Pole, the Southern Ocean experiences high winds and large waves throughout most of the year. The waters usually contain large icebergs and sea ice that is one to three feet thick. Sea ice is frozen water from the ocean, which is different from the ice contained in icebergs. Icebergs are chunks of ice that break away, or calve, from glaciers when they reach the ocean. The ice in glaciers originates from snowfall which becomes compacted into ice over time. The water of the Southern Ocean that is trapped under sea ice is called Antarctic bottom water. This water has a higher salt content than other areas of the ocean because the salt leaves sea ice through a process called brine rejection. The presence of additional salt makes the water denser (heavier) so it sinks. This water is then circulated by the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. Major Seas Antarctic bottom water forms in the Ross Sea and the Weddell Sea of the Southern Ocean. Before the definition of the Southern Ocean, the Ross Sea was considered part of the Pacific Ocean. Adjacent to Antarctica, this sea is free from ice for only two months of the year. It is the location of McMurdo Sound, the home of a U.S. research base. Mount Erebus, an active volcano, is found on an island in the Ross Sea. The area around the Ross Sea is the breeding ground for Emperor penguins.

3 The Weddell Sea once was part of the Atlantic Ocean. Also adjacent to Antarctica, the Weddell Sea is covered with pack ice. Continuous ice and severe weather have prevented much exploration in this area.

4 Circle True or False after analyzing each of the following statements. 1. True False The earth s ocean is one single entity and the division of the ocean into Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern and Artic Oceans is by human definition. 2. True False The Southern Ocean was recently defined by the International Hydrographic Organization in True False The Southern Ocean is demarcated by the 60 degree North line of latitude. 4. True False The boundary for the Southern Ocean was based upon the latest oceanographic research into the characteristics of the ocean surrounding Antarctica. 5. True False The continental shelf surrounding Antarctica is comparable to the continental shelf of all the other continents at about 425 feet in depth. 6. True False The major defining feature of the Southern Ocean is the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, also called West Wind Drift. 7. True False Antarctic bottom water has a higher salt content than other areas of the ocean because the salt leaves sea ice through a process called salt migration. 8. True False Mount Erebus is famous because it is the highest mountain in Antarctica. 9. True False The area around the Ross Sea is the breeding ground for Emperor penguins. 10. True False McMurdo Sound, the home of a U.S. research base in Antarctica, is located in the Weddell Sea.

5 Answers 1. True 2. True 3. False 4. True 5. False 6. True 7. False 8. False 9. True 10. False

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