The Southern Ocean, which surrounds Antarctica, is a beautiful and extremely cold place. It’s the newest ocean recognized by scientists and plays a key role in controlling the Earth’s climate.
This ocean is more than just a cold area; it’s full of life. Seals, whales, and penguins all live here, each adapted to survive the harsh conditions.
The Southern Ocean also affects weather worldwide by moving ocean currents that spread heat across the planet.
As we look into the Southern Ocean, you’ll see how tough and beautiful this part of the world is. Let’s explore the amazing life and secrets of this fascinating ocean!
The Southern Ocean Facts:
The Southern Ocean was discovered through historical exploration
David Henry Lewis, a New Zealander, first sailed the Antarctic region in 1972. However, Bartolome Diaz and Ferdinand Magellan are famed for contacting the chilly waters of the Southern Ocean.
The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) established the Southern Ocean in 2000.
boundaries of the Southern Ocean are defined by specific coordinates
The Antarctic Ocean forms due to tectonic plate movements between the Antarctic and South American plates.
Following the slow displacement of the two plates, a Drake passage opened, allowing the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) to form.
The Southern Ocean is located in the Southern Hemisphere at 60 degrees South latitude. In 60 degrees south latitude, the waters of the Southern Ocean combine with those of the South Atlantic Ocean, the South Pacific Ocean, and the Indian Ocean.
Southern Hemisphere currents significantly affect the Southern Ocean
The Antarctic Circumpolar Current, which transports water fairly throughout Antarctica, moves at a rate of around 130 million cubic meters of water every second.
It is stated that the only waterways that contain the Antarctic Ocean are those with fast currents. This, however, raises questions about the vocabulary of the Antarctic Ocean.
The weather patterns and climate of the Southern Ocean are varied
The Southern Ocean’s climate is affected by the seasons. Summer lasts from October to February, whereas winter lasts from March to September.
Because the Southern Ocean is covered in icebergs and ice during the winter, it used to cover most of the Arctic Ocean all year.
The Southern Ocean is incredibly expansive, covering vast areas
The Southern Ocean covers roughly 35,000,000 square kilometers. However, it is thought to migrate centimeters away each year.
It includes the waters from the continent’s northern coast to the Antarctic Convergence, a unique zone where cold water meets warm water and the latter flows beneath it.
The depths of the Southern Ocean hold many mysteries
The depth of the Southern Ocean ranges from 4,000 to 5,000 meters. However, including the Antarctic continental shelf, its average depth is around 3,200 meters (10,700 feet).
Its narrow waters range in depth from 400 to 800 meters. If you want to explore more…
The biodiversity of the Southern Ocean is remarkably rich
The Southern Ocean is home to Blue Whales, Elephant Seals, Antarctic Krill (EuphausiaSuperba), Emperor Penguins, Giant Squids, and fish.
The ocean also supports a vast plankton community (particularly Tintinnids), which emits gas and helps water droplets spread, resulting in greater reflecting clouds.
Many different species of mammals and birds may survive in the harsh climate of the Southern Ocean.
The Southern Ocean faces numerous environmental challenges
The increase in solar UV radiation caused by the Antarctic ozone hole reduces the primary productivity of phytoplankton.
It also harms the genetic makeup of some ocean-dwelling fish. Illegal fishing of some species, such as the Patagonian toothfish, also occurs in the region.
The most serious consequence of global warming is the threat to the Antarctic Ocean. According to studies, if the ice sheets in the Southern Ocean melt, global sea levels might rise by up to 65 meters.
Major ports and harbors are strategically located around the Southern Ocean
Rothera Station, Palmer Station, Villa Las Estrellas, Esperanza Base, Mawson Station, McMurdo Station, and offshore anchorages in Antarctica are the primary operational ports in the Southern Ocean.
Most ports are operated by government research stations and are not accessible to commercial or private vessels.
Because of limited water owing to ice formation, certain places have only a few ports.
Temperatures in the Southern Ocean vary throughout the year
The Southern Ocean’s sea temperature ranges from -2 degrees Celsius to 10 degrees Celsius.
During the winter, the water temperature will be below zero degrees (32 Fahrenheit). The coldest temperature ever recorded on Earth was -128.6 degrees Fahrenheit in Antarctica.
Ocean currents have a significant influence on the Southern Ocean
The Southern Ocean has the highest average wind speed of any ocean. The Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) is its major current, flowing from west to east and all the way around Antarctica.
Antarctica’s circumpolar region Current may move up to 150 billion liters of water per second, which is equivalent to 150 times the amount of water contained in all of the world’s rivers.
The Southern Ocean has various mineral resources
Because the Southern Ocean is covered with icebergs and ice throughout the winter, many people assume that minerals such as gold will accumulate due to gravity separation.
It may also have many oil resources and gas fields on the continental fringe. Furthermore, floating icebergs may allow the discovery of minerals such as Manganese modules.
The trenches and valleys in the Southern Ocean are remarkably deep
The South Sandwich Trench, at a depth of 7,235 meters (23,737 feet), is the deepest point in the Southern Ocean.
The trench is formed by the South American plate subducting beneath the South Sandwich plate. It is the lowest point in the Southern Atlantic Ocean and, after Puerto Rico, the second lowest point in the Atlantic Ocean.
Territorial claims over the Southern Ocean are held by multiple countries
Numerous states claim possession of Antarctic Ocean territories. Examples are Spain, the United Kingdom, Norway, South America, Argentina, and other European countries.
Britain launched negotiations on the International Treaty to end the impasse, but some Latin American countries rejected it.
Several smaller bodies of water exist within the Southern Ocean
Smaller bodies of water, such as seas, bays, channels, gulfs, and straits, make up the Southern Ocean.
Weddell Sea, Lazarev Sea, Riiser-Larsen Sea, Cosmonauts Sea, Cooperation Sea, Mawson Sea, Dumont D’Urville Sea, Ross Sea, David Sea, and others are among the seas.
The Tryoshinikova Gulf, Bransfield Strait, and the Drake Passage are among the other bodies of water.
Numerous islands are scattered across the Southern Ocean
The Antarctic Treaty governs the islands of Antarctica. Islands in the Antarctic Area include South Orkney, South Shetland, and Peter I. However, islands in the Ross Sea include the Ballenny Islands and Scott Island.
Because of debate and uncertainty over the islands’ existence, the Southern Ocean’s territorial limits are not precisely known.
Diverse marine life and ecosystems thrive in the Southern Ocean
Hoff crabs, sea pigs (sea cucumber), krill, and a large variety of starfish are among the marine species that live on the floor of the Southern Ocean.
These organisms were born able to adapt to the chilly waters of the Southern Ocean. The emperor penguin, the world’s largest penguin species, can also be found in the Southern Ocean.
The Southern Ocean acts as a significant CO2 sink
According to research, sea ice provides an additional atmospheric carbon dioxide sink in the Southern Ocean, accounting for up to 58% of the Ocean’s total intake.
The Southern Ocean apparently contributes significantly to CO2 fluxes in the ocean. The melting of sea ice, particularly in the summer, produces a sink of atmospheric CO2.
The Southern Ocean is crucial for global trade routes
The Southern Ocean is frequently used for cross-border seafood trafficking. Between 2013 and 2014, around 302 960 metric tons of fish were captured from the ocean, with 96 percent being Krill and 4 percent being Patagonian toothfish.
The Antarctic Treaty System (ATS) coordinates the exchange of krill fishing and other ecosystem services between the countries concerned.
The Roaring Forties have a notable impact on the Southern Ocean
The “Roaring Forties” are an area of strong westerly winds located between 40 and 50 degrees South latitude.
The waves of the “Roaring Forties” are considered the largest in the world, reaching heights of up to ten stories.
These 21 facts about the Southern Ocean are some of the best facts you will find. As told in the fairytales, the oceans are the secret chambers.
There are still many facts and things which we need to discover. We are sure that those secrets and facts will be discovered very soon.
In this article, we have learned various amazing facts about the Southern Ocean. From these might be you will be curious about north oceans too, follow this page.
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