See full version: The New Fifth Ocean
At approximately 20.3 million square kilometers (7.8 million square miles) and about twice the size of the U.S.A., the new ocean is the world's fourth-largest (following the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian, but larger than the Arctic Ocean). The Southern Ocean's lowest point is 7,235 meters (23,737 feet) below sea level in the South Sandwich Trench.
For some time, those in geographic circles have debated whether there are four or five oceans on Earth.
Some consider the Arctic, Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific to be the world's four oceans. Now, those that side with the number five can add the fifth new ocean and call it the Southern Ocean or the Antarctic Ocean, thanks to the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO).
The Southern Ocean extends from the coast of Antarctica north to 60 degrees south latitude. The Southern Ocean is now the fourth largest of the world's five oceans.
The sea temperature of the Southern Ocean varies from negative two degrees C to 10 degrees C (28 degrees F to 50 degrees F). It is home to the world's largest ocean current, the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. This current moves east and transports 100 times the water flow of all the world's rivers.
Eighteen of the 28 responding countries preferred calling the ocean the Southern Ocean over the alternative name Antarctic Ocean, so the former is the name that was selected. here
For some time, those in geographic circles have debated whether there are four or five oceans on Earth.
The sea temperature of the Southern Ocean varies from negative two degrees C to 10 degrees C (28 degrees F to 50 degrees F). It is home to the world's largest ocean current, the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. This current moves east and transports 100 times the water flow of all the world's rivers.
The IHO published the third edition of Limits of Oceans and Seas (S-23), the global authority on the names and locations of seas and oceans, in 2000. The third edition in 2000 established the existence of the Southern Ocean as the fifth world ocean. more
“The Southern Ocean has long been recognized by scientists, but because there was never agreement internationally, we never officially recognized it,” National Geographic Society geographer Alex Tait told the magazine.
Tait told National Geographic that he hopes the organization's new policy will have a huge impact on education.
Four oceans or five? It's #WorldOceansDay🌊 and National Geographic is making a change to recognize the Southern Ocean as a fifth official ocean in our atlases and maps! https://t.co/HSHRUAyWuE— National Geographic (@NatGeo) June 8, 2021more
(WWLP) – During your years in geography class, many of us have learned that there are four oceans of the world: Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, and Arctic.
It was in 2000, that the idea and boundaries of this new ocean were proposed to the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), but not all members of the IHO were in agreement with it. more
National Geographic made this announcement official on “World Oceans Day,” which was June 8.