Representatives of the older generation in the geography lessons at the school studied 4 oceans: the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian and Arctic. However, not so long ago, the fifth ocean, the Southern Ocean, was identified as part of the educational community. The International Hydrographic Association has agreed to allocate this ocean since 2000, but so far this decision has not been recognized by all.
What is the Southern Ocean? Who and under what circumstances discovered it? Where is he located? What coast is washed and what currents circulate in it? Answers to these and many other questions await you in the article.
Fifth Ocean Exploration History
This is in the XXI century for a person did not remain on the world map of unexplored places. Technological progress made it possible not only to see previously inaccessible territories in the satellite image, but also to get there relatively comfortably.
In the period of modern history, neither space satellites, nor powerful icebreaker ships capable of breaking through the permafrost layer, nor internal combustion engines existed. At the disposal of man was only his own physical strength and flexibility of mind. It is not surprising that the first mention of the Southern Ocean is theoretical.
The first mention of the ocean
Back in the 17th century, in 1650, the Dutch explorer-geographer Verenius announced the existence of a continent in the south, as yet unknown, pole of the Earth, washed by the waters of the ocean. The idea was originally expressed in the form of a theory, since mankind was not able to unequivocally confirm or refute it.
"Random" discoveries
Like many geographical discoveries, the first "swims" in the direction of the South Pole occurred by chance. Thus, the ship of Dirk Geeritz fell into a storm and lost its course, sailing beyond the 64th degree of south latitude and stumbling upon the South Orkney Islands. Similarly, South Georgia, Bouvet Island, and Kargelan Island were explored.
First expeditions to the South Pole
In the 18th century, maritime powers actively explored this region. Until that time, a targeted study of the pole was not carried out.
One of the first serious expeditions to the southern part of the globe, historians call the expedition of the Englishman Cook, who passed the Arctic Circle at the 37th degree of east longitude. Having buried in impenetrable ice fields, having spent considerable forces to overcome them, Cook had to deploy his ships. In the future, he so colorfully drew up a description of the Southern Ocean that the next daredevil went to storm the South Pole only at the beginning of the 19th century.
Bellingshausen Expedition
In the early thirties of the XIX century, the Russian researcher Bellingshausen for the first time in history circled the South Pole. At the same time, the island of Peter I and the Land of Alexander I were discovered by the seafarer. The traveler attaches particular importance to the fact that he traveled on light maneuvering vessels, which were not at all designed to deal with ice.
Dumont Derville Expedition
The campaign of the French in 1837 culminated in the discovery of the Land of Louis-Philippe. The expedition also discovered Adele’s Land and Clari Beach. The expedition was complicated by the fact that Dumont-Derville ships were “captured” by ice, from which they had to be rescued with the help of ropes and human force.
American expeditions
The then-young United States of America made a significant contribution to the research of the Southern Ocean. During the expedition of 1839, a group of ships led by Willis tried to go south from the Tierra del Fuego Archipelago, but came up against ice obstacles and turned around.
In 1840, an expedition led by Wilks discovered part of the territory of East Antarctica, which later received the name "Wilkes Land".
Where is the Southern Ocean located?
Geographers call the southern part of the World Ocean, consisting of the most southern parts of the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic. The waters of the Southern Ocean are washed from all sides by Antarctica. The fifth ocean does not have such clear island boundaries as the other four.
Today, it is customary to limit the boundaries of the Southern Ocean to the 60th parallel of southern latitude - an imaginary line enveloping the Southern hemisphere of the Earth.
The problem of determining the actual boundaries is quite relevant today. Researchers tried to mark the boundaries of the fifth ocean with the help of the currents of the Southern Ocean. This attempt was unsuccessful, as currents gradually change their trajectory. The island borders of the "new" ocean also proved to be problematic to establish. Thus, the unequivocal answer to the question of where the Southern Ocean is located is this: beyond the 60th parallel of the southern latitude.
Some interesting facts
The deepest point of the fifth ocean is almost 8300 meters (South Sandwich Trench). The average depth is 3300 meters. The length of the ocean reaches 18 thousand kilometers.
The length of the Southern Ocean from north to south is determined very conditionally, since there are no reference points from which to count. Until now, geographers have no consensus on the boundaries of the ocean.
What seas does the fifth ocean consist of?
Oceans are the largest hydrographic objects in modern geography. Each consists of several seas adjacent to land or expressed using the topography of the Earth under water.
Consider the seas of the Southern Ocean. Today, geographers distinguish 20 seas that make up the "new" ocean. Five of them were discovered by Russian and Soviet researchers.
Name of the sea | Borders |
Lazarev Sea | 0 to 15 degrees east longitude |
King Haakon Sea VII | From the 20th to the 67th degree of south latitude |
Riser-Larsen Sea | 14th to 34th East |
Weddell Sea | From the 10th to the 60th degree of west longitude, from the 78th to 60th degree of south latitude |
Sea of Cosmonauts | 34th to 45th East |
Sea of Scotia | From the 30th to the 50th degree of east longitude, from the 55th to 60th degree of south latitude |
Commonwealth Sea | 70 to 87 degrees east longitude |
Bellingshausen Sea | 72 to 100 degrees west longitude |
Davis Sea | From 87th to 98th East |
Amundsen Sea | From the 100th to the 123rd degree of longitude |
Mawson Sea | 98th to 113th East |
Sea Ross | From 170 degrees east longitude to 158 degrees west longitude |
Durville Sea | 136th to 148th East |
Somov Sea | From 148th to 170th East |
It should be noted that geographers rarely distinguish the sea of King Haakon VII because of the adjacent territories with the Lazarev Sea. However, the Norwegian side, which discovered it, insists on the separation of the King Haakon VII Sea and does not recognize the borders of the Lazarev Sea.
Southern Ocean Currents
The main current characteristic of the ocean is the Antarctic Current - the most powerful stream of water in the oceans. Geographers call it Circular, because it flows around the mainland - Antarctica. This is the only current that crosses absolutely all the meridians of the globe. Another more romantic name is the West Winds. It carries its waters between the subtropical zone and the Antarctic zone. If expressed in degrees, it flows within the 34-50th degree of south latitude.
Speaking about the flow of the West Winds, one cannot but note the interesting fact that it is almost completely divided into two symmetrical flows located from the northern and southern edges of the current. In these flows, a fairly high speed is recorded - up to 42 centimeters per second. Between them, the current is weaker, moderate. Due to this phenomenon, enclosing Antarctica in a continuous ring, Antarctic waters cannot leave their circulation. This conditional strip is called Antarctic convergence.
In addition, there is another zone of water circulation in the ocean. It is located at 62-64th degrees of south latitude. Here, the current velocity is noticeably weaker than in the Antarctic convergence, and amounts to 6 centimeters per second. The currents of this region are mainly directed to the east.
Currents near Antarctica make it possible to talk about the circulation of water around the mainland already in the opposite direction - to the west. However, this theory has not been proven to date. The main reason for this is periodic changes in currents that occur quite often.
An interesting feature of the circulation of water in the fifth ocean, which distinguishes it from other hydrographic objects in this category, lies in the depth of the water circulation. The point is that the current in the Southern Ocean moves water masses not only on the surface, but also to the very bottom. This phenomenon is explained by the presence of special gradient currents that capture deep waters. In addition, the density and uniformity of water in the "new" ocean is higher than in others.
Ocean temperature
The temperature range on the mainland and in the surrounding ocean is very wide. The highest temperature recorded in Antarctica was 6.5 degrees Celsius. The lowest temperature is minus 88.2 degrees.
As for the average temperature of the ocean, it ranges from minus 2 degrees to 10 degrees Celsius.
The lowest temperatures cover Antarctica in August, and the highest in January.
It is interesting that during the day the temperature in Antarctica is lower than at night. This phenomenon is still unsolved.
The climate of the Southern Ocean is visually characterized by the level of continental glaciation. Scientists have found that the glaciation of the mainland is slow, but begins to decrease. This suggests that the average air temperature in Antarctica and the fifth ocean is increasing. True, in this case we are talking about the so-called global warming, which covers not only the South Pole, but the entire Earth. The main evidence for this theory is a parallel decrease in glaciation at the North Pole.
Icebergs
The gradual melting of Antarctic ice leads to the appearance of icebergs - huge pieces of ice, breaking off the mainland and setting sail on the oceans. The largest of them can be measured in hundreds of meters and cause great trouble to the ships encountered on their way. The “life expectancy” of such icebergs drifting in the ocean can be up to 16 years. This fact significantly increases the risks of damage to the ship when sailing in these latitudes.
Some countries experiencing a shortage of fresh water are trying to use giant icebergs to harvest it. To do this, icebergs are caught and towed to specially equipped places for fresh water.
Inhabitants of the ocean
Despite the difficult climatic conditions, the ocean area is densely populated by the fauna.
The most striking representatives of the wildlife of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean are penguins. These flightless seabirds feed in waters abundant in plankton and small fish.
Of the other birds, petrels and skuas are the most common.
The Southern Ocean is the habitat of many species of whales. Humpback whale, blue whale and other species live here. Seals are also common at the south pole.