Representatives of the older generation in geography lessons at school studied 4 oceans: Pacific, Atlantic, Indian and Arctic. However, not so long ago, part of the educational community identified the fifth ocean - the South. The International Hydrographic Association has agreed to single out this ocean since 2000, but so far this decision has not been recognized by everyone.
What is the Southern Ocean? Who opened it and under what circumstances? Where is he located? What shores does it wash and what currents circulate in it? The answers to these and many other questions are waiting for you in the article.
The history of the exploration of the fifth ocean
It is in the 21st century for a person there are no unexplored places left on the world map. Technological progress has made it possible not only to see previously inaccessible territories on a satellite image, but also to get there relatively comfortably.
In the period of modern history, there were no space satellites, no powerful icebreakers capable of breaking through the permafrost layer, no internal combustion engines. Man had only his own physical strength and flexibility of mind at his disposal. Not surprisingly, the first references to the Southern Ocean are theoretical.
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 unexplored, pole of the Earth, washed by the waters of the ocean. The idea was originally expressed in the form of a theory, since humanity was unable to unambiguously confirm or refute it.
"Random" discoveries
Like many geographical discoveries, the first "swims" towards the South Pole happened by chance. Thus, Dirk Geeritz's ship was caught in a storm and strayed off course, sailing past 64 degrees south latitude and stumbling into the South Orkney Islands. South Georgia, Bouvet Island, and Kargelan Island were explored in a similar way.
First expeditions to the South Pole
In the 18th century, active exploration of this region was carried out by maritime powers. Until that time, a purposeful 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 37 degrees east longitude. Buried in impenetrable ice fields, having spent significant forces to overcome them, Cook had to deploy his ships. In the future, he wrote a description of the Southern Ocean so colorfully 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 centuryRussian explorer Bellingshausen circumnavigated the South Pole for the first time in history. At the same time, the navigator discovered the island of Peter I and Alexander I Land. The fact that he traveled on light, maneuverable ships that were not at all designed to deal with ice.
Dumont-Derville Expedition
The French campaign in 1837 culminated in the discovery of Louis Philippe Land. The expedition also discovered Adélie Land and the Clari Coast. The expedition was complicated by the fact that the Dumont-Derville ships were "captured" by the ice, from which they had to be rescued with the help of ropes and human strength.
American expeditions
The then "young" United States of America made a significant contribution to the exploration of the Southern Ocean. During the expedition of 1839, a group of ships led by Villis tried to pass from the Archipelago of Tierra del Fuego to the south, but ran into ice barriers and turned around.
In 1840, an expedition led by Wilkes discovered part of the territory of East Antarctica, which later became known as Wilkes Land.
Where is the Southern Ocean?
Southern geographers call the part of the World Ocean, consisting of the most southern parts of the Indian, Pacific, Atlantic. The waters of the Southern Ocean wash Antarctica on all sides. 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 south latitude - an imaginary line that goes around the Earth's Southern Hemisphere.
The problem of determining the actual boundariesquite relevant today. The researchers tried to designate the boundaries of the fifth ocean using the currents of the Southern Ocean. This attempt was unsuccessful, as the currents gradually change their trajectory. It also turned out to be problematic to establish the island boundaries of the "new" ocean. Thus, the unequivocal answer to the question of where the Southern Ocean is located is: beyond the 60th parallel of south 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 coast 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?
The oceans are the largest hydrographic features in modern geography. Each consists of several seas adjacent to land or expressed using the relief of the Earth, which is under water.
Consider the seas of the Southern Ocean. To date, geographers identify 20 seas that are part of the "new" ocean. Five of them were discovered by Russian and Soviet researchers.
| Name of the sea | Borders |
| Lazarev Sea | From 0 to 15 degrees east longitude |
| The Sea of King Haakon VII | 20 to 67 degrees south latitude |
| Riser-Larsen Sea | From the 14th to the 34th degree of East longitude |
| Weddell Sea | 10 to 60 degrees West, 78 to 60 degrees South |
| Sea of Cosmonauts | From 34th to 45th degrees of East longitude |
| Scotia Sea | 30 to 50 degrees East, 55 to 60 degrees South |
| Commonwe alth Sea | From 70th to 87th degree East |
| Bellingshausen Sea | From 72°W to 100°W |
| Davis Sea | From 87th to 98th degrees east longitude |
| Amundsen Sea | 100 to 123 degrees West |
| Mawson Sea | From 98th to 113th degrees of East longitude |
| Ross Sea | From longitude 170 East to longitude 158 West |
| Durville Sea | From 136th to 148th degrees east longitude |
| Sea of Somov | From 148th to 170th degrees east longitude |
It should be noted that geographersthe King Haakon VII Sea is rarely singled out because of the adjacent territories with the Lazarev Sea. However, the Norwegian side, which opened it, insists on the allocation of the Sea of King Haakon VII and does not recognize the borders of the Lazarev Sea.
Currents of the Southern Ocean
The main current characteristic of the ocean is the Antarctic current - the most powerful flow 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 current of the West Winds. It carries its waters between the subtropical zone and the Antarctic zone. Expressed in degrees, it flows within 34-50 degrees south latitude.
Speaking of the current of the West Winds, one cannot help but note the interesting fact that it is divided into two symmetrical streams, located on the northern and southern edges of the current, almost along its entire length. In these streams, a fairly high speed is recorded - up to 42 centimeters per second. Between them, the current is weaker, moderate. Thanks to this phenomenon, enclosing Antarctica in a continuous ring, the Antarctic waters cannot leave their circulation. This conditional band is called the Antarctic Convergence.
In addition, there is another zone of water circulation in the ocean. It is located at 62-64 degrees south latitude. Here, the speed of the currents is noticeably weaker than in the Antarctic Convergence, and is up to 6 centimeters per second. The currents of this area are predominantlyfacing east.
Currents near Antarctica make it possible to talk about the circulation of water around the mainland in the opposite direction - to the west. However, this theory has not been proven to date. The main reason for this is the periodic changes in currents that occur quite often.
An interesting feature of the water circulation in the fifth ocean, which distinguishes it from other hydrographic objects of this category, is the depth of water circulation. We are talking about the fact 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, exciting and deep waters. In addition, the density and uniformity of water in the "new" ocean is higher than in others.
Ocean temperature regime
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 ocean temperature, it ranges from minus 2 degrees to 10 degrees Celsius.
The lowest temperatures cover Antarctica in August, and the highest in January.
Interestingly, during the day the temperature in Antarctica is lower than at night. This phenomenon is still unsolved.
The climate of the Southern Ocean is clearly characterized by the level of glaciation of the mainland. Scientists have found that the glaciation of the mainland is slowly, but beginning to decrease. This indicates,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 of this theory is the parallel decrease in glaciation at the North Pole.
Icebergs
The gradual melting of the Antarctic ice leads to the appearance of icebergs - huge pieces of ice that break away from the mainland and sail across the oceans. The largest of them can measure hundreds of meters and cause great trouble to the ships that meet on their way. The "lifespan" of such icebergs drifting in the ocean can be up to 16 years. This fact significantly increases the risk of ship damage when sailing in these latitudes.
Some countries experiencing a shortage of fresh water are trying to use giant icebergs to extract it. To do this, icebergs are caught and towed to specially equipped places for the extraction of fresh water.
Ocean dwellers
Despite the difficult climatic conditions, the area of the ocean is quite densely populated with fauna.
The most prominent representatives of the animal world of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean are penguins. These flightless seabirds feed in waters teeming with plankton and small fish.
Of other birds, petrels and skuas are the most common.
Southern Ocean - Habitatmany types of whales. The humpback whale, blue whale and other species live here. Seals are also common at the South Pole.
