Southern Ocean

Southern Ocean

The Southern Ocean, also called the Antarctic Ocean, includes the southernmost waters of the world ocean, commonly considered to be south of 60° S latitude and surrounding Antarctica. This vast and remote body of water plays a crucial role in the Earth's climate system, with its unique circulation patterns and ocean currents significantly influencing global weather patterns and marine ecosystems. The Southern Ocean is characterized by strong westerly winds, which drive the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, the largest ocean current in the world. This current helps to isolate Antarctica from the rest of the world, creating a unique and extreme environment that supports a diverse range of marine life. The ocean's cold, nutrient-rich waters support an incredible array of krill, fish, and other marine animals. Among the Antarctic marine life are penguins, Blue Whales, orcas, Colossal Squids and Fur Seals. The Emperor Penguin is the only penguin that breeds in Antarctica during the winter, while the Adélie Penguin breeds much farther south than any other penguin. The Rockhopper Penguin has a distinctive set of feathers around its eyes, giving it the appearance of elaborate eyelashes. The King Penguins, Chinstrap Penguins, and Gentoo Penguins also breed in the area. In addition, the rocky shores of the Antarctic mainland and its offshore islands provide nesting sites for more than 100 million birds each spring. These nesting birds include albatrosses, petrels, skuas, gulls and terns.