All the existing oceans of the world, as well as seas and rivers, occupy approximately 70% of the surface of planet Earth. Huge bodies of water stretch for thousands of kilometers, they are completely deserted and have an incredible depth of tens of kilometers, thousands of all kinds of creatures live there, many of them are still unknown to world science.
Water plays an important role not only for the climate, geographical features of the planet, but also for all creatures living on it. It is known that without the presence of water in one form or another, life is impossible.
Oceans are the largest bodies of water on earth, which are located in the open spaces among the continents and together make up the so-called World Ocean.
Consider all of the 5 largest oceans (there are disputes that there are only 4 of them) and their main features.
World Ocean
First of all, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the concept of the oceans. This term refers to the largest part of the entire hydrosphere, within which most of all seas and oceans exist.
One of main characteristics of this concept is the general salt composition of all water spaces included in it. It covers 70.8% of the planet's surface and is divided into the following main parts:
- Atlantic;
- Indian;
- Quiet;
- Arctic;
- South ocean. As for this point, it is still considered controversial, but this will be discussed below.
The origin of the entire hydrosphere is a mystery to modern science. The first attempts to explore the oceans began in the 1500s and continue actively even today.
How many oceans on earth - 5 or 4
Why scientists even now cannot come to an agreement on the question of how many huge reservoirs are present on Earth? The problem here is the difficulty of determining the boundaries of each of them, or maybe the essence of the issue is somewhere deeper?
Historically, scientists have divided all the expanses of water into 4 regions or oceans. Such a system existed for a long time, but in the 21st century it was revised by specialists who came to the conclusion that it is worth highlighting the 5th ocean - the South, whose waters were previously attributed to the rest.
It is worth noting: such a solution found its understanding in the community of researchers, but on this moment it has not yet been officially approved, has no legal force, so sometimes disputes and disagreements arise on the basis of this.
The location of the oceans on the map of the hemispheres with the continents
Continents and expanses of water alternate on the map with each other.
Any map takes into account the following accepted boundaries of these objects:
- The Pacific Ocean is located in both the Southern and Northern Hemispheres. It extends to the shores of all 6 continents of the planet. Its territory begins near Antarctica and stretches to the Arctic Circle.
- The Atlantic, which is also present in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, washes the shores of all of America, Europe, and Africa.
- Indian almost entirely located only in the southern part of the planet. Washes the shores of Africa, India, Australia.
- The Arctic Ocean is located around the North Pole. It is isolated from other large expanses of water and washes the shores of Russia, Canada, and Alaska.
- Near Antarctica is the Southern Ocean, and it washes only its icy rocky shores.
A map of currents operating throughout the world allows you to more clearly see these divisions.
Pacific Ocean
The largest in terms of area. It got its name because during most of the expeditions of the great traveler Magellan there were tolerable conditions and storms did not seethe.
The area is 178 million km2. Here the average depth is about 4 km, but the deepest place on the planet is also located here - the Mariana Trench with an incredible depth of 11 km!
The largest ocean received its name in 1520, and since then it has been established in world practice.
Life is developed here and there is a huge number of fish, animals, as well as representatives of the flora.
Atlantic Ocean
The second largest and warmest water region on the planet, with an area of 92 million km2.
The average depth in it is almost the same as in the Pacific, and is 3736 m, but the maximum is slightly less - 8700 and is called the Puerto Rican Trench.
It contains on its territory many volcanic islands, passes over the belt of instability of the earth's crust.
The life of the Atlantic reservoir boils at any time of the year. The density of plankton available here is as much as 16,000 pieces per liter of water.
There are a huge number of varieties of fish, sharks, corals and other things.
In the northern tropical latitudes, sailors encounter powerful winds and hurricanes, which, according to legend, are capable of breaking huge oak ship masts and throwing guns weighing more than one ton overboard.
Indian Ocean
The third largest body of water on Earth, occupies 20% of the water surface. The area is 76 million km 2. The average depth is similar to the previous case, and the maximum reaches 7.7 km.
It got its name from the country of India, which, even before our era, was always considered the richest region and attracted invaders, traders and colonialists.
Indian waters are famous for their wonderful azure and blue hues. The volume of salt water here is somewhat higher than in other regions of the planet.
Since the region as a whole is very warm, the humidity of the air is always increased, and the nearest lands constantly experience heavy rains.
Arctic Ocean
The smallest one also has the smallest depth. The list of countries washed by it is also small, and the diversity of life in the North Pole region is not so great due to extreme weather conditions.
The average depth is 1.2 km, and the maximum is 5.5, so this ocean is considered as the shallowest.
The ocean got its name from the suggestion of the Russian navigator Admiral Litke F.P. in the early 19th century. The size of this watery region is not as impressive as the frosts operating here, northern winds, the presence of interesting life forms.
An important feature of this reservoir is that it is the freshest.
South ocean
At the moment, the legally established Southern Ocean does not yet exist, and many people mean by it some parts of the other oceans considered. The maximum depth of the region is 8.2 kilometers, the area is taken at the level of 20 million km 2 with a little.
It consists of 13 seas that wash the shores of Antarctica. The first attempts to distinguish this region separately were made by travelers and cartographers in the 1600s.
As a conclusion, it should be said that all the considered reservoirs in different times had other names, but history decided to leave behind them the names that are valid today.
The youngest of them is the Atlantic, formed after serious tectonic changes, the largest is the Quiet, which is also the oldest. The oceans, in descending order of area, are listed in many reference books and tables. Know this information at least in general terms, it is important, because our globe is so interesting and diverse.
The ocean is the largest object and is the part that covers about 71% of our planet's surface. The oceans wash the shores of the continents, have a system of water circulation and have other specific features. The oceans of the world are in constant interaction with everyone.
Map of oceans and continents of the world
Some sources indicate that the World Ocean is divided into 4 oceans, however, in 2000, the International Hydrographic Organization singled out the fifth - the Southern Ocean. This article provides a list of all 5 oceans of planet Earth in order - from the largest in area to the smallest, with the name, location on the map and main characteristics.
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean on a map of the Earth / Wikipedia
Due to its large size, the Pacific Ocean has a unique and varied topography. It also plays an important role in shaping the world's weather patterns and the modern economy.
The ocean floor is constantly changing through the movement and subduction of tectonic plates. Currently, the oldest known area of the Pacific Ocean is about 180 million years old.
In terms of geology, the area surrounding the Pacific Ocean is sometimes called. The region has this name because it is the world's largest area of volcanism and earthquakes. The Pacific region is subject to violent geological activity, because much of its floor is in subduction zones, where the boundaries of some tectonic plates are pushed under others after a collision. There are also some hotspot areas where magma from the Earth's mantle is forced out through the Earth's crust, creating underwater volcanoes that can eventually form islands and seamounts.
The Pacific Ocean has a diverse bottom topography, consisting of oceanic ridges and which formed in hot spots below the surface. The relief of the ocean differs significantly from large continents and islands. The deepest point of the Pacific Ocean is called the "Challenger Abyss", it is located in the Mariana Trench, at a depth of almost 11 thousand km. The largest is New Guinea.
The climate of the ocean varies greatly depending on the latitude, the presence of land, and the types of air masses moving over its waters. Ocean surface temperature also plays a role in climate as it affects the availability of moisture in different regions. The climate in the vicinity is humid and warm during most of the year. The far north Pacific and the far south are more temperate, with large seasonal variations in weather patterns. In addition, some regions are dominated by seasonal trade winds that affect the climate. Tropical cyclones and typhoons also form in the Pacific Ocean.
The Pacific Ocean is almost the same as in other oceans of the Earth, with the exception of local temperatures and salinity of the water. The pelagic zone of the ocean is inhabited by marine animals, such as fish, marine and. Organisms and scavengers live at the bottom. Habitats can be found in sunny shallow areas of the ocean near the coast. The Pacific Ocean is the environment that hosts the greatest variety of living organisms on the planet.
Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean on a map of the Earth / Wikipedia
The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest ocean on Earth with with total area(including adjacent seas) 106.46 million km². It occupies about 22% of the planet's surface area. The ocean has an elongated S-shape and extends between North and South America in the west, as well as , and - in the east. It connects to the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, the Indian Ocean to the southeast, and the Southern Ocean to the south. The average depth of the Atlantic Ocean is 3,926 m, and the deepest point is located in the Puerto Rico Ocean Trench, at a depth of 8,605 m. The Atlantic Ocean has the highest salinity of any ocean in the world.
Its climate is characterized by warm or cool water that circulates in different currents. Water depth and winds also have a significant effect on ocean surface weather. Severe Atlantic hurricanes are known to develop off the coast of Cape Verde in Africa, heading towards the Caribbean from August to November.
The time when the supercontinent Pangea broke up, about 130 million years ago, was the beginning of the formation of the Atlantic Ocean. Geologists have determined that it is the second youngest of the world's five oceans. This ocean has played a very important role in connecting the Old World with the newly explored America since the late 15th century.
The main feature of the floor of the Atlantic Ocean is an underwater mountain range called the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which extends from Iceland in the north to approximately 58°S. sh. and has a maximum width of about 1600 km. The water depth above the ridge is less than 2,700 meters in most places, and several mountain peaks of the ridge rise above the water to form islands.
The Atlantic Ocean flows into the Pacific Ocean, however they are not always the same due to water temperature, ocean currents, sunlight, nutrients, salinity, etc. The Atlantic Ocean has coastal and open ocean habitats. Its coastal areas are located along the coastlines and extend to the continental shelves. Marine life is usually concentrated in the upper layers of the ocean waters, and closer to the coast there are coral reefs, algae forests and sea grasses.
The Atlantic Ocean is of great modern importance. The construction of the Panama Canal, located in Central America, allowed large ships to pass through the waterways, from Asia across the Pacific Ocean to the east coast of North and South America across the Atlantic Ocean. This led to a revival of trade between Europe, Asia, South America and North America. In addition, there are deposits of gas, oil and precious stones at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.
Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean on a map of the Earth / Wikipedia
The Indian Ocean is the third largest ocean on the planet and has an area of 70.56 million km². It is located between Africa, Asia, Australia and the Southern Ocean. The Indian Ocean has an average depth of 3,963 m, and the Sunda Trench is the deepest trench, with a maximum depth of 7,258 m. The Indian Ocean occupies about 20% of the area of the World Ocean.
The formation of this ocean is a consequence of the breakup of the Gondwana supercontinent, which began about 180 million years ago. 36 million years ago, the Indian Ocean assumed its current configuration. Although it first opened about 140 million years ago, almost all Indian Ocean basins are less than 80 million years old.
It is landlocked and does not extend into arctic waters. It has fewer islands and narrower continental shelves compared to the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Below the surface layers, especially in the north, the ocean water is extremely low in oxygen.
The climate of the Indian Ocean varies considerably from north to south. For example, monsoons dominate in the northern part, above the equator. From October to April, strong northeasterly winds are observed, while from May to October - southerly and western ones. The Indian Ocean also has the warmest weather of all five oceans in the world.
The ocean depths contain about 40% of the world's offshore oil, and seven countries currently produce from this ocean.
The Seychelles is an archipelago in the Indian Ocean consisting of 115 islands and most of them are granitic islands and coral islands. On granitic islands, most of the species are endemic, and coral islands have a coral reef ecosystem, where the biodiversity of marine life is greatest. The Indian Ocean has an island fauna that includes sea turtles, seabirds and many other exotic animals. Much of the marine life in the Indian Ocean is endemic.
The entire marine ecosystem of the Indian Ocean is facing species decline as water temperatures continue to rise, which in turn results in a 20% decline in phytoplankton, on which the marine food chain is highly dependent.
South ocean
Southern Ocean on a map of the Earth/Wikipedia
In 2000, the International Hydrographic Organization singled out the fifth, youngest ocean in the world - the Southern Ocean - from the southern regions of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans. The New Southern Ocean completely surrounds and extends from its coast north to 60°S. sh. The Southern Ocean is by far the fourth largest of the world's five oceans, only larger than the Arctic Ocean.
AT last years a large amount of oceanographic research has dealt with ocean currents, first due to El Niño and later due to wider interest in global warming. One of the studies determined that currents near Antarctica isolate the Southern Ocean as a separate one, so it was identified as a separate, fifth ocean.
The area of the Southern Ocean is approximately 20.3 million km². The deepest point is 7,235 meters deep and is located in the South Sandwich Trench.
The water temperature in the Southern Ocean varies from -2° C to +10° C. It also contains the largest and most powerful cold surface current on Earth - the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, which moves eastward and is 100 times the flow of all the world's rivers.
Despite the allocation of this new ocean, it is likely that the discussion about the number of oceans will continue in the future. After all, there is only one "World Ocean" since all 5 (or 4) oceans on our planet are interconnected with each other.
Arctic Ocean
The Arctic Ocean on the map of the Earth / Wikipedia
The Arctic Ocean is the smallest of the world's five oceans and has an area of 14.06 million km². Its average depth is 1205 m, and the deepest point is in the underwater Nansen Basin, at a depth of 4665 m. The Arctic Ocean is located between Europe, Asia and North America. In addition, most of its waters are north of the Arctic Circle. located in the center of the Arctic Ocean.
While located on a continent, the North Pole is covered in water. For most of the year, the Arctic Ocean is almost completely covered by drifting polar ice, which is about three meters thick. This glacier usually melts during the summer months, but only partially.
Due to its small size, many oceanographers do not consider it an ocean. Instead, some scientists suggest that it is a sea that is mostly enclosed by continents. Others believe that this is a partially closed coastal body of the Atlantic Ocean. These theories are not widely held, and the International Hydrographic Organization considers the Arctic Ocean one of the world's five oceans.
The Arctic Ocean has the lowest water salinity of any of the Earth's oceans due to the low evaporation rate and fresh water coming from streams and rivers that feed the ocean, diluting the concentration of salts in the water.
The polar climate dominates this ocean. Consequently, winters exhibit relatively stable weather with low temperatures. Most known characteristics of this climate are polar nights and polar days.
It is believed that the Arctic Ocean may contain about 25% of the total natural gas and oil reserves on our planet. Geologists have also established that there are significant deposits of gold and other minerals. The abundance of several species of fish and seals also make the region attractive to the fishing industry.
There are several animal habitats in the Arctic Ocean, including endangered mammals and fish. The region's vulnerable ecosystem is one of the factors that make the fauna so sensitive to climate change. Some of these species are endemic and irreplaceable. The summer months bring an abundance of phytoplankton which, in turn, feeds the base, which eventually ends up with large terrestrial and marine mammals.
Recent developments in technology are enabling scientists to explore the depths of the world's oceans in new ways. These studies are needed to help scientists study and possibly prevent the catastrophic effects of climate change in these areas, as well as to discover new types of living organisms.
The surface of our planet is 71% covered by oceans, which make up 97% of the Earth's water. According to experts, only 5% of the ocean depths have been explored so far. The world ocean is the main component of the planet's hydrosphere, affecting weather and climatic conditions. About 2 million species of animals live in it, the vast majority of which have not yet been studied.
All water bodies that are part of the World Water have a significant impact on climatic features, flora and fauna of our planet. Consider how many oceans are on Earth, their characteristics and features.
Until recently, it was generally accepted that there were only 4 oceans in the world.
Note! In 2000, representatives of scientific organizations identified a new ocean, which was called the South.
The list looks like this:
- Quiet;
- Atlantic;
- Indian;
- Southern (Antarctic);
- Arctic (Arctic).
Thus, it turns out that there are 5 oceans on Earth. Using modern developments and scientific and technological achievements, scientists can explore the water expanses of our planet in new and unique ways.
This allows not only to study the depths of these reservoirs, but also to prevent the likely catastrophic consequences that can occur as a result of climate change in these areas.
Also, new species of living organisms are regularly discovered, many of which amaze the imagination. However, most of them remain unknown.
world ocean planet
The oceans are the planetary salt water column, which includes all known water resources. There is a free exchange between parts of this continuous reservoir, which is important for oceanography.
Several criteria are used to determine the most important oceanic areas, for example, archipelagos, continents.
Quiet
The largest (179 million km², it takes up a third of the surface of the entire planet and half of the world) and ancient among all the others. It is often referred to as the "Great", because it is able to accommodate every continent and island of the Earth.
The reservoir received its official name after F. Magellan's round-the-world trip, during which good calm weather reigned.
The shape is oval, widened at the equator. It is bounded in the west by the mainland of North and South America, in the east by the mainland of Australia and Eurasia.
The South Pacific is characterized by light, mild winds, stable weather conditions, but to the west, the situation changes: hurricanes are often observed here - southern Australian squalls, gaining strength in December.
Tropical waters are transparent, clean, dark blue in color, their degree of salinity is medium. The weather in the equatorial region is favorable: moderate winds, 25 degrees of heat all year round, calm is often observed, clear sky. The Great Coral Reef stretches along the eastern coast of Australia.
The average depth is 3980 meters, the greatest is in the Mariana Trench (11022 m). Volcanic eruptions and tremors are often observed on the coast, both in depth and on the surface of the Earth.
Many species of living creatures live in the Pacific - a variety of fish, seals, crabs, octopuses, etc.
The Pacific Ocean plays an important role in the economy of a huge number of states. 50% of the world's catch comes from this reservoir. The most important sea routes pass through it. Shipping is actively carried out along the coast of the continents.
Unfortunately, human activity has become the cause of water pollution, and several species of animals were destroyed. Especially dangerous for the reservoir is the ingress of industrial waste and oil into the water.
Atlantic
This is the second largest ocean on our planet, which is the most developed and explored. The length is 13,000 km, the maximum width is 6,700 km, and the area is 92 km². Its coastline is significantly indented, which forms a huge number of bays and seas, especially in the northern regions.
From the west it is bounded by South and North America, from the east by Africa and Europe.
It was first described in the 5th century BC by Herodotus, the historian of Ancient Greece.
This reservoir cannot boast of the diversity of the animal world, but only the abundance of biomass. Since ancient times, the Atlantic has been the main place for the extraction of mammals and marine fish.
It has a strong influence on the climate of the entire planet. Thanks to the Gulf Stream, European countries are warmed by warm waters.
The increased economic activity of mankind has greatly worsened the environment in the reservoir itself and on the nearby coasts. Today, scientific recommendations are being actively drawn up, international agreements are being concluded aimed at the reasonable exploitation of ocean resources.
Indian
This reservoir is allocated one fifth of the area of all the world's waters and the seventh - of the entire surface of the Earth. Its area is 76 million km². The most salty part of it is the Red Sea (the degree of salinity is 41%). The reservoir is limited to three continents - Australia, Asia and Africa.
The Indian one is distinguished by a diverse relief: at its bottom there are underwater ridges, basins, and gutters.
The vast majority is in the Southern Hemisphere.
Indian in terms of surface water temperatures is the warmest. Monsoons are observed in its northern part.
Indian is distinguished by a developed animal and plant world. Offshore production of natural gas and oil. On the surface of the reservoir there are many navigable routes.
Compared to the other five oceans, the Indian Ocean is the most oil-polluted in the world.
One of the most dangerous natural Disasters in the history of mankind happened in December 2004 - an earthquake, the epicenter of which was in this ocean, caused an underwater earthquake in this reservoir. Waves 15 meters high reached the shores of many countries - Thailand, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, etc., which caused a huge number of victims (about 300 thousand). Many of the bodies were carried away by the water into the sea, so the exact number of dead could not be established.
Southern (Antarctic)
It ranks fourth in size. It surrounds Antarctica and covers an area of 86 million km². The greatest depth is about 8428 m, the average is 3500 m.
The southern one has a harsh climate and a rich wildlife. Krill is being harvested, but whaling is banned. The total number of whales is 500,000. There are such representatives of mammals: seals, southern elephant seals, sea leopards. 44 live on the coast various kinds birds numbering 200 million.
Climatic conditions are made up of several distinctive features: unique geographical position, the impact of the mainland of Antarctica (ice-covered, high-mountainous and cold), incessant sea ice. Warm currents are not observed. Katabatic winds are formed, the speed of which can sometimes reach 15 m/s.
One of the characteristic features of the Southern water resource is the year-round presence of ice. From September to October, during the period of greatest development, ice covers an area of about 18 million km².
Icebergs are also formed due to the fact that under the influence of tsunamis and waves, coastal parts of ice and continental glaciers break off. Every year in the waters of this reservoir are observed from 200 thousand icebergs. They rise 50 m above the sea surface, and their length is approximately 500 m. Over 4-5 years, the vast majority of the mass of icebergs thaws.
Arctic (Arctic)
Located between North America and Eurasia.
Note! This is the smallest ocean of our entire planet.
It covers an area equal to 15 million km², which forms only a few percent of the world's waters as a whole.
The depth of the reservoir is 1225 m (maximum - 5527 m - in the Greenland Sea). As a result, the Arctic is the most shallow. The ice of the Arctic is like a huge white giant, which contains 10 percent of the reserves fresh water all over the world. It maintains stability global climate Earth.
The area of the islands is 4 million km². The largest archipelagos and islands are Spitsbergen, Novaya Zemlya, Franz Josef Land, the Vaigach, Kolguev, Wrangel Islands, etc. Greenland Island is also located within the oceanic waters of the Arctic.
The climate of this reservoir belongs to the arctic. The vast majority in the winter months of the year is covered with drifting ice. In the summer months, the water temperature rises to +5 degrees.
Polar bears can be found on floating ice. They use the ice as a platform and for hunting. When the ice disappears, these animals will also disappear, as they will begin to starve. At the same time, polar bears live only in the Arctic.
The indigenous population is engaged in fishing for seals and walruses. Fishing is also developed. In the Arctic, there are fish that live only in these territories.
When the ice of the reservoir melts, they release various organisms and nutrients into the water, due to which algae begins to grow. Representatives of the underwater world feed on zooplankton.
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Summing up
How many oceans in our world, on the planet are accrued at the moment? There are 5 of them on Earth, and the fifth, the Southern (Antarctic), officially “appeared” only a few years ago. All the oceans of the world play a vital role in the life of our planet.
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The ocean is the largest of all existing bodies of water on Earth or a continuous water shell of the planet, it makes up most of the entire hydrosphere of the Earth. The oceans occupy more than 70% of the entire surface of the planet Earth. These reservoirs have some features, for example, they are a habitat for many living beings, and also have a whole system of current regulation. All planetary shells constantly interact with the largest reservoirs of the Earth.
Until recently, the World Ocean had four oceans, but in 2000 a fifth ocean was identified, which geologists called the Southern Ocean. This article is intended to talk about all 5 oceans, their features, animals and plants for which these waters are habitat.
This ocean is the largest on the planet, its area is more than 165 million square kilometers. This water area exceeds the area of all land. It merges with the Southern Ocean in the south, and in the north with the Arctic Ocean. Australia, North and South America, and Africa are washed by this ocean. In addition, there are also the islands of the Pacific archipelago.
The coast of the Pacific Ocean is framed by a whole “ring” of volcanoes. This ring is called "fiery". This is due to the fact that volcanic eruptions, as well as strong earthquakes, most often occur in the fiery zone.
The floor of the Pacific Ocean is constantly changing, as tectonic plates collide with each other, and sometimes “crawl” under each other, thereby creating storms and hurricanes. Therefore, the name “Pacific” is completely unjustified, it is the most restless ocean. Sometimes magma comes out from under the earth's crust, resulting in the formation of underwater volcanoes. Such a process can lead to the appearance of seamounts and islands.
When most of us were in school, geographical maps Our planet was designated 4 oceans: Atlantic, Pacific, Indian and Arctic. But on modern maps you can see the name of the 5th ocean - the South. What kind of ocean is this, and why did it become necessary to rewrite maps and change the number of oceans available?
The confusion with the oceans has been going on for centuries. For the first time, the term "Southern Ocean" is found on maps of the 17th century and denotes the expanses of the ocean surrounding the "Unknown Southern Continent" that was not yet discovered at that time, the existence of which was suspected by travelers. The southern parts of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans were very different in terms of navigation conditions: there were currents, strong winds and floating ice. For this reason, this region was sometimes singled out as a separate ocean, and in some cartographic materials of the 17th-18th centuries one can see the names "Southern Ocean", "Southern Arctic Ocean". Later, the name "Antarctic Ocean" began to occur.
Already after the discovery of Antarctica, in the middle of the 19th century, the Royal Geographical Society in London marked the boundaries of the Southern Ocean, referring to it the southern parts of the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans, which are located between the Antarctic Circle and Antarctica. And the International Hydrographic Organization approved the existence of the Southern Ocean by 1937.
But later, scientists again came to the conclusion that the allocation of the Southern Ocean is inappropriate, and it again became part of the three oceans, and by the middle of the 20th century this name was no longer found either on sea charts or in school textbooks.
The need to separate the Southern Ocean was discussed again at the end of the 20th century. The waters of the three oceans surrounding Antarctica differ in many ways from the rest of the oceans. A powerful circumpolar current passes here, the species composition of the marine fauna is very different from warmer latitudes, and floating ice and icebergs are found everywhere around Antarctica. We can say that the Southern Ocean was singled out by analogy with the Arctic: too different natural conditions in the polar and subpolar territories of the ocean and in other parts of the World Ocean.
Member countries of the International Hydrographic Organization in 2000 decided to allocate the Southern Ocean, and its northern border was drawn along 60 parallels of south latitude. Since then, this name has appeared on world maps, and there are again 5 oceans on our planet.
