Southern Ocean

The Southern Ocean is the body of water encircling the continent of Antarctica according to some geographic and most hydrographic sources. It is the world's fourth largest ocean and the latest defined, having been accepted by a decision of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) in 2000, though the term has long been traditional among mariners. This change reflects the recent findings in oceanography of the importance of ocean currents. Other sources such as the National Geographic Society continue to show the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans as extending to Antarctica. Only 28 of the world's 193 nations responded to the IHO survey in 2000, with just 18 voting for a new name, "Southern Ocean." Only 14 votes were cast for ending the ocean at the imaginary 60 degrees south line of latitude, with the other 14 votes cast for other definitions as far north as 35 degrees south, the equivalent latitude south of the equator as that of the Mediterranean Sea in the northern hemisphere.