The Southern Ocean is the body of water encircling the continent of Antarctica.

It is now the fourth largest of the world's five oceans (after the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and Indian Ocean but larger than the Arctic Ocean). Water temperatures can vary from about 28 to 50 degrees fahrenheit (-2 to 10 degrees centigrade). The area is subject to cyclonic activity and storms travel eastwards around the continent. They are often extremely intense storms due to the contrast of temperature between the ice and the open ocean. Strong, persistent winds keep the shoreline free from ice throughout the winter in some coastal parts.

What Can You Find There?

Whales, seals, squid, (no longer exploited), fish, krill, manganese, placer deposits, possible oil and gas fields, fresh water icebergs.

Issue of Concern in the Southern Ocean

- increased solar utravoilet radiation. This is a result of the Antarctic ozone hole. The increase in solar ultraviolet radiation has resulted in a reduction of marine primary productivity, photoplankton, by as much as 15% and even damaging the DNA of some fish species.

- overfishing of some species by illegal or unregulated fishing. This could be likely to affect sustainability of these species in the area.

- There is a high number of seabirds dying because of the long-line fishing techniques employed to fish for some species in the region (notably, toothfish).