Which ocean surrounds Antarctica?

Which ocean surrounds Antarctica?

• A. Southern Ocean
• B. Atlantic Ocean
• C. Indian Ocean
• D. Pacific Ocean

Answer: (A)

The water that completely surrounds Antarctica is the Southern Ocean. This circumpolar belt forms around the continent and is defined in part by the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, which keeps the waters flowing around the south polar region. The other oceans—Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian—are large basins that lie to the north of this southern belt and do not encircle the continent. Modern convention recognizes the Southern Ocean as its own ocean around Antarctica, making it the correct choice.

The water that completely surrounds Antarctica is the Southern Ocean. This circumpolar belt forms around the continent and is defined in part by the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, which keeps the waters flowing around the south polar region. The other oceans—Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian—are large basins that lie to the north of this southern belt and do not encircle the continent. Modern convention recognizes the Southern Ocean as its own ocean around Antarctica, making it the correct choice.