The Southern Ocean is the 'newest' named ocean. It is recognized by the U. Board on Geographic Names as the body of water extending from the coast of Antarctica to the line of latitude at 60 degrees South. The boundaries of this ocean were proposed to the International Hydrographic Organization in However, not all countries agree on the proposed boundaries, so this has yet to be ratified by members of the IHO.
As described in National Geographic by NOAA marine scientist Seth Sykora-Bodie, the Southern Ocean is unique in that "the glaciers are bluer, the air colder, the mountains more intimidating and the landscapes more captivating than anywhere else you can go. Board on Geographic Names has recognized the ocean since However, National Geographic said in its announcement on Tuesday that scientists around the world have been trying to reach an official designation for years.
In , participating countries of The International Hydrographic Organization could not agree on proposed boundaries for the ocean. While the boundaries remain up for debate, many members of the IHO have reached a general consensus that the waters surrounding Antarctica are different. As part of the new designation, National Geographic is updating its maps and atlases, which it began making in , The society said that the ocean will be "treated the same as the traditional four," and that it will be included in what children learn about the world's water.
Our maps are updated. The Southern Ocean is treated the same as the traditional four, and the next quiz question about the number of oceans has an updated official answer from National Geographic—five! The formal recognition of the Southern Ocean came on World Oceans Day , a time designated by the United Nations to raise awareness about the crucial role of the ocean for life on Earth. Major changes, like labeling the Southern Ocean, are more rare.
While not directly responsible for determining them, the IHO works with the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names to standardize names on an international scale. The IHO recognized the Southern Ocean in its guidelines but repealed that designation in , citing controversy.
It has deliberated on the matter since, but has yet to receive full agreement from its members to reinstate the Southern Ocean. The U. Board on Geographic Names, however, has used the name since A version of this story appears in the October issue of National Geographic magazine.
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