What is the Southern Ocean marine ecoregion?
The Southern Ocean circles Antarctica with fierce winds, giant waves, and winter sea ice that doubles the continent’s size. It is full of life, with tiny shrimp-like krill feeding penguins, whales, seals, and seabirds. Its waters are linked by the strong Antarctic Circumpolar Current, a huge river of water moving around the globe. This ocean also stores carbon and helps regulate Earth’s climate.
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In context
What it is
The Southern Ocean circles Antarctica with fierce winds, giant waves, and winter sea ice that doubles the continent’s size. It is full of life, with tiny shrimp-like krill feeding penguins, whales, seals, and seabirds. Its waters are linked by the strong Antarctic Circumpolar Current, a huge river of water moving around the globe. This ocean also stores carbon and helps regulate Earth’s climate.
Why it matters
Southern Ocean is useful for understanding how biodiversity, environmental conditions, and human pressures come together in one marine region.
Ocean Literacy Connections
This resource can be explored through One ocean, many features, Ocean and climate and Ocean makes life possible.
- How do different ocean places belong to one connected system?
- What ocean processes help shape climate and weather patterns?
- How does the ocean help make Earth habitable?
Explore and connect
Open the ecoregions view to compare regional boundaries, biodiversity context, and related ocean systems.