Why is it in the news?
- Scientists have identified an ancient underwater mountain range concealed within the world’s most robust ocean current, the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC).
- The discovery took place in the Southern Ocean, an expansive region comprising the southernmost waters below 60 degrees south latitude, encircling the entire Antarctic continent.
| Southern Ocean: The Southern Ocean is a distinct body of water that surrounds Antarctica. |
Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC)
- The ACC is the only ocean current that flows entirely around the globe.
- It encircles the Antarctic continent and flows eastward, traversing the southern portions of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans.
- The ACC is notable for its strength and the comprehensive reach of its influence across multiple ocean basins.
- The current plays a crucial role in connecting and influencing the Southern Ocean ecosystem, impacting climate and ocean circulation patterns globally.
| Ocean currents
· Ocean currents are the continuous, predictable, directional movement of seawater. It is a massive movement of ocean water that is caused and influenced by various forces. They are like river flows in oceans. · Ocean water moves in two directions: horizontally and vertically. · Horizontal movements are referred to as currents, while vertical changes are called upwellings or downwellings. · Ocean currents impact humankind and the biosphere due to their influence on climate. |
