Indeed! They are also funded under the same budget that funds The Bureau of Parking On Driveways and Driving On Parkways.
But seriously, I am just wondering how many grown-ass men like me had gone their whole lives never learning of this amazing 5th ocean. I feel like I’ve been lied to my whole life.
There are four oceans, seven continents, and nine planets. Anyone who claims otherwise can meet me at the town square at noon with his choice of pistols or sabres.
Born in 60s; edumacated in the 70s: I was taught there were 4 oceans. When my daughter was in kindergarten 10 years ago, she told me about the Southern Ocean. I was surprised. I got over it.
I was taught 4 oceans: Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, and Arctic. I can see why people would count the Southern Ocean as seperate, but I’ve never done so myself. I guess I just think of it as being the southern reaches of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans.
After clicking on the Wiki link, I think the 60-degree definition is way too restrictive. A more reasonable definition would be consider it as the ocean that lies south of the southern tips of South America and Africa, and the Southern coast of Australia, and just admit that the borders between it and the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans are difficult to define.
The Seven Seas were the ones frequented by Mediterranean cultures – the Mediterranean Sea, the Adriatic Sea, the Black Sea, the Caspian Sea, the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, and the Persian Gulf.
4 oceans? I think you’re confusing it with strong winds.
There are 4 strong winds that blow lonely, and 7 seas that run high.
ETA: And those are things that don’t change, come what may.
I find the Southern Ocean a bit difficult to understand, perhaps some of the more cartography minded folks among us can explain it to me.
The other oceans are generally separated by large landmasses, continents. While they are connected, there is the fairly clear sense that one must go around “that” or go through “there” in order to get from one ocean to another. I see no similar distinction with the Southern Ocean, you go straight north from just about any point and you wind up in another ocean.
I’ve wondered the same thing before…
It’s defined by its circular currents, basically.
There is some logic to basing a separation on the Antarctic convergence, south of which one finds different currents, weather, and life forms. The drawback is that then you have an ocean surrounded by . . . other oceans.
I’m so old, I think I was taught there were two oceans, Atlantic and Pacific. Beyond them, you could sail right off the face of the earth . . . if you avoided the sea serpents.
Personally, I think the Southern Ocean smacks of PC. We’ve got an Arctic Ocean, so we need one in the Antarctic, or all the Southerners’ feelings will be hurt. Especially since it’s only an ocean if it steals areas from the other oceans. And who ever heard of an ocean with an entire continent plopped down in the middle of it? Somehow, a donut-shaped ocean, composed of parts of other oceans, just doesn’t cut it.
In Pete Goss’ book Close to the Wind he describes the Southern Ocean as a unique location based on weather patterns, etc. (the book describes his solo circumnavigation, during which he barely survives hurricane force winds, but does a 180, heading back into the storm, to save a French sailor he is racing against and is an excellent read)
And one ocean on Europa.
According to this:
It was “officially recognized” in 2000. This thread is the first I’ve heard of it.
EDIT:
Oops I missed Left Hand of Dorkness’ cite
How come the Adriatic gets to be one and not the Aegean (or the Tyrrhenian, come to that)?
If you’re going to define oceans based on currents and weather, then the North Atlantic Ocean is different from the South Atlantic Ocean and ditto for the Pacific. I don’t know about life forms but I’d suspect those are different, too.
Well I’m glad I’m not the only one who made it to adulthood never having heard about the Southern Ocean. I don’t feel so bad anymore.
Surprised I didn’t know about the earlier thread on this same exact topic!
If we’re ignoring ice, why can’t you do this in the Arctic Ocean?