It's official: our planet has a new ocean, the Austral.
The debate among geographers to recognize the Southern Ocean (the body of water that surrounds Antarctica) has raged for decades. However, most agreed that this oceanic region has enough distinctive features to be recognized and named for itself.
"Anyone who has been to that site will have a hard time explaining what is so fascinating about it, but everyone will agree that the glaciers are bluer, the air is colder, the mountains are more intimidating, and the landscapes are more captivating than anywhere else. somewhere else you can go, ”said Seth Sykora-Bodie, a marine scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and a National Geographic explorer.
Officially, the National Geographic Society has included only four oceans on its maps since it began making them in 1915: the Atlantic, the Pacific, the Indian Ocean, and the Arctic. However, the latest cartographic update has just redefined this maxim.
First recognized by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) in 1937, the Southern Ocean lost this designation in 1953, sparking a controversy whose echoes resonate to the present. In 1999, the US Board of Geographic Names adopted the term "Southern Ocean," and although it has long been recognized by scientists, international consensus to officially name it as such did not come until two decades later.
As of June 8, 2021 (World Oceans Day) the National Geographic Society recognizes the Southern Ocean as the fifth ocean in the world.
This decision will have an impact on children and students, who will be interested in the Southern Ocean and its importance, from its appearance on the maps. This recognition will also focus on its conservation.
Source: National Geographic