The Antarctic Ocean or the Southern Ocean comprises the southern most waters of the World of Ocean which has the latitudinal measurement of 60 degrees south. The Antarctic Ocean is the fourth largest among the five main oceans .
This has been accepted by the decision of International Hydrographic Organization in the year 2000.
The Antarctic Ocean defined in terms of oceanography as an ocean which is connected to the Antarctic Circumpolar Current circulating all around Antarctica. The Southern Ocean includes the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (which circulates around Antarctica) and parts of the Drake Passage, a part of the Scotia Sea, the Weddell Sea, the King Haakon VII Sea, the Lazarev Sea, the Riiser-Larsen Sea, the Cosmonaut Sea, the Cooperation Sea, the Davis Sea, the Mawson Sea, the D'Urville Sea, the Somov Sea the Ross Sea, the Amundsen Sea, and the Bellingshausen Sea (in clockwise order).
The Antarctic Ocean is different when compared to the Arctic Ocean located at the opposite end of earth. The Antarctic Ocean surrounds the Antarctic land masses. The weather in Antarctic Ocean is mainly dominated by the frigid land being in the centre. In the Antarctic continent the sea ice forms the margin.
During winter season the Antarctic Ocean freezes outward in the Pacific sector to 65 degrees south latitude and in the Atlantic Sector it freezes 55 degrees in south latitude.