Ocean, Antarctic Circumpolar Current

The Southern Ocean links the major oceans by a deep circumpolar belt in the 50� - 60� S range. In this belt flows the Antarctic Circumpolar Current from west to east, encircling the globe at high latitudes. It transports 125 million cubic metres of seawater per second over a path of about 24,000 kilometres and is the most important factor in diminishing the differences between oceans.