Marine Mammal Sightings in Southern Ocean

• Main Authors: Jeyabaskaran, R, Vivekanandan, E
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: English
• Published: Marine Biological Association of India 2011
• Subjects: Conservation; Marine Mammals; CMFRI; Southern Ocean; Antarc*; Antarctica; Sea ice
• Online Access: http://eprints.cmfri.org.in/9192/; http://eprints.cmfri.org.in/9192/1/CIMCAR_Jeyabhaskaran_Marine%20Mammal%20Sightings.pdf

The Southern Ocean (SO) comprises more than 10% of the world's oceans and plays a substantial role in the Earth System. In total, it covers an area of 34.8 million km2. The shelves around Antarctica are on average 450 - 500 m deep, but exceed 1000 m in places. Of the total SO area. the continental shelf (~1000m in depth) covers 4. 59 million km2, the continental slope (1000 - 3000 m in depth) covers 2.35 million km2 and the deep sea (23000 m in depth) covers approximately 27.9 million km2 (Clarke and Johnston, 2003). Sea ice covers roughly half of the Southern Ocean during winter and approximately 10% during the summer.