How many oceans does Earth have?

For the first time in more than 100 years the National Geographic Society has mapped the world’s oceans, it will recognize five oceans. The organization announced that it will recognize the Southern Ocean, a body of water that encircles Antarctica, as the world’s fifth. Scientists have long known there’s a distinct ecological region around Antarctica, but there hasn’t always been complete agreement on the name and boundary of this body of water. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) officials said the federal agency recognized the body as the fifth ocean “Southern Ocean”. When the boundaries of the ocean were proposed to the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), which tracks and charts the world’s seas and oceans, not all IHO member countries were in agreement, according to NOAA. While National Geographic has labeled the ocean on its maps before, it came with a disclaimer about the lack of broad agreement. Now, when National Geographic lists oceans, it will mention five: Arctic, Atlantic, Indian, Pacific, and Southern. The water body extends from Antarctica’s coast to 60 degrees south latitude, according to NOAA. National Geographic said it will also use 60 south latitude as its northern limit, excluding the Drake Passage and the Scotia Sea. National Geographic’s explorer described the Southern Ocean as a distinct water body characterized by powerful Circumpolar Current that flows eastward, “perpetually chasing itself around Antarctica.”