Antarctic Convergence

The Antarctic Convergence or Meinardus line is that zone where the cold, northward -flowing surface waters of the Antarctic to south flowing warmer surface water from the north meets ( the sub-Antarctic areas of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Ocean ). It runs approximately between the 45th parallel in the Indian Ocean and the 57th degree of latitude in the Drake Passage ( average at about the 49th parallel ) and forms the northern boundary of the Southern Ocean.

Since the water from Antarctica is colder, it has a higher density than the warmer water coming from the north. Therefore, it falls to the convergence zone down to about 800 m water depth and flows northward.

The position of the Antarctic convergence depends on longitude, weather and season and may shift north or south about 150 km, but is generally from about 50 ° south latitude. To recognize them is that the temperature of the surface water, which is north of you at about 8 ° C, drops abruptly to less than 2 ° C.

Within this zone are the following -coast, scattered sub-Antarctic islands and island groups, which are considered unambiguously as polar: South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Peter I Island, Bouvet Island, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Macquarie Island, Scott Island and the Balleny Islands.