Ann McBain, age 10, of St. Catharines, Ontario, for her question:

 Is there an Antarctic Ocean?

Some maps show no Antarctic Ocean at all. Some show the body of water which surrounds the icy continent of Antarctica to be an ocean in its own right. So we may call this water the Antarctic Ocean or not, as we choose. Actually, it is very hard to say where one ocean leaves off 'and another begins. For all of them are connected with each other.

On a world map or a globe, you can see that the Indian Ocean reaches all the way southward to lap at the icy shores of Antarctica. So do the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans. A globe or a great circle map shows that Antarctica is centered in the midst of ocean water. It is rough and icy water, sweeping in an endless eddy around the icebound shores.

Perhaps, since this water has its' own system of currents, we should call it an ocean in its own right. And there is another reason why we should. The region of Antarctica is no longer the neglected bottom of the world. In recent years, we have started to give it 'a thorough physical examination. For Antarctica was one of the big projects of the International Geophysical Year. Teams of scientists from many nations were down there and all sorts of new things were discovered.

One startling discovery was the amount of ice at the bottom of the world. It is now estimated to be more than six and a half million cubic miles  twice as much ice as it was thought was there. Should it ever melt, this ice would swamp many of our cities, including all but the dome of the Capitol building in Washington, D.C. Some scientists suggest that there may be a relationship between the south polar ice and world weather.

Studies there will continue. For twelve nations, including the U. S. and the U.S.S.R. have agreed to work together to solve the mysteries of Antarctica. After all, nobody wanted to fight over this vast, icy wasteland and it seemed like a good place to prove that men from all nations can work and study peacefully together.

In this respect, at any rate, Antarctica has a rosy future. Other future possibilities have been suggested. The nearer we come to either of the poles, the more slowly the earth rotates. This makes it easier to watch the skies. Since the north pole is under water, the south pole is a likely spot for the launching of satellites and future apace ships. This future importance is perhaps another reason why we should giver the south polar region its own Antarctic Ocean.

Study of the land region has turned up many surprises. True, there are sheer icy cliffs and glaciers two miles thick. But there are also bare patches above the ice and a few lakes warm enough to contain green alga. What's more, Antarctica may not be a solid continent. It may be ice sheets over a series of islands.