What is the name of the broad ocean current that circles Antarctica from west to east?

The Antarctic Circumpolar Current is the broad ocean current that circles Antarctica from west to east.

It is the only major ocean current that flows completely around the globe without being blocked by a continent. Driven largely by the strong westerly winds of the Southern Ocean, it connects the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans and transports enormous amounts of water.

The current helps isolate Antarctica from warmer subtropical waters, contributing to the continent’s cold climate and the persistence of its ice sheet. It also plays a major role in the global overturning circulation by moving heat, carbon, oxygen, and nutrients between ocean basins.

The current is not a narrow stream with one constant speed. It consists of fronts, eddies, and jets, and its structure changes with depth and location. The Drake Passage between South America and Antarctica is a key part of its continuous path.