The company began making maps in 1915, and recognized four oceans: the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian and Arctic. Starting Tuesday, it’s recognizing the Southern Ocean as the world’s fifth ocean.

National Geographic said it hopes that separately identifying the Southern Ocean will highlight the region's unique conservation needs.

A global map of the ocean floor could buoy the economy Researchers have mapped a quarter of it so far. Communications, shipping, mining and climate modeling could benefit.

The winning SeaKIT surface vessel More than 80 percent of the world’s oceans are currently unmapped, but a $7 million prize pool to explore the deep sea hopes to change that. The Ocean Discovery ...