Answer:
The surface water circulation around Antarctica is unique because it is driven by the combination of strong westerly winds, the position of the continent, and the presence of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC). The ACC is the world's largest ocean current, and it flows continuously from west to east around the continent, connecting the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans.
The strength of the westerly winds around Antarctica, which blow from west to east, drives the surface waters of the Southern Ocean to move in the same direction. As the surface waters move eastward, they are deflected northward by the Antarctic continent, which acts as a barrier. This deflection causes the surface waters to form the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, which flows around the continent.
The unique combination of the strong westerly winds, the position of the continent, and the presence of the ACC leads to several important oceanographic phenomena, including the upwelling of nutrient-rich deep waters to the surface, which supports the growth of phytoplankton and ultimately, the entire Southern Ocean food web. The ACC also plays a crucial role in the global climate system by transporting heat and carbon dioxide from the tropics to the Southern Ocean and beyond.
Overall, the surface water circulation around Antarctica is unique due to the combination of physical factors that create a continuous, strong, and circular flow around the continent, which has important implications for the biology and climate of the Southern Ocean and beyond.