The steady current circling the globe at about 60°S is the ____________.

The correct answer is the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. This current is unique in that it flows unimpeded around the globe at approximately 60°S, effectively completing a full circuit around Antarctica. It is driven primarily by the prevailing westerly winds, which push surface waters eastward. This mixing of waters and the movement of cold polar waters play a crucial role in regulating global climate patterns and facilitating the exchange of water between the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.

Understanding this current is important for maritime navigation and weather prediction in the Southern Ocean, as it influences weather systems and oceanic conditions in this region. Other currents mentioned, such as the East Wind Drift and the West Wind Drift, do not encapsulate the full global circulation pattern that the Antarctic Circumpolar Current represents; they refer instead to more localized or less extensive movements of water that do not complete a full circumnavigation in the same manner.

Therefore, recognizing the Antarctic Circumpolar Current as the constant and dominant feature at 60°S helps clarify its significance in oceanography and global climate discussions.