Sea ice conditions during the time of the CryoSat-2 underpass over the Weddell Sea on Nov. 7, 2012. Credit: NASA/Michael Studinger

The Weddell Sea is part of the Southern Ocean and contains the Weddell Gyre.  Therefore Its land boundaries are defined by the bay formed from the coasts of Coats Land and the Antarctic. Therefore easternmost point is Cape Norvegia at Princess Martha Coast, Queen Maud Land. To the east of Cape Norvegia is the King Haakon VII Sea. Much of the southern part of the sea is covered by a permanent, massive ice shelf field, the Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf.