|
Water mass
|
Abbrev.
|
Depth
(mbsl) |
Density
(g/cm3) |
Salinity
|
Temperature (°C)
|
Oxygen
(mg/L) |
Silica
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Warm) Subtropical Surface Water | (W)STW | Surface |
|
|
>20 |
|
|
| Tasman Front |
|
|
Separates CSTW/WSTW at 20° summer surface isotherm |
|
|
|
|
| (Cool) Subtropical Surface Water | (C)STW | Surface |
|
|
>15 |
|
|
| Subtropical Front | STF |
|
Separates CSTW/ASW at 15° summer surface isotherm |
|
|
|
|
| Subantarctic (= Australasian) Surface Water | SAW | Surface |
|
|
8-15 |
|
|
| Subantarctic Front | SAF |
|
Separates ASW/CSW at 8° summer surface isotherm |
|
|
|
|
| Circumpolar Surface Water | CSW | Surface |
|
|
5-8 |
|
|
| Antarctic Polar Front (Convergence) | AAPF |
|
Separates CSW/AAW, with icebergs (<5°C) |
|
|
|
|
| Antarctic Surface Water | AAW | Surface |
|
|
2.5-5 |
|
|
| Antarctic Divergence | AAD |
|
Northern limit of sea ice |
|
1.9-2.5 |
|
|
| Thermocline water |
|
|
|
34.42-34.90 | 7.00-11.00 | 4.40-5.00 |
|
| Subantarctic mode water | SAMW | 400-600 | 26.80-27.20 | 34.0-34.2 | 6-10 | Very high | Very low |
| Antarctic Intermediate Water (S min) | AAIW | 600-1450 | 27.20-27.35 | 34.50-34.36 | 3.20-7.00 | 3.20-4.70 |
|
| North Pacific Deep Water (O min) | NPDW | 1450-2550 |
|
34.67-34.50 | 1.80-3.20 | 2.80-3.20 |
|
| Circumpolar Deep Water (upper) | UCDW | 2550-2900 | 36.50-37.00 | 34.67-34.71 | 1.60-1.80 | 3.03-3.45 |
|
| Circumpolar Deep Water (middle) (S max) | MCDW | 2900-3800 | 37.00-45.93 | 34.71-34.73 | 0.90-1.60 | 3.45-3.63 | High |
| Circumpolar Deep Water (lower) (O max) | LCDW | >3800 | 45.93-46.00 | <34.71 | 0.55-0.90 | 4.70-4.80 | High |
| Antarctic Circumpolar Current | ACC | 0-seafloor | Various | — | — | — | — |
| Weddell Sea Deep Water | WSDW |
|
|
|
-0.30-0.00 |
|
|
| North Atlantic Deep Water | NADW |
|
As for MCDW | — | — | — | — |
| Antarctic Bottom Water | AABW |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Notes: General term for cold water of Antarctic origin which spreads north into the major ocean basins. Bold italic text (left column) indicates surface. AAW = Antarctic Water. After Carter, R., et al., 1996. — = no data.