An oceanographicwater mass is an identifiable body of water with a common formation history which has physical properties distinct from surrounding water. Properties include temperature, salinity, chemical - isotopic ratios, and other physical quantities which are conservative flow tracers. Water mass is also identified by its non-conservative flow tracers such as silicate, nitrate, oxygen, and phosphate.
An example of different water masses in the Southern Ocean.
Water masses are generally distinguished not only by their respective tracers but also by their location in the Worlds' oceans. Water masses are also distinguished by their vertical position so that there are surface water masses, intermediate water masses and deep water masses.
Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW): Antarctic Bottom Water is a very important water mass. Antarctic Bottom Water is the left over part when sea ice is being made. It is very cold but, not quite freezing so the water moves down and along the ocean floor.
Although there are many types of water masses, they all share characteristics. Water Masses are formed from regions of water having different temperatures. When ice is being formed in a cold climate like Antarctica, the cold temperatures separate the molecular bonds of the water causing it to become less dense. However, because water increases its volume by about 9% when frozen, this makes the ice less dense than the water which is why glaciers float. This also in turn causes the salinity of the water to decrease. The salinity of the water makes water freeze at lower temperatures than freshwater. Freshwater freezes at the standard 0 °C (32 °F), while saltwater freezes at an average of -2 °C (28.4 °F).
Water mass classificationedit
Temperature and salinity diagram
Temperature and salinity diagramedit
The best method of classifying a water mass is through using a T-S diagram. In the diagram pictured at the top, it categorises a water mass by the temperature and salinity of the water and is represented by a single point. However, water masses are not constant. Throughout time climates can change, seasons can drag out, or there could be less rainfall meaning that the water masses might change in temperature or salinity. To have a complete water mass classification, it requires the water type of the source and the standard deviations of the temperature and salinity. It can take many years to establish the standard deviations of the water mass and requires constant surveillance. Once all of the necessary measures are completed, the data will now determine what the current density of the water is and help further classify the water mass.
Emery, W. J.; Meincke, J. (1986). "Global water masses-summary and review" (PDF). Oceanologica Acta. 9 (4): 383–391. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
Bhutia, T. K. Water mass. https://www.britannica.com/science/water-mass.
Toste Tanhua, Mian Liu. “Characteristics of Water Masses in the Atlantic Ocean Based on GLODAPv2 Data .” Characteristics of Water Masses in the Atlantic Ocean Based on GLODAPv2 Data, 2019, os.copernicus.org/preprints/os-2018-139/os-2018-139.pdf.
External linksedit
February 15, 2024
water, mass, oceanographic, water, mass, identifiable, body, water, with, common, formation, history, which, physical, properties, distinct, from, surrounding, water, properties, include, temperature, salinity, chemical, isotopic, ratios, other, physical, quan. An oceanographic water mass is an identifiable body of water with a common formation history which has physical properties distinct from surrounding water Properties include temperature salinity chemical isotopic ratios and other physical quantities which are conservative flow tracers Water mass is also identified by its non conservative flow tracers such as silicate nitrate oxygen and phosphate An example of different water masses in the Southern Ocean Water masses are generally distinguished not only by their respective tracers but also by their location in the Worlds oceans Water masses are also distinguished by their vertical position so that there are surface water masses intermediate water masses and deep water masses Contents 1 Global water masses 2 Characteristics of water masses 3 Water mass classification 3 1 Temperature and salinity diagram 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksGlobal water masses editCommon water masses in the world ocean are Antarctic Bottom Water AABW Antarctic Bottom Water is a very important water mass Antarctic Bottom Water is the left over part when sea ice is being made It is very cold but not quite freezing so the water moves down and along the ocean floor North Atlantic Deep Water NADW Circumpolar Deep Water CDW Antarctic Intermediate Water AAIW Subantarctic Mode Water SAMW Arctic Intermediate Water AIW North Pacific Intermediate Water NPIW The central waters of various oceanic basins Various ocean surface waters Characteristics of water masses editAlthough there are many types of water masses they all share characteristics Water Masses are formed from regions of water having different temperatures When ice is being formed in a cold climate like Antarctica the cold temperatures separate the molecular bonds of the water causing it to become less dense However because water increases its volume by about 9 when frozen this makes the ice less dense than the water which is why glaciers float This also in turn causes the salinity of the water to decrease The salinity of the water makes water freeze at lower temperatures than freshwater Freshwater freezes at the standard 0 C 32 F while saltwater freezes at an average of 2 C 28 4 F Water mass classification edit nbsp Temperature and salinity diagramTemperature and salinity diagram edit The best method of classifying a water mass is through using a T S diagram In the diagram pictured at the top it categorises a water mass by the temperature and salinity of the water and is represented by a single point However water masses are not constant Throughout time climates can change seasons can drag out or there could be less rainfall meaning that the water masses might change in temperature or salinity To have a complete water mass classification it requires the water type of the source and the standard deviations of the temperature and salinity It can take many years to establish the standard deviations of the water mass and requires constant surveillance Once all of the necessary measures are completed the data will now determine what the current density of the water is and help further classify the water mass See also editAtlantic meridional overturning circulation Ocean current Open ocean convection Ocean stratification Temperature salinity diagram Thermohaline circulation UpwellingReferences edit Water masses www mt oceanography info Retrieved 2020 12 09 Emery W J Meincke J 1986 Global water masses summary and review PDF Oceanologica Acta 9 4 383 391 Retrieved 16 October 2016 Bhutia T K Water mass https www britannica com science water mass Toste Tanhua Mian Liu Characteristics of Water Masses in the Atlantic Ocean Based on GLODAPv2 Data Characteristics of Water Masses in the Atlantic Ocean Based on GLODAPv2 Data 2019 os copernicus org preprints os 2018 139 os 2018 139 pdf External links editGlossary of Physical Oceanography and Related Disciplines water mass Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Water mass amp oldid 1201214312, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
