ESS200A
Prof. Jin-Yi Yu
Formation of Water
Mass
qOnce a water parcel is removed
from the surface layer its temperature and salinity do not change until it rises
back up to the surface again, usually many years later.
qWater masses with well-defined
temperature and salinity characteristics are created by surface processes in specific locations, which then sink and mix slowly with other
water masses as they move along.
qWater masses are always
identified by capitals. For example, "Bottom Water" can stand for Antarctic,
Arctic, or other Bottom Water but always refers to a water mass, while water found at the bottom of an oceanic region may be referred to as "bottom water"
without implying that it is a known and well defined water mass.