Deep ocean circulation
Oceans consist of three distinct volumes
- 2% of total volume in surface zone
- 18% of total volume in pycnocline zone
- 80% of total volume in deep zone
Oceanographers recognize on the basis of their distinctive temperatures & salinities several distinct subsurface water masses called intermediate or bottom waters
These water masses move and mix very slowly
Thermohaline circulation is much more intricate & subtle than can be captured in the three volume idealization