Spreading of Antarctic Bottom Water and its Effects on the Floor of the Indian Ocean Inferred from Bottom-Water Potential Temperature, Turbidity, and Sea-Floor Photography.

摘要

Data on bottom-water potential temperature, turbidity and current indications show that in the Southern Ocean west of the Kerguelen Plateau, Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW) of Weddell Sea origin spreads northwards from the Atlantic-Indian Basin in two directions: (1) AABW enters the Agulhas Basin through relatively deep areas in the Mid-Indian Ridge at 20-25 deg E and possibly at 35 deg E, and flows northwards into the Mozambique Basin as far as its northern limits; (2) a more easterly spreading path extends from the Atlantic-Indian Basin through the Crozet into the Madagascar, Mascarene, Somali and Arabian Basins.