4.5 Surface water masses

Figure 20

This is a global map, presented in the Goode homolosine projection (resembling an orange peel) that shows the location of upper ocean water masses.

Lines of latitude are presented at 10° intervals and numbered throughout the projection at 20° intervals from 80° S through 0° and to 80° N.

Lines of longitude are shown at 10° intervals with numbered markers found along 10° S (latitude line) and only for longitude 120° E, 180°, 120° W and 60° W.

The borders of the identified ocean masses are shown by solid blue lines.

The labelled ocean masses and approximate locations are listed below:

Pacific Subarctic Upper Water: North Pacific between North America and Russia, down to approximately 40° N

West North Pacific Central Water: Northwest Pacific from 40° N to 5° N and from the East Asian coast to 160° W.

East North Pacific Transition Water: a narrow band along the mid and west North American coast.

East North Pacific Central Water: Northeast Pacific between the West North Pacific Central Water and East North Pacific Transition Water

Pacific Equatorial Water: a narrow band across the Pacific straddling the Equator, approximately 5° N to 5° S.

Arabian Sea Water: confined to the Arabian Sea.

Indian Equatorial Water: Indian Ocean as far south as Madagascar and Northern Australia.

Indonesian Upper Water: including waters around Indonesia and Northern Australian coast.

Atlantic Subarctic Upper Water: Northwestern Atlantic, including waters to the east of Iceland, Baffin Bay and the northeast Atlantic as far south as the Canadian/American border.

West North Atlantic Central Water: the Western Atlantic from the Canadian/American border to the north coast of South America and as far east as approximately 35° W.

East North Atlantic Central Water: the northeast Atlantic from approximately 35° W to the coast of Europe and North Africa. As far south as 10° N and reaching as far north as Iceland.

South Atlantic Central Water: the entire south Atlantic between South America and Africa from 10° N to 40° S.

East South Pacific Transition Water: a narrow band along the South American coast from Peru to approximately 45° S.

East South Pacific Central Water: from South America and the boundary with the East South Pacific Transition Water to approximately 170° W from approximately 5° S and 40° S.

West South Pacific Central Water: in the same latitudinal band as the East South Pacific Central Water and extending to the east coast of Australia.

South Indian Central Water: a band in the Indian Ocean from Australia to Africa from 20° S to approximately 35° S.

Subantarctic Surface Water: an undulating circumpolar band from approximately 40° S to 55° S.

Antarctic Surface Water: an undulating circumpolar band from approximately 55° S to the Antarctic coast.