Hydrology of the Indian Ocean. I. The Water Masses in Intermediate Depths of the South-East Indian Ocean

Abstract

Three water masses have been identified from maxima and minima in temperature-salinity diagrams for intermediate depths of the south-east Indian Ocean.

(1) The Antarctic Intermediate occurred as a salinity minimum within the density range of 7.00-27.28 σ_t.

(2) The North-West Indian Intermediate was found as a salinity maximum within the σ_t range 27.20-27.50.

(3) The Banda Intermediate, lying below the North-West Indian Intermediate, had the characteristic of a salinity minimum within the σ_t range of 27.28-27.59.

Preformed phosphate has been found useful as a third conservative property for the identification of major paths of spreading. The distribution and paths of spreading of the three water masses are shown in charts of the Indian Ocean east of 90ºE.