Meereswassermassen

Meereswassermassen, or ocean water masses, are large volumes of seawater with distinctive characteristics such as temperature, salinity, density, and chemical composition. These properties are determined by the conditions under which the water mass formed, primarily in specific regions of the ocean where it sinks and spreads. Oceanographers identify and track water masses to understand ocean circulation patterns and their influence on climate.

Key processes that define water masses include cooling and evaporation at the surface, which increase density and lead to sinking, a process known as deep convection. The mixing of different water masses can also create new ones. For example, surface waters in polar regions become cold and dense, sinking to form Antarctic Bottom Water. Similarly, warmer, saltier waters in the subtropics can sink to form Subtropical Mode Water.

The movement of these water masses forms the thermohaline circulation, a global conveyor belt of ocean currents that plays a crucial role in distributing heat and nutrients around the planet. Changes in the formation or movement of water masses can have significant impacts on regional and global climate, affecting weather patterns, sea levels, and marine ecosystems. Studying the properties and pathways of meereswassermassen is therefore essential for climate modeling and predicting future environmental changes.