Hydrosphere Contents

4. Oceans

Cold water sinks down to the bottom of the ocean

'Antarctic Bottom Water' is formed at the edge of the Antarctic continent during winter and these cold waters flow away from the polar regions. The corresponding water in the North Atlantic it is called 'North Atlantic Deep Water'. So much water is formed by this process that the water flows right down past the equator and into the South Atlantic. When the flow reaches about 30°C it is pushed upwards by the heavier water of the Antarctic Bottom Water. These two bottom waters, after mixing together and with new cold water formed at the edge of the Antarctic continent, flow around the globe and form the bottom waters in all of the world's oceans.

Where is the Antarctic Bottom water formed?