Oceanographers Revisit Long-Held Atlantic Assumption, Discover New Water Layer
Scientists studying the Atlantic Ocean are reassessing an old belief and have identified a distinct equatorial water mass within the Atlantic’s thermocline using modern data, challenging previous views of ocean structure.
Oceanographers studying the Atlantic Ocean are revisiting a long-held assumption about the structure of equatorial waters, thanks to new high-resolution data from thousands of Argo floats. For decades, researchers believed that the equatorial Atlantic lacked its own distinct water mass, with waters in this zone considered an extension of the South Atlantic Central Water. However, detailed temperature and salinity measurements have revealed a consistent and unique water layer in the upper 2,000 metres near the equator that does not fit into previously recognised categories.
This newly identified Atlantic Equatorial Water appears to be shaped primarily by mixing processes rather than direct formation like other major water masses. It occupies a narrow band around the equator between roughly 150 and 500 metres deep and is demarcated from adjacent central waters by thermohaline fronts.
The discovery offers a fresh perspective on Atlantic Ocean classification and circulation, filling a key gap in scientific understanding. Recognising this distinct water mass could improve models of heat and salt distribution, which are crucial for global climate studies. It also underscores that even well-studied oceans can reveal new structural details when observed with modern technology and analytical methods.
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