Source Water Masses to be used for mixing studies

If one starts to use OMP analysis the first and fundamental problem that arises is the definition of the water masses for the mixing model. A rather incomplete collection of water masses is given here, separated into ocean basins, which will help to find the water involved in your studies.

The procedure for defining source water masses depends on the nature of the problem. You have to keep in mind that the solution procedure of OMP analysis will find a result even if you use definitions from a different ocean. Please inspect the residuals carefully to find shortcomings in your water mass definitions.

An important point to remember is that you should define source water masses in terms of physical processes (see Tomczak, 1999, for further information). Heuristic assumptions, such as plotting all data and finding vertices or endpoints of mixing lines, can sometimes be used if they can be justified in terms of physcal processes. In general, the vertex strategy has only merit in local studies.

Using local end members, the interpretation of biogeochemical cycling parameters such as the "age" in the extended OMP analysis is only possible in terms of ratios (eg. Hupe and Karstensen, 2000 ). Absolute cycling parameters (total change in oxygen or carbon) cannot be deduced as well, as one has to be careful in applying the fractions to reconstruct the undiluted content of anthropogenic tracers. For those studies a "preformed" definition of the source waters in their physical formation region is strongly recommended. If this is not done a preformed correction is necessary, and this again has to be made in relation to the ventilation sites (eg. the winter outcrop for the Central Waters), which implies the use of "real" ventilating water masses.

Please contribute your water mass definition values to our collection to improve further studies and to make the application of OMP analysis easier for "novices". If you SUBMIT your definition: Please send data in appropriate units (see above). At least for local definitions provide a map - the ocean is quite large!!

The following tables are separated into preformed and local definitions.

• Atlantic Ocean
  • Preformed Definitions
  • Local Definitions
• Indian Ocean
  • Preformed Definitions
  • Local Definitions
• Pacific Ocean
  • Preformed Definitions
  • Local Definitions
• Southern Ocean
• Arctic Ocean/GIN Sea

ptemp =   6.9973 -  13.9022
sal   =  34.9424 -  35.8986
oxy   = 291.6402 - 252.1236
ph    =   0.4640 -   0.1922
ni    =   5.8223 -   0.0869
si    =   3.8627 -   1.7944

ptemp =   6.5519 -  16.2664
sal   =  34.4017 -  35.6921
oxy   = 295.4140 - 239.5682
ph    =   1.1156 -   0.2014
ni    =  13.3263 -   0.0
si    =   4.1156 -   1.6779

ptemp =  25 - 5 - 3
sal   =  37.1 - 34.1 - 34.1 
oxy   =  205 - 305 - 180
ph    =  0.25 - 1.05 - 2.1
ni    =  0 - 19 - 35
si    =  1.5 - 7.3 - 75

ptemp =   5.9559 -  14.4067
sal   =  34.4069 -  35.3016
oxy   = 300.0553 - 249.3363
ph    =   1.3083 -   0.2360
ni    =  11.7672 -   0.0
si    =   7.0952 -   3.6276

ptemp =   7.00 -  19.00
sal   =  35.00 -  36.65
oxy   =  165.4 -  235.3
ph    =   1.30 -   0.15
ni    =  20.00 -   2.00
si    =  15.00 -   2.00

ptemp =   3.5
sal   =  34.55
oxy   =  165.2
ph    =   2.3
ni    =  33.0
si    =  45.0

ptemp =   3.5
sal   =  34.945
oxy   =  271.8
ph    =   1.1
ni    =  17.6
si    =  11.0

ptemp =   3.7
sal   =  34.8
oxy   = 271.8
ph    =   1.1
ni    =  17.0
si    =  10.0

ptemp =  -0.28
sal   =  33.33
oxy   =  358.76
ph    =   0.6
ni    =   4.7
si    =   4.3

ptemp =  13.2
sal   =  37.72
oxy   =   200.0
ph    =   0.65
ni    =   9.1
si    =   6.5

ptemp =  20 - 13 - 9
sal   =  36.0 - 35.25 - 34.65 
oxy   =  227 - 244 - 268
ph    =  0.1 - 0.35 - 0.85
ni    =  0 - 1 - 7
si    =  2.5 - 2.5 - 2.5

ptemp =  20  - 13    -  .4
sal   = 34.65 - 34.65 -  34.55
oxy   = 91    - 91    - 1 00
ph    =  2.1  -  2.1  -  1.4
ni    = 30    - 30    -  19
si    = 40    - 48    -  25

ptemp =   4.5
sal   =  34.35
oxy   = 210
ph    =   2.2
ni    =  32
si    =  35

ptemp =  22 - 17 - 12
sal   =  36.07 - 34.84 - 34.0 
oxy   =  218 - 236 - 260
ph    =  0.7 - 0.3 - 0.6
ni    =  0 - 0.3 - 10.3
si    =  1.1 - 0.4 - 4.4

ptemp =  19.4 - 5.8 - 2.5
sal   =  35.66 - 34.28 - 34.17 
oxy   =  210 - 280 - 178
ph    =  0.3 - 1.5 - 2.4
ni    =  1.3 - 20.7 - 34.2
si    =  1.1 - 6.4 - 49.4

References:

A. E. Bainbridge GEOSECS Atlantic Expedition, vol. 2, Sections and Profiles.
National Science Foundation, Washington D.C., 1976.

W. J. Emery and J. Meincke Global water masses: summary and review.
Oceanol. Acta, 9, 383-391, 1986.

H.-H. Hinrichsen and M. Tomczak Optimum multiparameter analysis of the water mass structure in the western North Atlantic Ocean.
J. Geophys. Res., 98, 10,155-10,169, 1993.

A. Hupe and J. Karstensen Redfield stoichiometry in Arabian Sea subsurface waters.
Global Biogeochemical Cyles, 14(1), 357-372,2000.

J. Karstensen and D. Quadfasel Southern hemisphere thermocline waters
to be submitted to JGR.

J. Karstensen Über die Ventilation der Thermokline im Indischen Ozeans. (Online version)
Ph.D. thesis, Fachbereich Geowissenschaften, UniversitätHamburg, Germany, 1999

R. Poole and M. Tomczak Optimum multipararemeter analysis of the water mass structure in the Atlantic Ocean thermocline.
Deep-Sea Res., 46, 1895-1921, 1999.

M. Rhein and H.-H. Hinrichsen Modification of Mediterranean Water in the Gulf of Cadiz.
Deep-Sea Res., 40, 267-291, 1993.

M. Tomczak Some historical, theoretical and applied aspects of quantitative water mass analysis.
J. Mar. Res., 57, 275-303, 1999.