Interannual variations of water mass volumes in the Southern Ocean

Water mass volumes in the Southern Ocean are evaluated in a section between Antarctica and Tasmania for the period 1991-1996. Antarctic Bottom Water consisted of Weddell Sea Bottom Water and water formed along the Adelie Coast. The volume of the Adelie Coast component was found to decrease slightly over the observation period, while the volume of the Weddell Sea component remained unchanged. The volume of Circumpolar Deep Water increased slightly, with a pronounced trend toward Lower at the expense of Upper Circumpolar Deep Water. The volumes of Antarctic Surface Water, Western South Pacific Central Water, Subantarctic Mode Water, Antarctic Intermediate Water and Antarctic Bottom Water were smaller by up to one order of magnitude but their variations relative to their volumes were significant.