Oceanography

Water mass

Water mass of Indian Ocean

Method of formation water masses:

The water masses are formed in the oceans by two methods:

(a) by thermo haline alternation (2) by mixing of two or more water bodies.

Classification of water mass:

The water masses in oceans can be divided in to following general groups

1. The surface or near surface water masses (uppes 500m in the ocean depth)

2. Deep water masses (500-1200m depth) and

3. Bottom water masses (below 4000m depth)