DEEP-WATER EXCHANGE THROUGH THE OWEN FRACTURE-ZONE IN THE ARABIAN SEA

From geostrophic calculations the exchange of deep water from the Soma li into the Arabian Basin through the Owen Fracture Zone has been esti mated to be about 2 Sv, with a seasonal modulation of the same magnitu de. After leaving the Fracture Zone, the flow bifurcates into a northe rn and a southern branch, each closely following the slope of the Carl sberg Ridge. The weaker vertical gradients of the hydrographic propert ies in the deep Arabian Basin are consistent with enhanced vertical mi xing al the rugged topography over the Carlsberg Ridge.