SURPRISINGLY RAPID SPREADING OF NEWLY FORMED INTERMEDIATE WATERS ACROSS THE NORTH-ATLANTIC OCEAN

Ocean temperature, salinity and chlorofluorocarbon concentration data are used to track the recent spreading of cold intermediate-depth wate r masses from the Labrador Sea across the northern North Atlantic Ocea n. These water masses, which are formed from surface waters by deep co nvection in the Labrador Sea, spread three to four times faster than p reviously estimated, with associated consequences for the North Atlant ic thermohaline circulation.