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North Atlantic Central Water
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North Atlantic Central Water

oceanography
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Quick Summary

North Atlantic Central Water (NACW) is a water mass found in the upper layers of the North Atlantic Ocean, generally between 20° and 40° N latitude. It is characterized by warm temperatures, ranging from 8 to 19 °C, and high salinity, between 35.10 and 36.70 parts per thousand. NACW is formed through a process where surface waters, warmed by solar heating and with high salinity due to evaporation, converge and are forced downward into the deeper ocean over many decades. This process is influenced by prevailing winds and Earth's rotation, forming a deep lens of warm, saline water. The Gulf Stream system plays a significant role in the circulation and distribution of NACW.12

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4 Britannica Sources
  1. North Atlantic Current
  2. ocean current - Thermohaline circulation
  3. climate - The Gulf Stream
  4. Atlantic Ocean - The North Atlantic

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