North Indian High Salinity Intermediate Water
oceanography
Quick Summary
The North Indian High Salinity Intermediate Water is a distinct layer within the Indian Ocean's deep circulation. It forms when highly saline water from the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea sinks below the fresher surface waters. This process occurs in the Arabian Sea, creating a water mass found between 2,000 and 3,300 feet (600 and 1,000 meters) deep. This layer then spreads eastward into the Bay of Bengal and as far south as Madagascar and Sumatra. Below this high-salinity water lies the Antarctic Intermediate Water.1
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