(isotherm 0.25°C_, isohaline 'i^.^0 %o) also enters the Kerguelen 

 Basin and continues on into the Madagascar Basin. The Mid-Oceanic 

 Ridge runs in a southwest to northeast direction and has the effect 

 of separating the bottom topography into three independent basins; 

 the Agulhas Basin^ the Kerguelen Basin, and the Madagascar Basin. 

 The Arabian Sea Water is still detected as far south as 40°S lati- 

 tude and is identified as poorly oxygenated water which spreads 

 above the Atlantic Deep Water, South of the Mozambique Channel^ 

 however, the Arabian Sea Water has lost most of its characteristics 

 and the deep water is more likely a mijxture of Antarctic Inter- 

 mediate Water with Arabian Sea V/ater, which takes place at the 

 barrier in the Mozambique Channel. The deep water thus formed 

 would flow southward. 



The "core" method can be used to trace the Atlantic water into 

 the south Indian Ocean. This consists of following the current 

 propagation as indicated by the shape of the isohalines in the 

 layer of maximum salinity. The role of Atlantic Deep Water is im- 

 portant in the formation of South Indian Ocean Deep Water. East of 

 60°E Antarctic Intermediate and Deep Water mix with Atlantic and 

 water of the North Indian Ocean origin to form the South Indian Ocean 

 Deep Water, The influence of the Antarctic waters is probably pre- 

 dominant in this area, but the salinity is maintained by the North 

 Indian Ocean water. After the Atlantic water rounds the southern 

 tip of Africr;, the main flow is directed eastward by the Agulhas 

 Plateau. It then crosses the Mid-Oceanic Ridge and is directed 

 south by the Kerguelen Ridge. Toward the north, the Atlantic water 

 can be traced to 20°S, where the maximum of salinity disappears. 



This deep current probably cannot pass through the Mozambique Channel 



50 



