Formation rates of Subantarctic mode water and Antarctic intermediate water within the South Pacific

The formation of Subantarctic Mode Water (SAMW) and Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW) significantly contributes to the total uptake and storage of anthropogenic gases, such as CO₂ and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), within the world's oceans. SAMW and AAIW formation rates in the South Pacific are quantified based on CFC-12 inventories using hydrographic data from WOCE, CLIVAR, and data collected in the austral winter of 2005. This study documents the first wintertime observations of CFC-11 and CFC-12 saturations with respect to the 2005 atmosphere in the formation region of the southeast Pacific for SAMW and AAIW. SAMW is 94% and 95% saturated for CFC-11 and CFC-12, respectively, and AAIW is 60% saturated for both CFC-11 and CFC-12. SAMW is defined from the Subantarctic Front to the equator between potential densities 26.80-27.06 kg m⁻³, and AAIW is defined from the Polar Front to 20°N between potential densities 27.06-27.40 kg m⁻³. CFC-12 inventories are 16.0×10⁶ moles for SAMW and 8.7×10⁶ moles for AAIW, corresponding to formation rates of 7.3±2.1 Sv for SAMW and 5.8±1.7 Sv for AAIW circulating within the South Pacific. Inter-ocean transports of SAMW from the South Pacific to the South Atlantic are estimated to be 4.4±0.6 Sv. Thus, the total formation of SAMW in the South Pacific is approximately 11.7±2.2 Sv. These formation rates represent the average formation rates over the major period of CFC input, from 1970 to 2005. The CFC-12 inventory maps provide direct evidence for two areas of formation of SAMW, one in the southeast Pacific and one in the central Pacific. Furthermore, eddies in the central Pacific containing high CFC concentrations may contribute to SAMW and to a lesser extent AAIW formation. These CFC-derived rates provide a baseline with which to compare past and future formation rates of SAMW and AAIW.     

A late winter hydrographic section from Tasmania to Antarctica

A hydrographic section between Tasmania and Antarctica was occupied in late winter 1991 as part of the World Ocean Circulation Experiment (WOCE). The primary purpose of the WOCE repeat section SR3 is to measure the exchange between the Indian and Pacific Oceans south of Australia. This paper describes the fronts, water masses and transport observed on the first occupation of the repeat section. The Subantarctic Front (SAF) is located between 50°S and 51°S and is the most striking feature of the vertical sections. Two additional fronts at 53°S and 59°S are associated with the Polar Front (PF), part of which turns northward to flow along the section before turning back to the east near 53°S. Very deep (>500 m) mixed layers are found north of the SAF, confirming that Subantarctic Mode Water (SAMW) is formed in this region by deep convection in winter. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are significantly undersaturated (≈90–92% of equilibrium values) in these deep mixed layers, indicating that gas exchange rates are not rapid enough to bring these deep mixed layers to equilibrium by the end of the winter period of deep convective mixing. Northward Ekman drift of cold, fresh water across the SAF is likely to be responsible for the cooler, fresher mixed layers observed immediately north of the SAF. The Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW) on the SR3 section is relatively low in oxygen and CFCs (≈60–70% and 10–20% of saturation values, respectively), high in potential vorticity, and high in nutrients. These characteristics suggest that the AAIW on this section is not renewed by direct and rapid ventilation near this location. Water mass properties suggest that water from the Tasman Sea spreads south and west across the northern portion of the SR3 section between 800 and 3000 m depth. A cold, fresh, CFC-rich variety of Antarctic Bottom Water is formed along the Wilkes-Adelie coast of Antarctica. The net transport across the section relative to the deepest common depth is 160 Sv. The band of eastward flow between 50°S and 53°S including the SAF carries 137 Sv to the east and dominates the net transport. Weaker flow south of 58°S contributes an additional 70 Sv. The eastward flow is compensated in part by 37 Sv of westward flow between Tasmania and 48.5°S and 8 Sv of flow to the west over the southern flank of the mid-ocean ridge. The trajectories of six ALACE floats deployed at about 950 m confirm the sense of flow inferred from the choice of a deep reference level.     

环南澳大利亚太平洋-印度洋海洋间南极中层水环流

On the basis of the salinity distribution of isopycnal(σ_0=27.2 kg/m~3) surface and in salinity minimum, the Antarctic Intermediate Water(AAIW) around South Australia can be classified into five types corresponding to five regions by using in situ CTD observations. Type 1 is the Tasman AAIW, which has consistent hydrographic properties in the South Coral Sea and the North Tasman Sea. Type 2 is the Southern Ocean(SO) AAIW, parallel to and extending from the Subantarctic Front with the freshest and coldest AAIW in the study area. Type 3 is a transition between Type 1 and Type 2. The AAIW transforms from fresh to saline with the latitude declining(equatorward). Type 4, the South Australia AAIW, has relatively uniform AAIW properties due to the semienclosed South Australia Basin. Type 5, the Southeast Indian AAIW, progressively becomes more saline through mixing with the subtropical Indian intermediate water from south to north. In addition to the above hydrographic analysis of AAIW, the newest trajectories of Argo(Array for real-time Geostrophic Oceanography) floats were used to constructed the intermediate(1 000 m water depth) current field, which show the major interocean circulation of AAIW in the study area. Finally, a refined schematic of intermediate circulation shows that several currents get together to complete the connection between the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. They include the South Equatorial Current and the East Australia Current in the Southwest Pacific Ocean, the Tasman Leakage and the Flinders Current in the South Australia Basin, and the extension of Flinders Current in the southeast Indian Ocean.     

Vertical and horizontal distribution of fluorescent dissolved organic matter in the Southern Ocean

The vertical and horizontal distribution of fluorescent dissolved organic matter (FDOM), determined by fluorescence intensity at 320 nm excitation and 420 nm emission, were clarified in nine stations on two transects at the Southern Ocean, including a subtropical, subantarctic, polar frontal and Antarctic zone. All vertical profiles of fluorescence intensity showed that levels were lowest in the surface waters, increased with increasing the depth in mid-depth waters ( 2000 m), and then stayed within a relatively narrow range from there to the bottom. Such vertical profiles of FDOM were similar to those of nutrients, but were adverse to dissolved oxygen. In water columns below the temperature-minimum subsurface water (dichothermal waters) in the Antarctic zone and below the winter mixed layer in the other zones, we determined the relationships of fluorescence intensity to concentrations of nutrients and apparent oxygen utilization (AOU) over the entire area of the present study, and found significant linear correlations between the levels of fluorescence intensity and nutrient concentrations (r =  0.70 and 0.71 for phosphate and nitrate + nitrite, respectively) and AOU (r = 0.91). From the strong correlation coefficient between fluorescence intensity and AOU, we concluded that FDOM in the Southern Ocean is formed in situ via the biological oxidation of organic matter. The regeneration of the nutrients/consumption of the oxygen/formation of FDOM was active in mid-depth waters. However, the correlations between fluorescence intensities and nutrients and AOU were different in the mid-depth water masses, Subantarctic Mode Water (SAMW), and Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW), indicating that the sources of organic matter responsible for FDOM formation were different. A considerable amount of FDOM in the SAMW is thought to be produced by the remineralization of DOM in addition to sinking particulate organic matter, while DOM is less responsible for FDOM formation in the AAIW.     

Modification and pathways of Southern Ocean Deep Waters in the Scotia Sea

An unprecedented high-quality, quasi-synoptic hydrographic data set collected during the ALBATROSS cruise along the rim of the Scotia Sea is examined to describe the pathways of the deep water masses flowing through the region, and to quantify changes in their properties as they cross the sea. Owing to sparse sampling of the northern and southern boundaries of the basin, the modification and pathways of deep water masses in the Scotia Sea had remained poorly documented despite their global significance.Weddell Sea Deep Water (WSDW) of two distinct types is observed spilling over the South Scotia Ridge to the west and east of the western edge of the Orkney Passage. The colder and fresher type in the west, recently ventilated in the northern Antarctic Peninsula, flows westward to Drake Passage along the southern margin of the Scotia Sea while mixing intensely with eastward-flowing Circumpolar Deep Water (CDW) of the antarctic circumpolar current (ACC). Although a small fraction of the other WSDW type also spreads westward to Drake Passage, the greater part escapes the Scotia Sea eastward through the Georgia Passage and flows into the Malvinas Chasm via a deep gap northeast of South Georgia. A more saline WSDW variety from the South Sandwich Trench may leak into the eastern Scotia Sea through Georgia Passage, but mainly flows around the Northeast Georgia Rise to the northern Georgia Basin.In Drake Passage, the inflowing CDW displays a previously unreported bimodal property distribution, with CDW at the Subantarctic Front receiving a contribution of deep water from the subtropical Pacific. This bimodality is eroded away in the Scotia Sea by vigorous mixing with WSDW and CDW from the Weddell Gyre. The extent of ventilation follows a zonation that can be related to the CDW pathways and the frontal anatomy of the ACC. Between the Southern Boundary of the ACC and the Southern ACC Front, CDW cools by 0.15°C and freshens by 0.015 along isopycnals. The body of CDW in the region of the Polar Front splits after overflowing the North Scotia Ridge, with a fraction following the front south of the Falkland Plateau and another spilling over the plateau near 49.5°W. Its cooling (by 0.07°C) and freshening (by 0.008) in crossing the Scotia Sea is counteracted locally by NADW entraining southward near the Maurice Ewing Bank. CDW also overflows the North Scotia Ridge by following the Subantarctic Front through a passage just east of Burdwood Bank, and spills over the Falkland Plateau near 53°W with decreased potential temperature (by 0.03°C) and salinity (by 0.004). As a result of ventilation by Weddell Sea waters, the signature of the Southeast Pacific Deep Water (SPDW) fraction of CDW is largely erased in the Scotia Sea. A modified form of SPDW is detected escaping the sea via two distinct routes only: following the Southern ACC Front through Georgia Passage; and skirting the eastern end of the Falkland Plateau after flowing through Shag Rocks Passage.     

The frontal and jet structure south of Africa based on the data of the SR02 section in December of 2009

The frontal structure in the region south of Africa is investigated on the basis of CTD and SADCP measurements along the SR02 hydrophysical section carried by the R/V Akademik Ioffe in December of 2009 from the Cape of Good Hope to 57° S at the Prime Meridian. Eleven jets of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) were revealed along the section. These were six jets of the Subantarctic Current (SAC), three jets of the South Polar Current (SPC), and two jets of the Southern Antarctic Current (SthAC). The jet combining the Weddell Front and the Southern Boundary of the ACC was also revealed. All the jets of the SPC based on the data of direct measurements were joined into a single “superjet.” The others were manifested by the local velocity maxima in the surface layer of the ocean. The subtropical water along the section from the Southern Subtropical Front to the Shelf-Slope Front near the African shore was almost completely represented by the Indian Ocean (Agulhas Retroflection) water modified by mixing with the fresher water of the southeastern periphery of the Subtropical Atlantic.     

Fronts and strong currents of the upper southeast Indian Ocean

1 IntroductionBaroclinic component is the dominant part ofAntarcticCircum polarCurrent (ACC) (FandryandPillsbury,1979),and a baroclinictransportation asso-ciatedwithfrontsmakesupthem ajoritypartoftheto-talbaroclinictransportation oftheACC (Nowlin andCliff…     

Tracking the Polar Front south of New Zealand using penguin dive data

Nearly 36,000 vertical temperature profiles collected by 15 king penguins are used to map oceanographic fronts south of New Zealand. There is good correspondence between Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) front locations derived from temperatures sampled in the upper 150 m along the penguin tracks and front positions inferred using maps of sea surface height (SSH). Mesoscale features detected in the SSH maps from this eddy-rich region are also reproduced in the individual temperature sections based on dive data. The foraging strategy of Macquarie Island king penguins appears to be influenced strongly by oceanographic structure: almost all the penguin dives are confined to the region close to and between the northern and southern branches of the Polar Front. Surface chlorophyll distributions also reflect the influence of the ACC fronts, with the northern branch of the Polar Front marking a boundary between low surface chlorophyll to the north and elevated values to the south.     

Pacific ocean circulation based on observation

A thorough understanding of the Pacific Ocean circulation is a necessity to solve global climate and environmental problems. Here we present a new picture of the circulation by integrating observational results. Lower and Upper Circumpolar Deep Waters (LCDW, UCDW) and Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW) of 12, 7, and 5 Sv (10⁶ m³s⁻¹) in the lower and upper deep layers and the surface/intermediate layer, respectively, are transported to the North Pacific from the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC). The flow of LCDW separates in the Central Pacific Basin into the western (4 Sv) and eastern (8 Sv) branches, and nearly half of the latter branch is further separated to flow eastward south of the Hawaiian Ridge into the Northeast Pacific Basin (NEPB). A large portion of LCDW on this southern route (4 Sv) upwells in the southern and mid-latitude eastern regions of the NEPB. The remaining eastern branch joins nearly half of the western branch; the confluence flows northward and enters the NEPB along the Aleutian Trench. Most of the LCDW on this northern route (5 Sv) upwells to the upper deep layer in the northern (in particular northeastern) region of the NEPB and is transformed into North Pacific Deep Water (NPDW). NPDW shifts southward in the upper deep layer and is modified by mixing with UCDW around the Hawaiian Islands. The modified NPDW of 13 Sv returns to the ACC. The remaining volume in the North Pacific (11 Sv) flows out to the Indian and Arctic Oceans in the surface/intermediate layer.     

Fronts and surface zonal geostrophic current along 115°E in the southern Indian Ocean

Altimeter and in situ data are used to estimate the mean surface zonal geostrophic current in the section along 115°E in the southern Indian Ocean,and the variation of strong currents in relation to the major fronts is studied.The results show that,in average,the flow in the core of Antarctic Circumpolar Current(ACC) along the section is composed of two parts,one corresponds to the jet of Subantarctic Front(SAF) and the other is the flow in the Polar Front Zone(PFZ),with a westward flow between them.The mean surface zonal geostrophic current corresponding to the SAF is up to 49 cm · s-1 at 46°S,which is the maximal velocity in the section.The eastward flow in the PFZ has a width of about 4.3 degrees in latitudes.The mean surface zonal geostrophic current corresponding to the Southern Antarctic Circumpolar Current Front(SACCF) is located at 59.7 °S with velocity less than 20 cm · s-1.The location of zonal geostrophic jet corresponding to the SAF is quite stable during the study period.In contrast,the eastward jets in the PFZ exhibit various patterns,i.e.,the primary Polar Front(PF1) shows its strong meridional shift and the secondary Polar Front(PF2) does not always coincide with jet.The surface zonal geostrophic current corresponding to SAF has the significant periods of annual,semi-annual and four-month.The geostrophic current of the PFZ also shows significant periods of semi-annual and four-month,but is out of phase with the periods of the SAF,which results in no notable semi-annual and fourmonth periods in the surface zonal geostrophic current in the core of the ACC.In terms of annual cycle,the mean surface zonal geostrophic current in the core of the ACC shows its maximal velocity in June.     

印尼北苏拉威西海蓝碧海峡水团性质的南北差异

Two field observations were conducted around the Lembeh Strait in September 2015 and 2016, respectively.Evidences indicate that seawater around the Lembeh Strait is consisted of North Pacific Tropical Water(NPTW),North Pacific Intermediate Water(NPIW), North Pacific Tropical Intermediate Water(NPTIW) and Antarctic Intermediate Water(AAIW). Around the Lembeh Strait, there exist some north-south differences in terms of water mass properties. NPTIW is only found in the southern Lembeh Strait. Water mass with the salinity of 34.6 is only detected at 200–240 m between NPTW and NPTIW in the southern Lembeh Strait, and results from the process of mixing between the saltier water transported from the South Pacific Ocean and the lighter water from the North Pacific Ocean and Sulawesi Sea. According to the analysis on mixing layer depth, it is indicated that there exists an onshore surface current in the northern Lembeh Strait and the surface current in the Lembeh Strait is southward.These dramatic differences of water masses demonstrate that the less water exchange has been occurred between the north and south of Lembeh Strait. In 2015, the positive wind stress curl covering the northern Lembeh Strait induces the shoaling of thermocline and deepening of NPIW, which show that the north-south difference of airsea system is possible of inducing north-south differences of seawater properties.     

Synoptic eddies of the Subantarctic and Agulhas fronts and generation of the Antarctic Intermediate Water in the Atlantic Ocean

The concept developed in [9] and [10], according to which the Antarctic Intermediate Water is generated owing to the formation and subsequent decay of cyclonic eddies of the Subantarctic Front, is tested for the Atlantic Ocean. The cross frontal water and salt transport by the Subantarctic Front eddies and the Agulhas Front anticyclones is estimated by developing cinematic eddy models and analyzing satellite altimetry maps. Calculations of the water and salt balance for a box in the South Atlantic based on these results and various experimental data confirmed the above-mentioned concept.     

基于高度计观测和模式数据诊断南大洋主要锋面与涡旋的特征

锋面和涡旋是南大洋重要的中尺度过程,南极绕极环流(Antarctic Circumpolar Current,ACC)系统中的锋面及其裹携的涡旋构成了能量和物质的东向传播通道,对全球大洋的能量和物质平衡具有重要影响.基于海表高度计和B-SOSE(Biogeochemical Southern Ocean State E...     

Descending surface water at the antarctic marginal ice zone and its contribution to intermediate water: An ice-ocean model

This study concerns the unique physical mechanism of Ekman convergence at the marginal ice zone (ECMIZ) produced by the difference between air-ice drag and air-water drag. A coupled ice-ocean model is used to show the strength and distribution of the ECMIZ with respect to Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW) formation, which is important for the uptake of carbon dioxide. Strong ECMIZ occurs in the Atlantic and Pacific sectors from July to October, matched in time and space with ice melting, while it is significantly weaker due to strongly divergent background winds in the Indian sector. Transport analysis by artificial tracer experiments reveals the interannual variability of the ECMIZ correlates well with the Southern Annular Mode (SAM). The downward transport of surface water at the MIZ during a positive SAM (2001) is about 1.4 times as large as that during a negative SAM (2000). In particular the transport in the Atlantic sector is twice that in the Pacific sector in both years. Once the downward flux is analyzed in isolation, the contribution from synoptic scale variability is found to increase the volume transport of surface water in the eastern region of the Pacific. Assuming strong isopycnal mixing, we suggest that ECMIZ is an important mechanism supplying surface water to the formation of AAIW, and its zonal variability is responsible for the interbasin differences in AAIW properties. In particular, the increased ECMIZ and surface melt water input in the Atlantic sector would produce AAIW that is colder and fresher than in the Pacific.     

Indices based on silicoflagellate assemblages offer potential for paleo-reconstructions of the main oceanographic zones of the Southern Ocean

This study reports detailed silicoflagellate assemblage composition and annual seasonal flux from sediment traps at four locations along a transect across the Southern Ocean frontal systems. The four traps sampled the central Subantarctic Zone (SAZ, 47°S site), the Subantarctic Front (SAF, 51°S site), the Polar Frontal Zone (54°S site) and the Antarctic Zone (61°S site) across the 140°E longitude. Annual silicoflagellate fluxes to the deep ocean exhibited a similar latitudinal trend to those of diatom fluxes reported in previous work, with maxima in the Antarctic Zone and minima in the Subantarctic Zone. The data suggest that, along with diatoms, silicoflagellates are important contributors to biogenic silica export at all sites, particularly in the Subantarctic Zone. Two main silicoflagellate genera were observed, with Stephanocha sp. (previously known as Distephanus) dominating polar waters and Dictyocha sp. important in sub-polar waters. This is consistent with previous use of the Dictyocha / Stephanocha ratio to infer paleotemperatures and monitor shifts in the position of the Polar Frontal Zone in the sedimentary record. It appears possible to further refine the application of this approach by using the ratio between two Dictyocha species, because Dictyocha aculeata dominated at the Subantarctic Front, while Dictyocha stapedia dominated in the central Subantarctic Front. Given the well-defined environmental affinities of both species, a new SAF silicoflagellate index (SAF-SI) based on this ratio is proposed as a useful diagnostic for SAF and SAZ water mass signatures in the Plio-Pleistocene and Holocene sedimentary record.     

基于历史资料和Argo资料的印尼贯通流次表层和中层水起源与路径探讨

利用Argo资料和《世界海洋数据集2001版》(WOD01)温盐历史资料,通过对代表性等位势面上盐度分布的分析,探讨了次表层和中层等不同层次上印尼贯通流(ITF)的起源与路径问题.分析结果表明,ITF的次表层水源主要来自北太平洋,中层水源地既包括北太平洋、南太平洋,同时也不能排除有印度洋的可能性.在印度尼西亚海域西部,ITF的次表层和中层水源分别为北太平洋热带水(NPTW)和中层水(NPIW),经苏拉威西海、望加锡海峡到达弗洛勒斯海,层次越深特征越明显.在印度尼西亚海域东部,发现哈马黑拉-新几内亚水道附近存在次表层强盐度锋面,阻隔了南太平洋热带水(SPTW)由此进入ITF海域;中层水具有高于NPIW和来自南太平洋的南极中层水(AAIW)的盐度值,既可能是AAIW和SPTW在当地发生剧烈垂直混合而形成,也可能是来自印度洋的AAIW向北延伸进入ITF的结果.     

Southern jets of the antarctic circumpolar current in the Eastern Pacific Antarctic

The advent of the era of satellite observations of the ocean surface has resulted in a considerable complication of views on the structure of currents in the World Ocean. Up to eight jets came to be distinguished in the zone of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC). To identify these jets, it is conventional to use qualitative criteria relating a jet’s position to the isoline of a characteristic (temperature, for instance) on any near-horizantal surface. In the present work, based on data of sections and climatology of the World Ocean Circulation Experiment (WOCE) program, we examine the temperature patterns of the subsurface waters of the Southern Ocean, which are commonly used for recognition of fronts. The focus is on the southern jets of the ACC in the Eastern Pacific Antarctic. There are two groups of criteria for these jets, which imply that position of the latter is determined from a certain isotherm on the surface of the minimum (maximum) potential temperature of the Winter water (Upper Circumpolar Deep Water). However, the results of our analysis show that, in fact, the WOCE climatology data allow one to formulate temperature criteria only for the second of the above groups and only for individual sectors of the Southern Ocean-specifically, for the study area. These criteria serve as the basis for determining localization of the southern jets of the ACC in the WOCE sections in this ocean’s region. We also show that the temperature increased by about 0.1°C from the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s in the layer of maximum temperature of the Upper Circumpolar Deep Water in the zone of southern jets of the ACC.     

Fronts, baroclinic transport, and mesoscale variability of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current in the southeast Indian Ocean

Fronts,baroclinic transport,and mesoscale variability of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current(ACC) along 115°E are examined on the basis of CTD data from two hydrographic cruises occupied in 1995 as a part of the World Ocean Circulation Experiment(WOCE cruise I9S) and in 2004 as a part of CLIVAR/CO2 repeat hydrography program.The integrated baroclinic transport across I9S section is(97.2×106±2.2×106) m3/s relative to the deepest common level(DCL).The net transport at the north end of I9S,determined by the south Australian circulation system,is about 16.5×106m3/s westward.Relying on a consistent set of water mass criteria and transport maxima,the ACC baroclinic transport,(117×106 ±6.7×10 6)m3/s to the east,is carried along three fronts:the Subantarctic Front(SAF) at a mean latitude of 44°-49°S carries(50.6×10 6 ±13.4×106)m3/s;the Polar Front(PF),with the northern branch(PF-N) at 50.5°S and the southern branch(PFS) at 58°S,carries(51.3×106 ±8.7×106)m3/s;finally,the southern ACC front(SACCF) and the southern boundary of the ACC(SB) consist of three cores between 59°S and 65°S that combined carry(15.2×106 ±1.8×106)m3/s.Mesoscale eddy features are identifiable in the CTD sections and tracked in concurrent maps of altimetric sea level anomalies(SLA) between 44°-48°S and 53°-57°S.Because of the remarkable mesoscale eddy features within the SAF observed in both the tracks of the cruises,the eastward transport of the SAF occurs at two latitude bands separating by 1°.Both the CTD and the altimetric data suggest that the mesoscale variability is concentrated around the Antarctic Polar Frontal Zone(APFZ) and causes the ACC fronts to merge,diverge,and to fluctuate in intensity and position along their paths.     

Characterising the intermediate depth waters of the Pacific Ocean using δ13C and other geochemical tracers

Evidence from geochemical tracers (salinity, oxygen, silicate, nutrients, alkalinity, dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), carbon isotopes (δ¹³C_DIC) and radiocarbon (Δ¹⁴C)) collected during the Pacific Ocean World Ocean Circulation Experiment (WOCE) voyages (P10, P15, P17 and P19) indicate there are three main water types at intermediate depths in the Pacific Ocean; North Pacific Intermediate Water (NPIW), Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW) and Equatorial Pacific Intermediate Waters (EqPIW). We support previous suggestions of EqPIW as a separate equatorial intermediate depth water as it displays a distinct geochemical signature characterised by low salinity, low oxygen, high nutrients and low Δ¹⁴C (older radiocarbon). Using the geochemical properties of the different intermediate depth waters, we have mapped out their distribution in the main Pacific Basin.From the calculated pre-formed δ¹³C_air–sea conservative tracer, it is evident that EqPIW is a combination of AAIW parental waters, while quasi-conservative geochemical tracers, such as radiocarbon, also indicate mixing with old upwelling Pacific Deep Waters (PDW). The EqPIW also displays a latitudinal asymmetry in non-conservative geochemical tracers and can be further split into North (NEqPIW) and South (SEqPIW) separated at ～2°N. The reason for this asymmetry is caused by higher surface diatom production in the north driven by higher silicate concentrations.The δ¹³C signature measured in benthic foraminifera, Cibicidoides spp. (δ¹³C_Cib), from four core tops bathed in AAIW, SEqPIW and NPIW, reflects that of the overlying intermediate depth waters. The δ¹³C_Cib from these cores show similarities and variations down-core that highlight changes in mixing over the last 30,000 yr BP. The reduced offset between the δ¹³C_Cib of AAIW and SEqPIW during the last glacial indicates that AAIW might have had an increased influence in the eastern equatorial Pacific (EEP) region at this time. Additional intermediate depth cores and other paleo-geochemical proxies such as Cd/Ca and radiocarbon are required from the broader Pacific Ocean to further understand changes in intermediate depth water formation, circulation and mixing over glacial/interglacial cycles.