Pathways of Antarctic Bottom Water propagation in the Atlantic

We analyze propagation of Antarctic Bottom Water in the abyssal depths of the Atlantic Ocean based on the author's measurements in 2002-2022. Antarctic Bottom Water is formed over the continental slope in the Weddell Sea. The bottom water that is formed in the Weddell Sea flows through the Orkney Passage to the Scotia Sea. Its potential temperature in the Orknay Passage is -0.54°C. Then it propagates to the Argentine Basin. The main flow from the Argentine Basin is directed to the Vema Channel (31° S), then to the Brazil Basin. The water enters the Vema Channel with a temperature of -0.13°C and leaves it with a temperature of -0.08°C. Further, the flow is divided into equatorial transport through the Romanche (0º N) and Chain fracture zones and the flow to the northwest into the North American Basin. Through the Vema Fracture Zone (11° N), the flow is directed to the basins of the East Atlantic. The predominant penetration of Antarctic waters into the Northeast Atlantic basins occurs through the Vema Fracture Zone and not through the Romanche Fracture Zone due to strong mixing of deep waters in the Romanche FZ caused by internal tidal waves. This research was supported by RSF grant 21-77-2004.