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Atmospheric Administration
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Scientists Quantify Large Decrease in Antarctic Bottom Water


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March 20, 2012

PMEL scientists have found a large reduction in the amount of the coldest deep ocean water, called Antarctic Bottom Water, all around the Southern Ocean over the past few decades.  Sarah Purkey, a University of Washington graduate student, and PMEL’s Dr. Gregory Johnson present these findings in Journal of Climate article now available online.

Changes in this water mass contribute to sea level rise and Earth’s heat uptake. Read more in the NOAA press release.