AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -The densest ocean water is formed in two primary locations near the poles, where the water is very cold and highly saline as a result of ice formation. The densest deep water mass is formed in the Weddell Sea of Antarctica, and becomes the Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW).

Detailed explanation-2: -Such areas as the Weddell Sea in Antarctica produce the densest water of the oceans. This water, known as Antarctic Bottom Water, sinks to the deepest depths of the oceans.

Detailed explanation-3: -So, the density of ocean water increases and increases as you go to the bottom of the ocean. The deep ocean is layered with the densest water on bottom and the lightest water on top.

Detailed explanation-4: -A combination of high salinity and low temperature near the surface makes seawater dense enough to sink into the deep ocean and flow along the bottom of the basins.

Detailed explanation-5: -Antarctic bottom water (AABW) is the densest global-scale water mass. It is produced around Antarctica, sinks along the Antarctic continental slope and spreads northward to fill most of the ocean deeper than 4 km (Orsi et al., 1999).