Source: wikibot/water-masses

= Water masses
{wiki=Water_masses}

Water masses are large volumes of ocean water that have distinct characteristics, such as temperature, salinity, and density, which differentiate them from surrounding water. These characteristics are shaped by their formation processes, which include mixing, evaporation, precipitation, and interactions with the atmosphere and ice. Water masses are important in oceanography and climatology because they influence global circulation patterns, climate, and marine ecosystems.