Antarctic Bottom Water (ABW) is a deep ocean water mass that forms in the Southern Ocean around Antarctica. It is characterized by its cold temperature and high salinity, making it one of the densest water masses in the world's oceans. ABW is formed primarily through processes of sea ice formation and the cooling of surface waters near the Antarctic continent.
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Antarctic bottom water is a dense southern-origin water mass that ventilates much of the abyssal ocean. Cooling and brine rejection form dense shelf water; its descent and mixing with adjacent waters contribute to Antarctic bottom water production. Shelf production is geographically concentrated and does not mean that every polynya exports water to the abyss.