Surprisingly rapid spreading of newly formed intermediate waters across the North Atlantic Ocean

Ocean temperature, salinity and chlorofluorocarbon concentration data are used to track the recent spreading of cold intermediate-depth water masses from the Labrador Sea across the northern North Atlantic Ocean. These water masses, which are formed from surface waters by deep convection in the Labrador Sea, spread three to four times faster than previously estimated, with associated consequences for the North Atlantic thermohaline circulation.