H. Stommel's idea about the abyssal circulation in all the world has theoretically departed from the existence of the sources (areas of sinking motion) in the northern part of North Atlantic and in Weddell Sea, and the steady ascending motion in deep layer in sea areas of middle latitudes. The present author has researched into the abyssal circulation from the viewpoint of data analysis. The authors study resulted in the following : The sinking motion of the northern part of North Atlantic is superior to it of Antarctic Ocean on an average. According to the distribution of oxygen, it may be seen that there is an area of sinking motion in Ross Sea. From the horizontal distribution of phosphate-p at deep layer, we can find that abyssal circulation is similar to chart of Stommel.
The problem of the circulation in the Japan Sea is treated in relation to sinking motion which is estimated in the northern part of the Japan Sea in winter. From this study it is suggested that it is very important to carry out current profile observations down to one thousand meter depth and especially to observe north-south components of deep sea currents vertically.
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