It is on the surface of the ocean that the water attains its original characteristics of temperature and salinity by the processes operating there. Any modifications that occur to the T-S relationships are brought about by mixing with water masses lying nearby with different characteristics.
The mixing may be either vertical or horizontal. As a result of mixing with adjacent water masses, the T-S relationships are changed to a certain extent. However, if we study the rate of change of the characteristics of any water mass, we can easily get an idea of the amount of dilution with other water messes by mixing which is taking place.
Wust devised what is called the “core method”; by which water masses could be traced by their extreme values of temperature (T) and salinity (8).
A diagram showing the maximum salinity of a water mass near its source may be compared with that at the new position where the original water mass gets modified. The decrease in this value at any intermediate point gives an accurate value of its dilution.
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Many oceanographers have done commendable work for describing the distribution of water in different oceans regarding the frequency of temperature and salinity relationships.
While Cochrane studied the characteristics of the surface water of the Pacific Ocean in its different areas and for different seasons of the year, Pollak concentrated on the Indian Ocean and Montgomery on the Atlantic and the World Ocean.