[1] AIW is formed in small quantities compared to other water masses, and has limited influence outside of the Arctic domain.
[3] It is generally accepted that AIW is formed and modified in the north part of Arctic domain.
As AIW moves from north to south along the Greenland continental slope, its temperature and salinity, on the whole, decrease southwards due to mixing with surface cold water.
For example, the upper AIW in Iceland sea increased from about 10% of the total volume in fall to over 21% in winter.
Similar process can also be found in Greenland sea, but with a smaller amount of formed upper AIW.