FN Archimer Export Format PT J TI Interannual variability of upper ocean water masses as inferred from Argo Array BT AF Kolodziejczyk, Nicolas Llovel, William Portela, Esther AS 1:1;2:2;3:1; FF 1:;2:;3:; C1 Univ. Brest, CNRS, IRD, Ifremer, Laboratoire d’Océanographie Physique et Spatiale (LOPS) Plouzané ,France LEGOS, CNRS/IRD/CNES/UPS Toulouse, France C2 UBO, FRANCE CNRS, FRANCE UM LOPS IN WOS Cotutelle UMR copubli-france IF 3.559 TC 38 UR https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00510/62128/66340.pdf LA English DT Article DE ;water masses;ocean heat content;interannual variability;Argo;mode water;atmospheric forcing AB nterannual variability of Ocean Heat Content (OHC) is intimately linked to ocean water mass changes. Water mass characteristics are imprinted at the ocean surface and are modulated by climate variability on interannual to decadal time scales. In this study, we investigate the water mass change and their variability using an isopycnal decomposition of the OHC. For that purpose, we address the thickness and temperature changes of these water masses using both individual temperature‐salinity profiles and optimal interpolated products from Argo data. Isopycnal decomposition allows us to characterize the water masses interannual variability and decadal trends of volume and OHC. During the last decade (2006–2015), much of interannual and decadal warming is associated with Southern Hemisphere Subtropical Mode Water (STMW) and Subantarctic Mode Water (SAMW), particularly in the South Pacific Eastern Subtropical Mode Water (SPESTMW), the Southeastern Indian Subantarctic Mode Water (SEISAMW) and the Southern Pacific SAMW (SPSAMW). In contrast, Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW) in the Southern Hemisphere and North Atlantic STMW (NASTMW) in the Northern Hemisphere have cooled. This OHC interannual variability is mainly explained by volume (or mass) changes of water masses related to the isopycnal heaving. The forcing mechanisms and interior dynamics of water masses are discussed in the context of the wind stress change and ocean adjustment occurring at interannual time scale. Key points Upper global Ocean mode water are the hot spots of 2006‐2015 ocean heat trend Southern hemisphere mode water gained volume and buoyancy over 2006‐2015 Wind forcing and oceanic adjustment may partly explain the interannual mode water volume change PY 2019 PD AUG SO Journal Of Geophysical Research-oceans SN 2169-9275 PU American Geophysical Union (AGU) VL 124 IS 8 UT 000490464200040 BP 6067 EP 6085 DI 10.1029/2018JC014866 ID 62128 ER EF