Abstract. Argo float time series data are used to study thesalinity field at the depth of the salinity minimum produced
by Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW). It is found that farfrom showing the smooth erosion of the minimum that would
result from diffusive flow, the salinity field is characterizedby features of geostrophic turbulence such as fronts, eddiesand intrusions. Comparison of the Argo float observationswith the climatology of the World Ocean Atlas (WOA) reveals significant differences between the two data sets. Some of the differences may have their origin in problems with the WOA data density in remote regions of the South Pacific,but most are more likely produced by interannual variationsof the AAIW salinity field.