Based on the properties of surface waters (temperature and salinity), vertical stratification, ocean fronts and marine circulation, it is possible to identify oceanographic regimes:

Río de la Plata, Magellan and El Rincón regimes, associated with discharges of fresh or low salinity waters.

Shelf, waters of sub-Antarctic origin diluted by continental discharge.

Subtropical, warm and highly saline waters from the Brazil Current.

Sub-Antarctic-Subtropical, transition zone by the collision between the Brazil and the Malvinas Current.

Sub-Antarctic, cold waters, low in salinity and with a high nutrient concentration. It includes the Slope Front, narrow transition between the sub-Antarctic waters of the continental shelf and the western edge of the waters from the Malvinas Current.

Polar, cold waters (< 4 ºC), with low salinity and high nutrient concentration.