At depths below 200 m, relatively warm, salty water spreads poleward from the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC). This deep water mass is cooled, through interaction with the atmosphere, feeding the formation of dense bottom water which in turn influences much of the world ocean. Significant poleward spreading is accomplished within the Weddell gyre of the Atlantic sector of the southern ocean. An extensive data set obtained in the 1980's within the Weddell gyre provides a detailed view of the subsurface temperature maximum (T-max) stratum defining the top of the deep water mass. The seasonal sea ice growth and retreat pattern reflects the T-max distribution. There is evidence for subdivision of the T-max into two cold centers, which may reflect secondary circulation features within the gyre. The primary inflow of warm deep water is derived from the southern edge of the ACC near 20¿--30¿E. The inflow spreads to the west along 65¿S and is divided into smaller ''pools'' of relatively warm water west of Maud Rise with a cold feature directly over the rise, in a manner shown by models of topographically generated eddies. Variability of the T-max stratum in the vicinity of Maud Rise arising from changes in the vigor of the large-scale circulation may influence the regional vertical heat fluxes and be related to interannual variability of the sea ice cover and to the recurring polynya feature typical of the region. ¿ American Geophysical Union 1989