CONSERVATION OF DEEP SEA BEDS. 1033 



sea is also affected to some extent by the temperature of 

 winds. Mainly, however, it is determined by the direct 

 heat of the sun. Accordingly, surface-temperature varies 

 with the seasons, while the temperature of the depths is 

 uniform throughout the year. In temperate regions the 

 heat of the sun does not penetrate many fathoms, and as 

 the heated water is of less specific gravity than the cold 

 water below, it remains on the surface as a distinct stratum, 

 not sharply defined, but gradually merging in that on 

 which it is superimposed. Mr. Scott, of the Meteorolo- 

 gical Office, in giving a general account of the sea surface- 

 temperature round the British Islands, for the months of 

 February and August, states fgj that in February the 

 temperature never reaches 50, but closely approaches that 

 degree at the entrance of the Channel, ranges about 45 

 round Ireland, and does not much exceed 40 on the east 

 coast, from the Thames to Shetland. In August the 

 temperature round Ireland is about 55, and in the Channel 

 and southern part of the North Sea, as far as the Wash, 

 about 60 ; while along the remaining British coasts the 

 mean is again about 55. Thus it appears that in the track 

 of the Gulf Stream the variation between the summer and 

 winter temperature is only about 10, whereas on the East 

 Anglian coast it is 20, and on the east coast of Scotland 

 1 5, all of the Fahrenheit scale. The physical conditions of 

 the North Sea were thoroughly investigated some twelve 

 years ago by a German Commission, headed by Dr. H. A. 

 Meyer, of Kiel, for which purpose the Government vessel 

 Pomerania was placed at their disposal. The results of 

 these investigations, as regards temperature, were to this 

 effect : In January the surface temperature is highest in 

 the extreme south and in the north, by reason of the Gulf 

 (g) "Elementary Meteorology," 1883, p. 319. 



