The hydrography of the Gulf of Venezuela 



125 



Along the Atlantic coast the bays and estuaries discharge into, and lose their 

 identity in producing, a broad band of coastal water of reduced salinity which separates 

 the coast from the full sea water of the ocean. Along the Venezuelan shore a distinct 

 band of coastal water is lacking, and Caribbean water in full strength penetrates the 

 Gulf of Venezuela. The front separating the bay water from the full sea water is the 

 mixing zone over the sill of Calabozo Bay. The water in this zone may be considered 

 to be the rudimentary counterpart of the coastal water of the Atlantic coast. 



If this view be accepted, the outer cell of the circulation of the Gulf of Venezuela 

 finds its counterpart in those processes taking place along the margin of the Gulf 



ir 7r 



Fig. 9. Temperature at 1 metre depth in Gulf of Venezuela 



Stream and in the slope water, by which the coastal water of the Atlantic coast becomes 

 incorporated and lost in the general circulation of the ocean. 



Tides 



The tides at Aruba, like those of the Caribbean in general, are of the mixed type in 

 which the diurnal constituents predominate. The diurnal range of tide is 0-8 feet. In 

 contrast, at Zaparita Island, off the mouth of Tablazo Bay, the tide is predominantly 

 semi-diurnal and the mean range is 3 feet. The dimensions of the Gulf of Venezuela 

 are such that the semi-diurnal constituents are augmented by resonance to a high 

 degree, while the diurnal constituents are relatively unaltered. 



