HYDROLOGY OF THE BRANSFIELD STRAIT 61 



the north-east setting current. Similarly an accumulation of pack-ice to the south-west 

 might also have had the same effect. 



Normally, however, the north-easterly current piles up water against the South 

 Shetland Islands and through the various narrow straits separating these islands. Thus 

 the main part of the current along the South Shetland Islands sets to the north-east and 



Fig. 67. Diagrammatic sketch of circulation round the South Shetland Islands 



and position of overfalls. 



some passes through the individual straits of the islands curving to the south-west on 

 the northern shores of the islands, causing an anticlockwise circulation. This is shown 

 diagrammatically in Fig. 67. 



Fig. 68. Effect of north-easterly wind on currents in Nelson Strait. 



The south-west going stream on the northern side of the islands has a tendency to 



flow southwards down the various straits, just as the north-east setting current in the 



main Bransfield Strait has also a tendency to pass through the individual small straits 



but in a contrary direction. Both currents then meet outside the narrow straits on the 



