HYDROLOGY OF THE BRANSFIELD STRAIT 



57 



which the November temperatures are higher increases at first and then gets less towards 

 Trinity Peninsula and the layer is also closer to the surface in the same direction. 



At all stations the layer below the warm deep water consists of warmer water in 

 February than in November. This is probably due to the effect of the formation of 

 Antarctic bottom water in winter and consequently the temperature of this layer is less 

 in November than in February. 



Close to the land at Sts. WS 382 and WS 476 the salinity in the 0-28 m. layer is 

 higher in November than in February. This may be (i) because in November the 

 surface water is not so much diluted by ice melting as in February; (ii) because in 

 February the surface water may be showing the effect of dilution from the coast; or 

 (iii) because the surface water just south of this position is moving in February at a 

 higher rate than in November and consequently the surface water to the left of this 

 current forms both a lighter and a deeper layer in February than in November. 



Table VII 



At the next pair of stations to the south-east (Sts. WS 384 and WS 478) the water 

 throughout, with the possible exception at a depth of 200 m., is more saline in February 

 than in November. As far as the surface layer is concerned this cannot be due to ice 

 melting in November because the greatest difference occurs at a depth of 60 m., 

 whereas if it were due to ice melting in November the greatest difference would be at 

 the surface itself. The dynamic charts for February, besides showing the Weddell Sea 

 influence occurring farther across the strait towards King George Island than in 

 November, also show an extremely steep gradient close to St. WS 383. In this case the 

 velocity of the north-east current at St. WS 383 is very great in February and conse- 

 quently the layers of equal density will slope down towards the north-west and up 



