HYDROLOGY OF THE BRANSFIELD STRAIT 



In the topographical chart (Fig. 59) St. WS 384 is shown as occurring on the right-hand 

 side of a strong current close to St. WS 383. In the southern hemisphere the lines of 

 equal density in a vertical section will slope downwards to the left-hand side of the 

 current direction provided the current decreases in velocity downwards from the surface. 

 Consequently the lighter surface water will form a deeper layer on the left-hand of the 

 current, whilst to the right, denser water will appear close to the surface. The vertical 

 section of density distribution along this line of stations shows lighter water on either 

 side of St. WS 384. 



Accumulations of light water in the surface layers at Sts. WS 385 and WS 386 are 

 seen in the vertical sections. Towards the coast of Trinity Peninsula the mean density 

 for all depths increases. The influence of the warm deep water is very small and is 

 restricted to a poor development at St. WS 382, except for rudimentary traces of 



WS386 W5387 WS388 



STATION WS3B2 WS383 WS384 W5385 

 KING GEORGE I. 2720 27201710 2700 



W5387 

 2730 



= 2740- 



TRINITY PENIN^ 



500m 



1000 



1500 



EOOOm 



Fig. 19. Vertical section of density (o>): King George Island to Trinity Peninsula, February 1929. 



intermediate maxima in temperature at some of the other stations in the section. 

 St. WS 382 is the only station on this line at which Antarctic bottom water is absent. 

 At all the other stations Antarctic bottom water is present at depths below 300-400 m. 

 Owing to the very considerable vertical mixing which takes place in winter in the 

 Bransfield Strait, the salinity of the Antarctic bottom water is at all times less inside the 

 strait than in the surrounding seas outside. 



In the section from Livingston Island to Trinity Peninsula, Figs. 20-22, similar 

 conditions to those of the more north-easterly section appear, with the exception that 

 the Weddell Sea influence is lessened. Also the warm deep water is much more 

 apparent at the station nearest to Livingston Island, St. WS 393, than at the corre- 

 sponding station, St. WS 382, in the north-east section, despite the fact that St. WS 393 



