360 DEPARTMENT OF THE NATAL SERVICE 



NOVA SCOTIA AND NEWFOUNDLAND BANKS (TABLE 16). 



4. C.G.S. "Acadia" (May 29 to June 4). 



Section V. Stations 1-16. 



This section runs from the Nova Scotian coast off Halifax, over Sable Island bank 

 towards the Gulf Stream. The section in its seaward half seems to run along the 

 border region between the Salter and warmer Atlantic water and the cold water from 

 the north. This is shown by the undulating course of the isohalines as well as by the 

 successive temperature maxima and minima all along the section. 



Salinity. — From the surface down to a depth of about 50m. intermediate water 

 is found at the first four stations; over the Sable Island bank it appears again very 

 faintly near the surface. The bank-water Ave find near the coast in a stratum 

 between 50 and 125m., and over Sable Island bank it is present from the surface down 

 to 70m .to the west, and 60m. to the east of the bank. Out from the bank the S2t 

 isohaline has an undulating course between 50 and 80m., rising suddenly between 

 stations 12 and 13 and reaching the surface between 13 and 14. The slope water occu- 

 l)ies the rest of the section, with the exception of station 10, where Atlantic water is 

 found from the surface down to 400m. 



The extensive masses of slope-water may be understood when we remember that 

 this part of the section runs along the southern slopes of the Newfoundland banks. 



Tempe'iature. — The surface tem]ierature is comparatively uniform between 4° 

 and 5-5° C. as far out as station 13, thence the temperature increases to 12-2° C. at 

 station 16. In the upper stratum between 25 and 30m. the vertical changes in the 

 temperature are small. At station 1, near land, and at station 12, with its strong 

 vertical minimum, the decrease is more rapid. The greatest mean fall in the tem- 

 perature wc lind Leiweeu l!0 and 50m. In depths of 30 to 100m. we have liorizontally 

 tlie greatest changes of temperature, with maxima and minima in succession from 

 station to station. The first minimum ^- 0-25° C. we meet with lat stations 3 and 4; 

 on the western sJopcs of the Sable Island bank the temperature is not much lower 

 than at the surface, but on the eastern side a minimum of 1-25° C. is found at station 

 11. The great miniiuum at station 12, where readings down to -f- 1-7° C. were 

 recorded in the most conspicuous in the section, and has a marked vertical extension. 



Below we find a slightly marked maximum with temperature a little higher than 

 6° C. in depths of 175 - 225m., indicating that we are near to the Gulf Stream. From 

 station 13 the temperature increases, but unevenly, indicating that cold water masses 

 are still present to the north. At station 16 the temperature steadily decreases from a 

 maximum at 75m. down to 400m. The course of the 6° isotherm in depth of 100 - 

 150, may help to explain the above mentioned maxima at stations 11 and 12. 



Section VI. Stations 16-22. 



This section runs from station IG towards the Newfoundland coast, with the last 

 station, station 22, over Green bank. 



Salinity. — The salinity of the surface decreases from station 16 towards the bank, 

 the decrease is most rapid between stations 17a and 18. Over the bank and south to 

 station 18, bank-water of high salinity occupies the superficial layers down to 50- 

 60m. The bottom of the bank is covered by slope-water with the 34 isohaline sloping 

 down from the surface at station 17a to a depth of about 140m. on the slopes of the 

 biuik. The Atlantic water occupies most of the outer part of the section, and the 35 

 isohaline has in the upper 70m. a sloping course touching the surface near station 16. 



Temperature. — We have also a decrease in the surface temperature towards the 

 bank, and this decrease is most conspicuous between stations 17a and 18, with a sud- 



