paper 7 



In this report we present distributions of surface salinity^ sea 

 surface temperature (SST)/ and heat storage (surface to 100-m 

 Layer) during 1976/ and have extended the previously published 

 1972-75 time series of their anomalies through 1976. We discuss 

 the 1976 distributions and differences in anomalies from the 

 preceding years- An apparently atypical relation of positive 

 temperature anomalies occurring with negative salinity anomalies 

 off the Pacific coast during October-December 1976 is attributed/ 

 at least partially/ to a decrease in evaporation and weak 

 vertical mixing by winds. 



OBSERVATIONS 



Observational programs and procedures for making XBT observations 

 aboard cooperating merchant shios have been described by Saur and 

 Stevens (1972). The "surface" salinities are determined from 

 water samples drawn at around 7 m below the surface. "Surface" 

 temperatures from the XBT observations are representative of 

 temperatures at about 5 m. Heat storage is presented as average 

 temperature from the surface to ICO m as determined from the XBT 

 observations. These observations were normally scheduled at 4-h 

 i ntervals . 



For 19 76 the number of ship of opportunity transits/ number of 

 observations/ and range of observed values are shown in 

 Table 7.1. 



Table 7.1 



Number of 

 Transits Obs. Minimum Maximum Range 



Surface salinity (o/oo) 

 Surface temp. (C) 



27 814 32.37 35.59 3.22 

 31 926 10.0 25.9 15.9 



Heat storage (C/ 0-10C m) 



30 



86fe 



10.0 



25.2 



15.2 



The locations of the observations are shown in Figures 7.2-7.4. 

 In these/ and other figures/ the location of an observation is 

 given by its great circle distance from a reference point/ 

 21N12'/ 157^*2'/ which is in the ocean channel near Honolulu/ 

 south of M?kepuu Point/ Oahu. 



78 



