Paper 14 



TRANSECT ANALYSIS 



Locations of features are given in parentheses in kilometers from 

 the 200-m isottath. positive is seaward. 



JaQuary- Unfortunately/ the three January transects occurred in 

 the latter part of the month/' but still they are relevant in that 

 they show the early beginning of the stratification which usually 

 occurs in late February or early March. 



The Mormac Riael 76-01 (Fig. 14.1) crossed through the area 

 during 24-25 January- This transect showed the normal isothermal 

 water inshore with slight warming of surface waters offshore. 

 The sea surface temperatures (SST's) ranged from <4C to >21C 

 which were warmer than usual (on the inshore end of the transect) 

 for that title of year. The Shelf Water/Slope Water front was 

 crossed at station 3 (-65 km) and the north wall of the Gulf 

 Stream was crossed between stations 4 and 5 (+160 km). 



The USCGC DaUas 76-01 (Fip. 14.2) crossed through the area 

 during 26-27 January (just after the Mgrmac Eiggi) . The Dallas 

 section did not extend as far offshore as did the Rigel section/ 

 and therefore the SST's shown range only from <4C to >T5C. Again 

 the normal isothermal water structure was evident with a slight 

 warming of the surface waters showing up/ especially between 

 stations 5 and 10 (-53 km to +75 km). The Shelf Water/Slope 

 rtater front was crossed between stations 6 and 7 (-15 km). 



The Lash Atlanticg 76-01 (Fig. 14.3) crossed through the area 

 during 31 January-1 February. The SST's ranged from <5C to >14C. 

 The nearshore water column structure was isothermal/ while the 

 offshore waters were beginning to show stratification. The 

 subsurface warming (100 m) was probably due to Slope Water 

 intruding up onto the shelf. The Shelf Water/Slope Water front 

 was crossed between stations 12 and 13 (+15 km). 



While it may not have been obvious from these three vertical 

 sections/ comparisons with the past eight years of Gulf Stream 

 SST data" indicated that the January surface water temperatures 

 were about 0.5C warmer than normal and that some evidence/ at 

 least in offshore waters/ showed that surface stratification was 

 beginning to develop early. 



"Ii!£ Guif stream Monthly Summary/ U.S. Naval Oceanog raphi c 

 Office/ Vols. 4 through 9 (1969-1974); gulfstream/ National 

 Weather Service/ Vols. I and II (1975-1976). 



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