monthly cruises along approximately the same track flown on aerial temperature survey of 

 northwestern sector. 



The temperature and drift bottle recovery data from in-flight releases have provided 

 a more comprehensive description of surface flow in the northeastern sector. An example 

 of the da til obtained is shown in Figures 3 and 4. 



The most prominent features indicated from the isotherm patterns are as follows: 

 (1) an inti'usion of warmer offshore water into the region southeast of the Mississippi Delta 

 indicating a flow roughly paralleling depth contours; (2) strong temperature gradients in the 

 area south and east of the Delta indicating variations in river discharge patterns and a signi- 

 ficant increase in volume outflow during February and March; (3) anomalous temperatures 

 in the canyon area south of Pensacola, Florida. 



These temperature anomalies suggest an area of upwelling or the existence of an 

 eddy. 



The data obtained from these surveys and other efforts provide no basis for an eval- 

 uation of the absolute accuracy of the IRT when used for aerial surveys. It is suggested, 

 however, in the area described that a greater error is introduced due to inaccuracy of navi- 

 gational systems than those of the instrument itself when strong temperature gradients exists. 



-73- 



