100 



90 



80 - 

 „ 70 - 

 — ■ 60 - 



^ 50 - 



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Q. 



iLi 40 — 



Q 



30 

 20 



10 

 



ro C£fJT€fi Of COLD C£LL 



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72" 70" 



MONTH 



higure 1. — Variations in cold cell temperature and depth along the MORMAC Transect. 



Other June transects, the minimum temperatures were 

 slightly <7°C. 



In July (App. Fig. 55) the cold cell was well developed 

 and crossed at a nearly perpendicular angle. At this time 

 the cell once again had a "double bubble" shape with the 

 shoreward cell cooler (<8°C) than the seaward cell 

 (<10°C). The cell structure was not as well developed as 

 in May and June suggesting the cell has been eroded 

 away, primarily trom the seaward side by slope water as 

 indicated by the warmer cell temperatures there. At this 

 time the minimum temperatures within the cold cell 

 were <8°C. Another crossing later in July by the Trident 

 (App. Fig. 56) showed the minimum temperature to have 

 increased to slightly <9°C. 



In August (App. Fig. 58) the cell structure extended off 

 the continental shelf break out into deeper water sug- 

 gesting the possibility of the beginning of the "calving" 

 process. The minimum temperatures within the cell were 

 still slightly <9°C. 



In September (App. Fig. 59) the cell structure again 

 extended off the continental shelf into deeper water. 



There were five crossings of the cold cell in October 

 (App. Figs. (30 through 64). All transects showed how the 

 cold cell had eroded away. The cell structure was weak at 

 best and all transects showed the minimum cell 

 temperature to be slightly <11°C. The most southern 

 tran.sect (Santa Cruz 75-09, App. Fig. 63) showed the 

 minimum temperature in the cold cell to be slightly 

 <9°C. This is consistent with past observations of the 

 cold cell that showed minimum temperatures exist in the 

 New York Bight Apex and just off the New Jersey Coast 

 (Colton and Stoddard 1973). 



Shelf water-slope water front. — SOOP transects 

 crossed the SSF in the Middle Atlantic Bight on 20 occa- 

 sions during 1975 (see Table 11 and App. Figs. 47 through 

 53, 55, and 59 through 68). 



Determinations of frontal crossings were made, as 

 previously discussed, on the basis of subsurface horizon- 

 tal temperature gradients shown on the vertical sections 

 with additional supporting evidence being drawn from 

 sea surface temperature and salinity data. To provide a 

 means of verification of the position of the front as deter- 

 mined from SOOP sections, comparisons were made 

 when possible with the Gulfstream monthly summary 

 (National Weather Service 1975), the NAVOCEANO 

 Experimental Ocean Frontal Analysis Charts (U.S. 

 Naval Oceanographic Office 1975), and the NESS Ex- 

 perimental Gulf Stream Analysis (N-69) charts 

 (National Environmental Satellite Service 1975). 



In general the frontal positions determined from the 

 SOOP transects agreed within ±15 n.mi. (27.8 km) 

 (usually much closer) with the various satellite data 

 sources. 



In March (App. Fig. 47) the front was crossed between 

 stations 6 and 8. At this time the remnant winter water of 

 <6°C was still in evidence. 



There were three crossings of the SSF in April (App. 

 Figs. 48, 49, and 50). The 3-5 April crossing (App. Fig. 

 48) showed the SSF extending well seaward of the 100-m 

 depth contour usually associated with the front. 

 Contrasting with this, the 28-29 April crossing (App. Fig. 

 50) showed the SSF back upon the continental shell near 

 the 100-m contour. Also with this transect was the eddy 

 feature located between stations 25 and 28 (found in 

 Bisagni 1976). 



