Nantucket Shoal Lightship (Figure 6, Table 6) 



Unfortunately the data from this important station are tliin and 

 scattered after mid-April. 



It is probably safe to say that the surface winter minim\am ap- 

 peared in raid-February with temperatures averaging greater than 38*'F; a 

 similar minimum v;as observed in early Ilarch the previous year. Below 100 

 feet temperatures fell to less than 36°F in Februaiy, with an intrusion 

 of cold water at depth. Just previous to this time DELAWAHE cruise 57-1 

 made bathythermograph lowerings in South Cliannel, over Georges Bank and 

 in the region surro\inding the lightship. No v/ater of 35°? was found either 

 at the surface or at depth, except near Browns Bank and Eastern Channel 200 

 miles to the east. Thus it appears possible that the 35° water observed at 

 this station in Februar;;,'" was formed well inshore where chilling had advanced 

 more rapidly, and moved offshore in a southeasterly direction along the 

 bottom. Since its appearance at the li^tship was preceded and followed by 

 isothennal conditions at UO^F, one assumes this parcel of chilled water 

 simply moved by down the slope. 



• The partial data for August and September shown in Table 6 in- 

 dicate summer temperatures well above the mean for 1914.7-1952. 



Late winter and early spring salinities are like those for the 

 same period in 1956. 



32 



