Table 4. --Average surface temperatures, salinities, and densities in 

 the quadrants of the survey region, H. M. Smith cruise 21 



Temperature distribution 



The surface bucket temperatures obtained at each bathythermograph 

 position are contoured on figure 26 at 0.5 F. intervals. As during cruise 

 17 (September), the greatest deviations occurred on the leeward side, where 

 naaximum temperatures of about 79. 5 F. were found west of the island of 

 Hawaii, in the vicinity of station 37, along the southern border of the sur- 

 vey region between stations 59 and 65, and between stations 40 and 41, 

 south of the island of Oahu. The coldest water, 76. 6 F. , on the leeward 

 side of the island chain was found in the southeast section of the survey 

 region and in a pocket at station 51. On the windward side the tempera- 

 tures were more uniform, as was also the case during cruise 17, and 

 ranged from 76. 3 F. in the east to 77. 7 F. in the west. 



The increasing average temperatures from east to west on both 

 sides of the island chain suggest that there exists a net surface flow with 

 a westerly component, considering that the survey region is located within 

 latitudes of net gain of heat energy. On the leeward side, the higher tem- 

 peratures and the greater deviations suggest a slower surface transport 

 to the west. Noteworthy is the horizontal temperature gradient along the 

 island chain. This and the other features point to the assumption that water 

 with a westerly component of flow is impinging on the island chain, which 

 provides an effective barrier. 



19 



