1906. No. 3. AMUNDSEN'S OCEANOGRAPHIC OBSERVATIONS IN 1901. 17 
The course of the North Cape Current, running into the Barents Sea, 
is to some extent indicated by the isohalines of 34°8 and 34'9 09/00. Near to 
the northern Norwegian coast comparatively warm coastwater with lower 
salinity runs eastwards into the southern and southeastern parts ofthe Barents 
Sea, but farther north a very narrow branch of warm water with salinity 
above 34'8 and 34'9 9/00 extends eastwards and is bent in a curve towards 
the northeast, corresponding in shape very markedly with the configuration 
of the bottom (cf. Fig. 1, p. 24). The existence and exact position of this 
branch is proved by the observations of Amundsen, the Capella (both in 
July and August, 1901), and Knipowitsch, which all of them agree re- 
markably well, with the exception that Amundsen’s observations prove 
that this branch with surface salinities above 34'8 and 34'9°/00 extended 
farther north (towards 75° N. Lat.) on June 5, 19017, than later in July, 
when Knipowitsch, in his northern Section), found surface salinities below 
34'0 %00 in the same region, although there was a very marked indication 
of the same branch in deeper strata (at 100 metres)!. This saline water 
is evidently stopped in its eastward course near Longitude 35° E. by the 
bank between 72° and 73°, with depths less than 250 metres? and is 
forced in a northerly direction, towards a submarine valley or channel in the 
bank to the north, in about 74 N. Lat. and 35° E. Long. (Fig. 1, p. 24). The 
soundings in these regions are not sufficiently accurate, and too scatteerd. 
to allow the isobaths to be drawn with certainty; it is therefore un- 
certain whether there may possibly be a deeper channel traversing the 
bank at this place. All observations from later years seem to indicate that 
at this particular place there is a maximum in the salinities (see Pl. II & 
IV). It is uncertain, whether a narrow branch is possibly sent off east- 
wards towards Amundsen’s Stat. 11, following the southern slope of the 
channel which possibly runs in this direction. As, howewer, there are 
very few soundings in this region the existence and form of this channel 
is uncertain. 
The isohaline of 34°4°00 seems to indicate that there may possibly 
be a tedency towards a kind of cyclonic movement in the sea east of 
Bear Island where, according to Amundsen’s observations, a tongue of 
water with salinity below 34'0 00 extends southeastwards. 
Knipowitsch’s observations, along his northern section, as well as those 
.of the Capella, indicate that in July, 1901, a broad tongue of water, with 
i Knipowitsch, Loc. cit. Pl. 6, Fig. 5. 
? See Nansen, Oceanography of N. Polar Basin, Norw. North Polar Exp. 1893—96, 
Scientific Results, vol. III, No. 9, PI. III. 
Vid.-Selsk. Skrifter. I. M.-N. Kl. 1906. No. 3. 
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