1906. No. 3. AMUNDSEN’S OCEANOGRAPHIC OBSERVATIONS IN 1901. 37 
Atlantic water had then probably been displaced towards the west. 
There was, however, found no sign of this water on the surface 
towards the northwest along the route between May 25 and 27 
(see PL I and Table I); but there is of course a possibility that 
there may have been warmer water under the cold surface layer. 
By studying the chart Pl. I, it is seen that along Amundsen’s 
route between May 20 (Stat. 9) and May 22 (Stat. 10) there was the 
same kind of surface-water as was formerly (about May 6) found further 
east!. The water at the two Stations 9 and ı0 is also very much the 
same at all depths, but entirely different from that of Stat.2. It is seen 
that whilst the densities are fairly similar in the deeper strata (cf. the 
isopycnals of 27°90 and 28°00), the densities of the strata near the 
surface have become much lower (below 27-80), in spite of the low 
temperatures in May (Stats. 9 and 10), than they were at the end of 
April (Sat. 2), when they were nearly 27-90. It is easy to understand 
that such lighter surface layers may move west and northwestwards 
away from the coasts. 
The surface observations in this shallow sea, at this early season, 
tell much about the underlying strata. It may as a rule be assumed 
that the temperature and salinity have vertically been fairly uniform. In 
the most southern region (Pl. I and Table I), visited by Amundsen, the 
surface salinities approached 34'0 °/ with temperatures about —1'2 and 
—1°5° C., whilst along the most eastern part of his route, the salinities 
were comparatively high (34°50—34°79 wo) and the temperatures about 
the freezing-point of sea-water (—1-9° C.). During this time (April 29— 
30, and May 3—7) the temperature of the air was low (about —7° and 
—9° C.) and much ice was formed on the sea-surface, which evidently 
much increased the salinity?. 
Later in the season the conditions are, however, entirely changed 
in this part of the sea. The water is heated to considerably higher 
temperatures, especially near the surface, and being diluted with much 
river-water and by the melting of ice, its salinities are much decreased 
(see above pp. 14—15). 
Å It may be possible that an increase of the waters of the river Pechora, flowing into 
the sea to the south-east, may displace the whole bulk of water some distance towards 
the north-west, or west; but it seems more probable that winds might be able to 
produce such a displacement; there had not, however, -been much easterly or south- 
easterly winds during May. 
It has been pointed out above, that water-samples taken during periods with such low 
temperatures, when the sea-water is cooled to freezing-point, give not very reliable 
salinities, especially those taken with Amundsen’s small water-bottle (se above pp. 7 
and 33). 
w 
