I9I5- ^''-^• 2. 



SPITSBERGEN' WATERS. 



21 



The mean temperature-anomaly for December ist 1911 to May 31st 

 191 2 was — 0.43*^0. at die five Norwegian stations, while for December 

 ist 1909 to May 315t 191 o it was 161 "C. The mean anomaly for the 

 two winters 1910 to 1911 and 1911 to 1912 was 0.32® C, and for the two 

 winters 1908 to 1909 and 1909 to 1910 was 1.15® C. [see 1912, pp. 42 

 and 43]. The differences between these mean temperatures are conse- 

 quenti}- in better harmony with the difference of temperature (about 1.0® C.) 

 which the Spitsbergen Adantic Current j ,j^_, 



was colder in 1912 than in 1910, accor- 

 ding to our observations. 



Helland-Hansen and I also pointed 

 out [1912, pp. 44 et seq.^ that the anual 

 variations in the distribution of ice in the 

 Barents Sea in May seem to agree with 

 the anual variations in the temperature of 

 the Spitsbergen Adantic Current in the 

 same years. 



The area of open water in the Ba- in - 

 rents Sea east of 20'^ E. Long, was about " 

 237000 square kilometres in May 191 2 

 (according to the charts published by the Danish ?' 

 and 492000 square kilometres in May 1910. There . _; :. _ ; _. r 



tionally small area of open water in the Barents Sea in May 1912, ar.- : i 

 is in good agreement with the low temperature of the Spitsbergen At- 

 lantic Current that summer. 



The cur\-es in Fig. 19 demonstrate the variations in the temperatiu^- 

 anomaly of the Spitsbergen Adantic Current and in the open water in the 

 Barents Sea in May for the years when there are observations. It ought, 

 however, to be remembered that the assumed anomalies of the Spitsbergen 

 Current are based on an imperfect observation-material, and the obtained 

 results cannot therefore be considered as verv trxistworthv. 



el 



The Water of the Spitsbergen Fjords, and the Coast 



Water. 



In our paper "On the Sea Wesc :f Spitsbergen" Helland-Ha-nsex and 

 I [191 2. pp. 54 ft seq.] have discussed che nature and origin of the water of 

 the Spitsbergen tjords. especially Ice Fjord. The ob5er\ation5 of 191 2 confirm 

 on the whole the correctness of the views which we then held in this 

 respect, though they may have to be slighdy modified as regards the 



