1912. No. 12. 



THE SEA WEST OF SPITSBERGEN. 



53 



(corresponding to about — 1-39" C. at the surface) and a salinity of be- 

 tween 34.87 and 34.90 '^m This water, with a density (ffi) of about 28.10, 

 spreads slowly along the bottom of the sea outwards from this region. 

 By intermixture with overlying waters the temperature as well as the 



Fig. 40. Observations of the Bottom-water at 1200 metres, during the Amundsen Exp. in 

 1901, the Belgica Exp. in 1905 and the Isachsen Exp. in 1910. 



salinity of this coldest and deepest water may gradually be slightly raised. 

 It has also to be considered that the formation of bottom-water is a some- 

 what complicated process going on during a great part of the winter, and 



that a great deal of the sinking water will not reach the greatest depths, 

 but will form deep intermediate layers having temperatures and salinities 

 somewhat higher than those of the coldest bottom-water. 



