Scientific Intelligence — Geology and Mineralogy. 179 



cinity of the glaciers of that island, during the summers of 1838 and 

 1839. The principal results flowing from these observations are 

 the following : — 



(1.) Temperature of the sea at the surface. \st. In the middle 

 of summer the temperature of the Icy sea is sensibly the same as 

 that of the air. 2d, At all times, as a mean, that of the sea is a 

 little higher, owing to the influence of the gulf-stream, a current of 

 warm water, whose origin is in the Gulf of Mexico, and of which 

 some of the branches are lost on the western coasts of Spitzbergen. 

 Zd, The immense glaciers of Spitzbergen, which dip and fall down 

 into the sea, have a very sensible cooling eifect on the surface. The 

 coasts of Norway, the glaciers of which do not descend to the level 

 of the ocean, tend rather to raise its temperature. 



(2.) Thermometrical soundings at great depths. These tempera- 

 tures are always the mean of indication, agreeing well with each other, 

 of several thermometers a deversement by M. Walfordin, let down 

 to the bottom of the sea together, and protected from the pressure 

 by a tube of glass hermetically closed. The scale engraven on the 

 stalk is arbitrary, and nine divisions correspond as a mean to a centi- 

 grade degree. The following are the most important consequences 

 resulting from these experiments. \st. Between 70° 40' and 79° 33' 

 latitude N., and from 7° to 21° 15' longitude east from Paris, the 

 temperatures of the Icy sea decreased with the depth during the 

 month of July and August. 2c?, These temperatures are always 

 above zero, at least to the depth of 870 ni6tres, the greatest depth 

 at which these experiments were made. 3(i, By comparing the 

 temperature of the surface with that of the bottom, and with the 

 intermediate temperatures, it was found that the decrease is uniform, 

 and as a mean 0°'675 for 100 metres. 4i/«, The temperature of a 

 liquid bed is the more equal and constant the deeper it is. 



(3.) Temperature of the sea in the neighbourhood of the glaciers of 

 Spitzbergen. \st. In the month of July and August, the tempera- 

 ture of the surface, although very near the point of congelation, is 

 always above zero. 2d, From the surface to a depth of 70 metres, 

 the temperature sometimes increases, sometimes diminishes. 3c?, 

 Beyond 70 metres^ it is always decreasing. 4</i, The decrease of 

 the temperature between the surface and the bottom is not uniform. 

 5<A, Between the surface and 70 metres deep, the temperature is 

 never below zero. Qtli, Beyond 70 metres, the temperature of the 

 bed which covers the bottom of the sea is below zero. Ith, As a 

 mean, the temperature of this bed is 1° 75', and consequently supe- 

 rior to that of the maximum density and the point of congelation of 

 sea-water, as they have been determined by M. Despretz. Qth, 

 These facts admit of easy explanation if we recollect that the maxi- 

 nmm of density and the point of congelation of salt-water, are many 

 degrees below zero ; and if we consider the complex influences, inter- 

 mittent, and of variable intensity, exorcised by the solidification of 



