108 EIGHTH PACIFIC SCIENCE CONGRESS 



are now supervised by Dr. Thompson, and until the reorganization, 

 by Dr. Rex Robinson of the Department of Chemistry. Among the 

 completed topics, and some still in progress: 



(a) Development of an improved analytical method for the deter- 

 mination of potassium, (b) Development of a polarographic method 

 for the determination of nitrate, (c) Examination of the factors affect- 

 ing the determination of silicate ion in sea water. (d) Development 

 and use of an accurate method for the determination of copper. The 

 normal range of concentrations has been found to be between 0.014 

 and 0.050 microgram-atom per liter, with anomalous values in areas of 

 stagnation, (e) Study of the physical-chemical processes involved in 

 the freezing and thawing of sea water with particular reference to the 

 types of salts precipitated and the partition of salts between the ice 

 and the brine, (f) Development and application of methods for the 

 evaluation of the various pigments in plankton, (g) Determination by 

 means of flame spectrophotometry of the quantities of strontium in sea 

 water, (h) Determination of titanium in sea water and marine organ- 

 isms, (i) Development of a method for the determination of organic 

 phosphorus. 



Investigations in geological oceanography have been expanding, 

 particularly those phases concerned with the project supported by the 

 Bonneville Power Administration. A general reconnaissance of the sedi- 

 ments of Puget Sound has been the subject for a Ph.D. thesis of a stu- 

 dent in the Department of Geology. Dr. Richard Bader, one of the re- 

 search staff, has begun a study of the nature and amount of the organic 

 detritus in marine sediments from a variety of local environments. Dr. 

 Gould, who joined the faculty in the fall of 1953, plans to undertake 

 a broad survey of the bathymetry and sediments of both the inshore 

 and offshore areas. 



It is in physical oceanography that the greatest amount of effort 

 has been concentrated. As mentioned elsewhere (Paquette and Barnes) 

 the offshore surveys of the BROWN BEAR have been directed toward 

 two general problems, first, to learn what types of water movements are 

 present and the nature of the permanent circulation, and second, to 

 establish the nature of the processes affecting the outflow of the diluted 

 waters of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Columbia River and 

 their replacement at depth by saline ocean waters. In the inshore wa- 

 ters, the importance of the tides and tidal currents as factors in mixing 

 and flushing have long been recognized. The other important varia- 

 bles are the amount and period of precipitation and runoff and the 

 general climatic situation. In order to further evaluate these processes, 

 detailed, systematic surveys are being conducted at monthly intervals. 



