Deductions from the Curve. 45 



500 fathoms with a temperature of 4 C. At the station in the 

 Pacific, a surface-stratum, the temperature of which falls from 

 28°.8 C to 28 C. at 30 fathoms, and to 26 C. at 80 fathoms, is 

 united by a steep gradient to an intermediate stratum, which 

 extends from 150 fathoms (n°.3 C.) to 800 fathoms (3 C), the 

 bottom-stratum commencing at 900 fathoms with a temperature 

 of 2 . 5 C. How soon the cold bottom-stratum is reached in 

 the equatorial belt is one of the unexpected discoveries due to 

 recent deep-sea exploration. In the warm seas which bathe the 

 British Islands, a temperature of 4 C. is not registered until we 

 arrive at a depth of 900 fathoms, and at 1500 fathoms the 

 temperature is still 2°.5 C. 



