HYDROGR.SECT.—JULY 1905 — APPEND.B 
Appendix B 
Some remarks on the hydrographical investigations 
by 
Martin Kyupsen 
The hydrographical investigations hitherto made have shown, that the hydro- 
graphical variations are partly periodical and partly unperiodical or irregular. The 
changes of temperature show a marked periodicity, which depends on the seasons. 
The changes in salinity and with regard to currents are (not reckoning the tides) 
unperiodical in the main and very irregular. They sometimes occur very slowly, 
i.e. in the course of some months, sometimes fast or abruptly, i.e. in the course 
of a few days. Sometimes the changes are very small during a long period, some- 
times great changes occur in a short time. In consequence the changes are 
dependent to a small extent only on the seasons, which does not mean, of course, 
that no dependence exists — the general character only is discussed. 
The object of the hydrographical investigations is: 
I) To learn the general or average hydrographical situation (i. e. in the first 
place temperature, salinity and currents) at each place and at each depth; 
II) To learn the temporary changes of these values. 
We may now ask, how far our hydrographical investigations are suited 
to give an answer to these questions. 
With regard to salinity the observations furnish us with very good 
material to answer the first question. Moreover the observations can be used in 
a fairly satisfactory way to answer the following question: what is the character 
and the extent of the changes in the salinity, which may be expected to occur at 
any place or at any depth whatever, and what is the average size of these 
changes? 
Herewith only a small part of the question regarding the temporary changes 
of the hydrographical condition, however, is answered, and it is to be considered, 
whether the present system of hydrographical observations is the right one to 
secure further progress. 
For the hydrographical investigations of the present, by far the greatest 
part of the money, the labour, and the work of the steamers, is used for the 
seasonal cruises; we must therefore consider the question with the greatest care 
whether it is desirable to continue this mode of investigation. The longer we con- 
tinue the seasonal cruises and observations the better shall we be able to deter- 
