-36 - 



water with a temperature of about 7°, and in winter with water of about the same 

 temperature but of less salinity, thus a mixed layer between coastal water and Atlantic 

 water. 



From about 200 M. downwards the conditions are very uniform in all deep chan- 

 nels and on the deeper parts of banks as far as to the deep-sea margin. The bot- 

 tom at these depths is always covered with Atlantic water with a temperature of 6—7° 

 and up to 8° 



At greater depths, from 350 to about 550 M., we meet somewhere the lower boundary 

 of the Gulf Stream. This boundary may be somewhat variable. Some times we find a 

 temperature of 2° at a depth of 400 M. in the southern part of the Norwegian Sea, at 

 another time again over 6°. 



The changes which occur here thus arise from vertical shiftings of the boundary 

 between the Gulf Stream and the bottom water, and the variations in the temperature will 

 be greater than those of the salinity, as the constant salinity of the bottom water is still 

 as high as 34,92 7„„. 



Some of the current-measurements made on the Norwegian west coast in the year 

 1906 are of great interest. The number of measurements is certainly in no way large 

 enough to permit of general conclusions, but on the other hand the observations are in 

 good agreement with the distribution of the salinity and temperature, which is now so 

 well-known. 



The current-system in the fjords may be briefly described as follows: on the surface 

 the fjord water is practically always streaming outwards. The movement may be very 

 small during rising water, but just so much the greater by falling water, so that there 

 is always a decided mean movement towards the mouth of the fjord. Somewhat deeper, 

 in 10 — 30 M. depth, there is a region where the tidal streams predominate. Here during 

 flood tide the water streams in and during ebb tide outwards. Our observations permit 

 as yet no conclusions regarding the average directions of movement of this water layer. 



Deeper down, in about 50 M. depth, we could find no current of any importance 

 whatever during the current measurements made in the year 1906, neither a general drift 

 nor a tidal current. This agrees in so far with the otherwise known conditions, that a 

 distinct temperature minimum is found at this depth in all barrier-fjords in summer. This 

 indicates that the water-layers are by no means renewed with any rapidity worth men- 

 tioning. The bottom water of the fjords may be in movement if no barrier cuts off the 

 fjord from the coastal waters. Thus, for example, in the open Hjörund Fjord in Sönd- 

 möre a stronger movement was present in 200 M. than in 50 M. The observations seem 

 to indicate a rotatory movement at the bottom of the fjord, which may probably be 

 explained in this way, that the instreaming water follows the middle of the fjord, then 

 bends out to both sides and thence turns out again. 



The bottom water is presumably renewed periodically in the barrier fjords and chiefly 

 in the winter half year — in the beginning of the winter. 



The water streaming out of the fjords becomes part of the great coastal stream. 



In stating that by coastal water on the Norwegian west coast, we mean water which 

 has a salinity of under 35°/oo) the following may be said regarding the origin of this 



