Nantucket Shoal Lightship (Figure 6, Table 6) 
Unfortunately the data from this important station are thin and 
scattered after mid-April. 
It is probably safe to say that the surface winter minimum ap- 
peared in mid-February with temperatures averaging greater than 38°F; a 
similar minimum was observed in early March the previous year. Below 100 
feet temperatures fell to less than 36°F in February, with an intrusion 
of cold water at depth. Just previous to this time DELAWARE cruise 57-1 
made bathythermograph lowerings in South Channel, over Georges Bank and 
in the region surrounding the lightship. No water of 35°F was found either 
at the surface or at depth, except near Browns Bank and Eastern Channel 200 
miles to the east. Thus it appears possible that the 35° water observed at 
this station in February was formed well inshore where chilling had advanced 
more rapidly, and moved offshore in a southeasterly direction along the 
bottom. Since its appearance at the lishtship was preceded and followed by 
isothermal conditions at 0O°F, one assumes this parcel of chilled water 
simply moved by down the slope. 
: The partial data for August and September shown in Table 6 in= 
dicate summer temperatures well above the mean for 197-1952. 
Late winter and early spring salinities are like those for the 
same period in 1956. 
32 
