p 

 5' 



o/oo . 



In the Bering Sea the cold intermediate layer is considerably less evident towards the middile 

 of July, thanks to summer heating and mixing. In the Barents Sea, toward the end of August at a 

 depth of 50 m, the freezing point is still maintained, mainly because this station is located close to 

 the retreating edge of floating ice. This ice obstructs deep penetration of solar radiation and 

 consequently, heating. 



As this example shows, the cold intermediate layer is generally most clearly expressed and 

 is preserved longest of all at the edge of melting ice. Thus, by the way, the cold intermediate 

 layer in ice regions is expressed in summer, we can judge when the sea will open. On the other 

 hand, in regions where the ice is carried by the wind and currents only, no formation of the cold 

 intermediate layer is observed. 



Figure 22 shows the isotherms of the cross section which we made aboard the Perseus on 

 5 to 10 August 1928 in the Barents Sea along the edge of melting ice. From this it is clear that 

 along the entire cross section, approximately between the 20 and 120 m levels, a strong cold inter- 

 mediate layer with a temperature considerably less than -1° is observed. 



77 27'N 

 30°t2'E 



78°47'N 

 43°10'E 





Figure 22. Cold intermediate layer m the 

 Barents Sea in August 1928. 



82 



