Thus we see that the vertical distribution of temperature and salinity in the coastal Siberian 

 waters is of such a nature that the formation of a warm intermediate layer is almost inevitable 

 under conditions of uninterrupted ice formation. A slight and insignificant temperature inversion 

 with simultaneous normal vertical distribution of salinity was observed by Khmyznikov in the early 

 spring in the New Siberian Straits and in the Lanski Gulf. There is no doubt that in addition to the 

 convective mixing, frictional mixing is also a large factor in fixing the vertical distribution of tem- 

 perature and salinity. While the direct effect of wind and waves ceases in the winter, the action of 

 the tides and the wind-driving phenomena, as well as the effect of sea currents, remains, although 

 in altered form. In addition there is the strong frictional mixing caused by the wind movement of 

 the ice. Very little has as yet been done, however, in the study of all these questions. 



Figure 148 shows the annual variation of temperature and salinity of the coastal Siberian 

 waters. 



Z M M IZ 11 M ML WJ vr Y YT Yir 



Figure 148. Diagram of the annual variation of temperature and salinity of the 

 Siberian coastal waters. 



In the beginning of October, on the average, the temperature falls to the freezing point and 

 then continues to descend slightly (in connection with the lowering of the freezing point upon sa- 

 linification due to ice formation) right to the end of June or beginning of July. The rise in tempera- 

 ture starts in July, at first slowly, and then proceeds faster and faster as the ice disappears. By 

 the end of August the temperature reaches its maximum and in the middle of September begins to 

 fall, at first slowly, and then faster and faster to the freezing point. 



Due to the outflux of the coastal drainage and the melting of ice, the salinity naturally attains 

 its minimum at the moment when the sea is cooled to the freezing point, and then, with the start of 

 ice formation it begins to rise, at first rapidly, and then slower and slower right to the start of 

 melting and the appearance of the flood waters. After this the salinity commences to decrease, at 

 first slowly due to the thawing, then faster in connection with flooding and melting, and then slowly 

 again in connection with melting of the remains of the ice cover. 



405 



