tiiUiJ McEiien: JI ijdivyrupliir Obs( real ions of Scripps Inslilitlion 273 



TABLE II 



Seven Selected Series of Salinity Observations Bevealing a Subsurface Minimum 



Water sample Water sample 

 4468-4485 4518-4533 



Aug. 9, 1913 Aug. 10, 1913 

 Section 58~, Section 53»i 



While the miiiimiim is most prououueed in August, it is clearly 

 revealed in every month except November, December, January, and 

 February, and in these winter months the salinity of the upper 30 

 meters does not increase as the depth increases. In the winter months 

 the salinity at depths above 200 meters is less than during any other 

 time of the year, and there is a continual increase from about 30 meters 

 to the bottom. The prevailing depth of the minimum in deep-water 

 regions is between 20 and 60 meters, but as the coast is approached it 

 occurs nearer the surface. 



In general, the conditions necessary for the production of such a 

 minimum are probably limited to certain parts of the ocean a.s well 

 as to certain seasons. In mo.st expeditions too few observations have 

 been made in the upper hundred meters to determine whether such 

 a minimum existed or not. In fact, our own observations made prior 

 to the summer of 1910, while indicating a minimum, were too far apart 

 to establish its presence, and the small number of low salinities ob- 



