810 REPORT—-1899, 
2. The Distribution of Nitrogen and Ammonia in Ocean Water. 
By Sir Joun Murray, 4.C.B., and Ropert Irvine. 
3. Temperature and Salinity of the Surface Water of the North Atlantic 
during 1896 and 1897. By H. N. Dickson. 
The completed series of forty-eight monthly charts of surface temperature and 
salinity, the mode of construction of which was described in a paper read before 
the Section last year, is exhibited, and along with it, maps showing the departures 
from the mean distribution of air pressure and temperature during the same period. 
A number of new features in the movements of surface waters are disclosed, 
notably in connection with the distribution of polar waters from the western 
Atlantic. 
4. On the Terminology of the Forms of Suboceanic Relief. 
By Hucw Roserr Mitt, D.Se., FRS.L. 
The Royal Geographical Society is at present engaged in the investigation of 
the whole great subject of the terminology of geography, and at the approaching 
International Geographical Congress at Berlin the question of the terminology 
and nomenclature of the forms of the floor of the ocean is to be discussed by 
representatives of different countries. The fact that the forms of the ocean floor 
cannot be seen, but only felt out by soundings, makes their study one of peculiar 
difficulty. Some distinguished authorities believe that our present knowledge of 
the deep sea is too slight to justify any systematic nomenclature. Meanwhile 
each investigator introduces a set of names of his own, for the most part based on 
analogies with land forms visible to the eye. 
It is obvious that there are two great classes of forms, elevations above and 
depressions below the general level of the ocean floor; but the question is how 
many subdivisions of each can be recognised as distinctive and deserving of generic 
names. I am inclined to put forward tentatively the following general scheme of 
terminology, premising that no attempt be made to localise any precise type of 
form unless a considerable number of soundings exists to define it :— 
Depression.—The general term for any sub-oceanic hollow. 
Basin.—A relatively wide depression, with comparatively gently sloping sides. 
Caldron.—A_ relatively wide depression, with comparatively steeply sloping 
sides. 
Furrow.—A relatively narrow depression with comparatively gently sloping 
sides. 
Trough.—A relatively narrow depression with comparatively steeply sloping 
sides. 
Wall.—Any submarine slope comparable in steepness to a precipice on land. 
Floor.—Any very gentle submarine slope or nearly level surface. 
Elevation —Any inequality above the general level of the ocean floor. 
Rise.—A relatively narrow elevation. 
Bank,—A relatively wide elevation. 
Shoal.—An elevation coming within five fathoms of the surface, so as to be a 
danger to shipping. 
Shelf —A. nearly horizontal bank attached to the land and bordered seaward 
by a much more abrupt downward slope. 
Any suggestions as to the forms which are really typical and the terms which 
ere most appropriate for their designation will be carefully considered, 
