Directions of currents indicated by the dynamic topography charts 

 did not change significantly with depth, but, as is usually the case, 

 current speeds decreased as the reference level was approached. 



Because many of the stations were too shallow to be included 

 in the charts obtained by using a 700-decibar reference level, a 

 surface current chart was constructed using a 200-decibar reference 

 level (Fig. 35). This was done in the hope that a qualitative notion 

 of the current regime at some of the more shallow stations could 

 be obtained. Although speeds were not as great in regions where 

 the charts overlapped, currents depicted by Figure 35 were similar 

 to those shown on the surface current charts resulting from the 

 choice of a 700- and 1000-decibar reference levels. This, together 

 with the fact that maximum density gradients were found in the upper 

 layers (note the changes in dynamic height gradients with increasing 

 depth in Figures 26 through 31) , indicate that the current regime 

 shown by Figure 35 might be reasonably representative. 



Maximum speeds in the portion of the East Greenland Current depicted 

 by Figures 26 through 35 appear to be about 15 to 20 cm/sec. The 

 West Spitsbergen Current and a westward branch which may merge with 

 the Return Atlantic Current are indicated on the dynamic current 

 charts, but the branch of the West Spitsbergen Current which turns 

 eastward near northern Svalbard is indicated only on the 200-decibar 

 reference level chart. In the portions of the West Spitsbergen Current 

 shown by the dynamic topography charts, speeds did not appear to 

 exceed 10 cm/sec. 



Figure 26. Dynamic Topography/ 0- 

 Decibar Surface and 700- 

 Decibar Reference Level. 

 Contour Interval — 2 dyn .cm . 



Figure 27. Dynamic Topography, 10- 

 Decibar Surface and 700- 

 Decibar Reference Level. 

 Contour Interval - 2 dyn .cm 



29 



