was selected to represent surface conditions, and the 200-meter depth 

 was selected to represent subsurface conditions below the thermocline 

 for the greatest number of stations. 



In September, surface isotherms generally showed a north-south 

 orientation with temperatures decreasing seaward. The 200-meter 

 isotherms paralleled the bottom topography, and temperatures increased 

 slightly in a northwesterly direction from the center of San Nicolas 

 Basin. 



During October, the surface isotherms indicated less north-south 

 orientation than they did in September, but temperatures still decreased 

 seaward. At 200 meters, the isotherms showed a similar orientation 

 as in September, and temperatures increased from the center of the 

 basin. 



During both months, a sharp temperature gradient existed at the 

 surface in the vicinity of San Nicolas Island, reflecting the effect 

 of the California Current on the area. To the east, a tongue of 

 warm water extended in a northeast-southwest direction. 



B. Salinity. 



Salinity-depth profiles indicated several recurring characteristics 

 for the two operational periods. Figure 7 presents typical profiles 

 representative of conditions observed in September and October. During 

 September, an isohaline layer was observed to a depth of about 20 

 meters, a minimum at 30 meters, and an increase from 30 meters to 

 the deepest observed depth. In October, the isohaline layer was 

 observed to only 10 meters below which the profile resembled the 

 September profile. Salinity decreased about 0.2°/ee from the isohaline 

 layer to the minimum during both months. 



SALINITY % Q SALINITY 

 .20 4 .60 .00 3400 10 20 .40 40 60 80 3400 10 20 40 6 



2o 



^300 

 -600 

 -900 

 -1200 

 -1500 



-iboojJj 



IL 



■2100 

 -2400 

 -2700 





100 

 2 00 

 300 

 400 



„,500 



X 



111 



£600 



700 

 «00 



900 





^ 



J 























































































































































































































\ 





































1 

















\ 





Grid Station No 23 

 22-24 September 1965 











Grid Station No. 23 A 

 11-14 Oct ooer 1965 



















FIGURE 7. REPRESENTATIVE SALINITY VERSUS DEPTH PROFILES 



Figure 8 shows horizontal salinity distributions at the surface 



