2, Salinity- 

 Salinity values in the Antarctic Stirface Water in the Vincennes 



Bay region were between 33.27 °/oo and 33o52 °/oo at the siorface, and 

 between 34.34 °/oo and 34.49 °/oo at the 300-meter depth. 



The salinity gradients were normal and stable (Fig. 9). The 

 salinity distribution was the major factor in the stability and strati- 

 fication of the water. The lower salinities found toward the surface 

 resulted from melting of old pack ice, fresh run-off of glacial melt 

 water, and any excess of precipitation over evaporation. Figure 10 

 illustrates the unstable station GL-12 of DEEP REEEZE I compared with 

 station GL-9 of DEEP FREEZE II, and shows results of changing meteor- 

 ological conditions, freezing and thawing. The freezing process 

 occiirring during station GL-12 (DF-l) resulted in considerable salt 

 being added to the surface water, thus creating an unstable density- 

 situation. During station GL-9, the same area showed a more normal 

 summer salinity pattern, with less saline melt water mixed with the 

 surface water, resulting in a stable density pattern. This latter 

 condition probably continued until the next period of freezing 

 occixrred, 



3 . Density- 

 Figure 9 illustrates the density structure as calculated from 



the observed temperature and salinity values obtained. The density 

 structure was stable, implying a preceeding period of thawing conditions. 

 Density values ranged from a minimum sigma-t of 26.79 at the surface 

 to 27.79 off the bottofflo In contrast to these stable density conditions, 

 the structure of the previous year is exactly the reverse (Fig. 10). 

 Station GL-12 of DEEP FREEZE I recorded an extremely unstable situation 

 in regard to density values. Station GL-9 of DEEP FREEZE II showed 

 stability. This change resulted from similar changes in temperature 

 and especially salinity. 



22 



