ABSTRACT 



This report contains tlie analysis and tabulation of 79 oceanographic stations occupied 

 by the USCGC NORTHWIND (WAGB-282) and USS BURTON ISLAND (AGB-1) in the Bering 

 Sea during the winter and spring of 1955. Additional oceanographic data presented 

 include representative bathythermograms, analysis of 55 bottom samples, summaries of 

 ice and weather conditions, transparency measurements, and a surface current chart. 



During the winter, surface temperatures ranged from — 1.85°C just inside the ice pack to 

 3.4°C in the open water just north of Unimak Pass. In the vicinity of the ice edge tempera- 

 tures were near 0°C. During the spring, surface temperatures ranged from — 1.80°C near 

 Bering Strait to 4.04''C near the Alaskan Peninsula. In the open water north of Unimak Pass 

 the surface water temperature was about 1.7°C warmer on 27 May than it was on 21 April. 

 The 0°C isotherm which approximated the position of the ice edge during the winter had 

 moved about one degree northward during the spring survey. 



In the shoal shelf areas, the vertical temperature distribution approaching and underneath 

 the pack ice was isothermal, where the influence of the pack ice was felt to the bottom. In 

 the deeper waters of the survey area, positive vertical gradients were found when approaching 

 the ice boundary and beneath the pack ice for some distance to the north. This condition is 

 the result of warmer waters from the south forming a wedge beneath the cold surface water 

 and pack ice. 



During the winter and spring, surface sound velocities ranged from 4,700 ft./sec. within 

 the ice pack to approximately 4,780 ft./sec. south of the ice pack. No definite sound channels 

 could be defined. 



The Air Force and Navy participated in a joint project for the photographic identification 

 of sea ice. Simultaneous photographs of sea ice were taken from the ship and reconnais- 

 sance aircraft on 5 occasions. 



1 Bucket temperature reading. 



USNHO — WASH., D. C. 



