ABSTRACT 



Several thermal structure characteristics observed by oceano- 

 graphic research vessels and aircraft are displayed and discussed. 

 A series of airborne radiation thermometer (ART) flights conduct- 

 ed in April 1967 show detailed structure and pattern changes 

 near the northern boundary of the Gulf Stream. Thermal changes 

 were related to two contrasting weather patterns. 



Since ART data define only surface temperature patterns, a ship 

 survey was conducted in October and November 1967 to obtain 

 vertically as well as horizontally distributed data. The ship survey 

 was repeated, obtaining a total of almost 1,000 BT's. Cross sec- 

 tions of the data show that advection indicated by the ART survey 

 extends to considerable depth. Three major features were ob- 

 served: a meander developing in the Gulf Stream, a cold ring 

 south ot the stream, and a warm eddy north of the Stream. The 

 general flow was eastward, but a few features were found to drift 

 westward. 



BERTRAND J. THOMPSON 

 WILLIAM H. GEMMILL 



Forecasting Branch 



Oceanographic Prediction Division 



Marine Sciences Department 



