previously 'believed. Indeed, many of the variations may be due to data 

 errors. However, the fact that data from a large numlser of reporting 

 ships form definite patterns indicates that injection temperatures are 

 of operational use. 



Figures 10 and U show numerous warm and cold water tongues origi- 

 nating from four different current systems (excluding coastal waters). 

 It is noted that a tongue is surrounded "by water of approximately the 

 same temperature; whereas a current is flanked by waters of different 

 temperature. The southerly flow of cold water along the eastern edges 

 of warm tongues would result in increased gradients at intervals along 

 the main body of warm water and apparently contributes to the wide dis- 

 tribution of warm and cold waters. 



A succession of many charts is usually required to establish a reason- 

 ably stable temperature pattern. Winter conditions are most favorable 

 for realisation of this end, because temperature contrasts and mixed 

 layers are greatest during this season. 



Patterns indicated by composite charts are considered to represent 

 only approximate envelopes of the major current systems responsible for 

 distribution of siirface temperature in the sea. 



Figure 12 presents an enlarged portion of a ccanposite chart for l6- 

 25 April 1961 o The data, plotted in the usual manner, include a rela- 

 tively large proportion of bathythermograph surface temperatures in 

 whole degrees and tenths (Fahrenheit) which may be compared with injec- 

 tion values. Biis figure shows the remarkable symmetry of data of both 

 sources over a 10-day period in an area of complex, small-scale current 

 features. 

 VI. CONCLUSIONS 



Although present analyticed techniques permit preparation of repre- 

 sentative sea sixrface teijperature charts, much improvement is required 

 in the quantity and quality of reports fran the synoptic observational 

 net. Continuation of the present analysis program and expansion of the 

 coverage to the entire North Atlantic and Worth Pacific are planned. 



15 



