CONTENTS 



Page 



I. INTRODUCTION - GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE AREA 1 



II. METHODS 3 



III. TEMPERATURE SECTIONS 4 



IV. WATER MASS ANALYSIS 7 



V. DYNAMIC HEIGHT ANOMALIES 13 



VI. GEOSTROPHIC CURRENT AND SALINITY CROSS-SECTIONS 14 



VII. FRONTAL CROSSINGS 18 



VIII. XBT FAILURES 18 



IX. INTENSE DIURNAL HEATING 19 



X. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS 19 

 REFERENCES 23 



FIGURES 



Figure 1. Location of sea lane transited by EXXON tankers taking 25 

 time-series XBT's 



Figure 2. Satellite imagery for 2356Z, 18 August 1979, NOAA 4, 26 

 Orbit 4352, VHRR 



Figure 3. Satellite imagery for 0001 Z, 27 August 1979, NOAA 4, 27 

 Orbit 4479, VHRR 



Figure 4. XBT profiles at approximately same station position 28 

 12 days apart 



Figure 5. XBT and STD station positions, USNS WILKES, 29 

 16 August - 5 September 1979 



Figure 6. XBT Temperature (°C) Section 1, 16-19 August 1979 30 

 (See figure 5. ) 



Figure 7. XBT Temperature (°C) Section 2, 19-22 August 1979 31 

 (See figure 5.) 



Figure 8. XBT Temperature (°C) Section 3, 22-23 August 1979 32 

 (See figure 5. ) 



