the distribution of sea surface temperature over the northern portion, 

 from near Mastic Point to Goulding Cay, showed a corresponding increase 

 in temperature, with values ranging from 23.84 C in the western sector 

 to 23.94°C in the eastern sector. On the other hand, the variation of 

 temperature along the central transect, extending from station 10 to 

 station 12 showed a decrease in sea surface temperature with values 

 ranging from 24.00°C in the western sector to 23.87 C in the eastern sector. 

 The general trend of sea surface temperature along a longitudinal axis 

 extending from station 1 to station 17 showed that highest temperatures 

 were observed in the northern one-third of the survey area. 



2. Vertical Cross Sections 



a. The oceanographic stations which were taken on a line extending 

 from Tinker Rocks to Green Cay, stations 3 through 6, show the same 

 general properties at each location (Fig. 12). The vertical distribution 



of water temperature showed an increase between the surface and inter- 

 mediate depths with values ranging from 0.16 to 0.24 C between stations 

 3 and 4. Although less marked, a similar positive temperature gradient 

 existed between stations 5 and 6 with temperature increases ranging 

 from 0.20 to 0.04°C. The depth of maximum temperature was deepest at 

 station 4, 135 meters, and shallowest at station 3, 70 meters. The 

 main thermocline began at a depth of approximately 140 meters at station 

 3 and sloped downward toward the east to a depth of approximately 150 

 meters . 



b. The transect in the central portion of the survey area, 

 namely stations 10 through 12 (Fig. 13), also shows temperature increases 

 at depth; however, the magnitude of these temperature increases is not 



as great as in the southern transect. Specifically, at station 10 the 

 surface layer is characterized by a decrease in temperature of approxi- 

 mately ,5°C to a depth of 20 meters and then a very slight increase of 

 •2°C to 35 meters. A gradual decrease in temperature was observed 

 from this depth to the main thermocline, which began at approximately 

 180 meters. On the other hand, the intrusion of warm water can be noted 

 at stations 11 and 12 at depths of approximately 80 and 140 meters at 

 station 1 and at depths of 10 and 100 meters at station 12. The main 

 thermocline along this transect appeared roughly horizontal at the 185- 

 meter level between stations 10 and 11 and then depths generally de- 

 creased, the thermocline sloping gradually upward to depths of 150 meters. 



c. The transect for the northern portion, stations 15 to 18, 

 Figure 14, demonstrated characteristics similar to those observed in the 

 central and southern portions. At all stations, positive temperature 

 gradients were noted at depth, the strongest of these being found at 

 stations 16 and 17 where temperature increases on the order of .12 C 

 were found. One striking feature not in evidence at the southern 

 transect was a core of colder water at approximately 100 meters between 

 stations 16 and 17. Apparently, this tongue of colder water was trapped 

 by intrusion of warmer water at the 150 meter level. The main thermocline 



