RESULTS 



1. A regression model considering latitude, longitude, and day- 

 of-year as the independent variables, together with empirically 

 determined interaction terms, was found capable of estimating the 

 seasonal variation of sea-surface temperature off the west coast 

 of the United States, in water depths greater than 100 fathoms, to 

 a standard deviation of less than 1 F. 



2. The analysis suggests that more information than previously 

 suspected can be obtained from a given number of observations 

 provided realistic regression models can be developed. This 

 suggestion has important implications with regard to sampling. A 

 sampling interval based on the model can be used in place of the 

 fixed time interval employed in the classical manner with an area 

 grid. The oceanographic problem becomes one of searching for 

 adequate models. It is indicated adequate models can be derived 

 for many ocean areas from the present archive of oceanic temper- 

 ature datao 



3. On the assumption that the regression model is reasonably 

 valid, the regression technique has the potential of being an effec- 

 tive method for identifying and editing raw temperature data for 

 erroneous observations and for detecting and isolating temperature 

 anomalies. 



4. This study suggests that regression techniques may provide 

 the basis for a new approach to summarizing archived sea-surface 

 temperature data. 



