On a new Current-Meter inyented hj Prof. 

 Fridtjof Nansen. 



By 



V. Walfrid Ekman. 



The want of a practicable and reliable method of directly 

 investigating the deep ocean-currents is perhaps so well-known 

 and generally acknowledged, that it need not be specially poin- 

 ted out, nor the fact that hitherto no current-gauge applicable 

 at great depths has existed. The guidance which the distribu- 

 tion of temperature and salinity in the ocean affords in the study 

 of the currents, is also far from complete and may give debat- 

 able results, so that although the course of the surface-currents 

 is to some extent known, on the other hand, as regards the circula- 

 tion in the great depths in its main features and its details, we 

 know exceedingly little. 



In order to endeavour to supply this want, Prof. Fridtjof 

 Nansen has constructed a current-meter on new principles, mainly 

 with a view to the making of accurate investigations, at any 

 rate from stationary ice, and thus obtaining an idea of the 

 currents that may exist at great depths. The first experiments 

 with the apparatus were made by the present v^^riter, and as the 

 results were favorable. Prof. Nansen has desired me to give an 

 account of them, and of the conclusions that may be drawn from 

 them. 



