ANNITERSAKY ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT. 



Ixi 



Temperatures of the Pacific. 





Longitude 





Temperature. 





Latitude. 



(corrected 



Depth. 



^ '- 



- Observer & Date. 





to Greenwich). 



ft. 

 5741 



Surface. Bottom. 



51 34 N. 



161 41 E. 



53-2" 36-6 



Tessan 1832 



28 52 N. 



173 9E. 



3600 



78-0 41-0 



Beechy 1828 



18 5N. 



174 10 E. 



4261 



76-6 40-8 



1836 



4 32 K 



134 24 W. 



12271 



81-0 35-2 



The 'Bonite' 1837 



Equator (near) 



179 34 W. 



6000 



860 36-6 



Kotzebue 1824 



21 14 S. 



196 1 W. 



5500 



81-0 36-0 



Lenz 1834 



32 57 S. 



176 42 E. 



4692 



61-4 41-8 





43 47 S. 



80 6W. 



6400 



55-6 36-2 



Tessan 1841 



These observations tend to show that in the greatest depths, both 

 of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the temperature is not higher 

 than from about 36° to 40° ; and allowing for correction of the in- 

 struments, the actual temperature will probably be found to be in 

 many cases 2° or 3° or more below this. A more systematic mode 

 of proceeding, however, is needed ; for though the general rule may be 

 considered to be established, local variations and exact measurements 

 have to be ascertained. Notwithstanding, less attention has been 

 paid to the subject of late years than formerly. Dr. Carpenter has 

 now taken up the investigation, and has during the last three 

 years carried out a series of observations in the North Atlantic 

 which must prove of high value. Every care has been taken to 

 guard against error ; and we shall soon no doubt have tables of 

 temperature at all depths in this part of the ocean, which it is 

 to be hoped will, concomitantly with the dredging-operations, be 

 extended over the whole of the oceanic area. 



Time will not allow me to enter upon the question of the course 

 and cause of the cold under-stratum of the great oceans. As before 

 observed it has been generally referred to undercurrents from the 

 poles ; and later observations tend to confirm this ; but whether 

 ia the mid- Atlantic the flow is from the north or the south pole 

 remains to be decided by more accurate inquiries. My own opinion 

 inclines to an undercurrent from the North Pole. The occurrence 

 of boreal and Scandinavian forms of life far south in the Atlantic 

 favours this view. Whatever the cause, the fact of cold under- 

 currents, which must have a powerful effect in bringing northern and 

 southern forms into close vertical juxtaposition, is indisputable. All 

 seas open to the Arctic and Antarctic oceans are doubtless subject to 

 these conditions of warm surface-currents from the equator and cold 

 undercurrents from the poles. In seas where there is no direct 



