46 0. Nordgaard. [No. 8 



The large fiords, whieh are not shut off by high submarine 

 ridges, also show very little relative variation. (Cf. p. 32). 



The temperature in the deep channels and basins is 6— 7° C, 

 and the salinity about 35 pro mille. The conditions are somewhat 

 different in those fiords, and parts of fiords, which are provided 

 with such high submarine ridges that the salt water at the bottom 

 (about 35 %o) is not able to flow in. 



I have visited two such fiords on the west coast of Norway, 

 viz. the Lyse Fiord and the Mo Fiord. The latter has the shal- 

 lowest opening, and the salinity at the bottom is a little over 32 

 %o, while the bottom water in the Lyse Fiord contained a little 

 more than 33 %o salt, 



The bottom temperature (cf. p. 33) was 5.85 in the Lyse Fiord, 

 and 6.85 in the Mo Fiord. 



On account of the great downfall, the surface layer is very 

 mixed, the distribution of heat takes place principally by conduction, 

 and no supply of heat by means of the submarine current is possible. 



The bottom water must thus only obtain its heat from the sur- 

 face layer, which in its turn is influenced by the heat of the 

 atmosphere. The surplus in the summer and the lesser winter 

 temperature mo ve downwards in the form of a maximum and minimum 

 of temperature, which finally resolve themselves into a balance, 

 which answers to the annual average atmospheric temperature at 

 that place. 



According to Mohn, the annual average temperature of the air 

 at Hellesø is 7°.l C, at Bergen, 7.0, so that it is quite reasonable 

 that in the Mo Fiord it should be about 6.8. The annual average 

 temperature of the air in the Nerstrand Fiord is, according to Mohn, 

 6.0, and thus 5.8 may be considered as a likely value in the Lyse 

 Fiord. Notwithstanding its more southerly position, the average 

 temperature in the Lyse Fiord is lower than that of the Mo Fiord, 

 which fact must be accounted for by the more inland course of the 

 former fiord, it is thus in a greater degree influenced by the con- 

 tinent than the Mo Fiord. 



In those fiords, or parts of fiords, then, which are shut off by 

 high submarine ridges, it is easy to ascertain the annual average 

 temperature of the air. 



One has only to take the temperature of the homothermic 

 bottom layer. It is probable that this rule holds good without 



