12 . 0. Nordgaard. [No. 8 



Varanger fjord. As a rule the temperature of the deep will sink in 

 course of the winter as was the case in Malangen and Kvænangen 

 in 1899, bilt the observations in the inn er part of the Lyngen fjord 

 have also proved a rise. I should think that rise or fall will depend 

 upon the balance between the temperature of the surrounding coast 

 sea and the initial temperature of the deep basins at the beginning 

 of the year. Besides, meteorological conditions, as the direction of 

 prevailing winds, will decide the matter. It seems to have appeared 

 as a general rule from the observations of our fjords that the salter 

 water lies undermost. From the surface towards the bottom there 

 is generally in winter a rise both in temperature and salinity. 

 (The regular winter condition). A general feature of the hydrography 

 of our fjords is an increase of salinity from below upwards in 

 course of the winter. 



The cause of this rise is likely to be the lesser addition of 

 fresh w^ater during the winter months (less rain and snow and less 

 afflux of river water) and the progressive mixing process between 

 the coast water and the salter bottom water. 



The condition of the Lyngenfjord on Jan. 27th, 1899 gives 

 bowever an inverse picture. The salter water of a higher tempera- 

 ture overlayers the less salt water of a lower temperature, and the 

 increase of salinity must be thought to occur from above downwards 

 (the inverse winter condition). It is natural that this represents a 

 rather instable state of balance, that is easily upset by affluing 

 salter water. It will also be seen that on April 3rd normal winter 

 conditions have appeared in the Lyngen fjord. — 



The above exposition will at any rate have shown that we 

 cannot speak of any constant bottom temperature in such fjords 

 as Malangen, Lyngen, Kvænangen, &c. The observations given by 

 MoHN (1, p. 92) from the Alten fjord, which lies to the north of 

 those mentioned, seem however to qualify the Alten fjord to form 

 an exception. 



According to observations from 1882 — 83, the average annual 

 temperature at 100 fathoms (188 m.) is computed at 4^,0 C, and 

 the annual variation of this basin at 0^,7 C. Here not only is 

 there a strangely small variation, but also a strikingly high medium 

 of temperature. This suggests that the Alten fjord, like the Vest- 

 fjord, Ofoten fjord, Tysfjord, &c., in summer receive such a consi- 

 derable addition of ocean'water, that it commands the temperature 

 of the deep. The charts hitherto published give a complete picture 



