28 
NOTES ON THE SALINITY AND TEMPERATURE OF THi; 
SEA ON THE NORTHUMBERLAND COAST 
AND ON THE FREEZING OF SEA WATER. 
By G. SISSON. 
The salinity of all samples of sea water is stated in conformit 
with the tables of Dr. Knudsen, and compared with the “Norma 
Wasser ” obtained from the Copenhagen Laboratory of the Inter 
national Committee for the Exploration of the Sea. 
The temperatures are taken in centigrade degrees from i 
standard thermometer with National Physical Laboratory certificate 
Some of the results are given in the adjoining table and chart. 
Date. 
Time. 
Locality. 
Temperature. 
Salinity. 
Remarks. 
1909. 
Degrees C. 
July 16th... 
11-30 a. m. 
Alnmouth Bay ... 
12-2 
34-50 
n ••• 
2-15 p.m. 
Druridge Bay 
12-5 
34-45 
n • • • 
5-0 p.m. 
Blyth Bay 
12-4 
34-45 
July 28th... 
7 - 50 a.m. 
Off Fame Islands.. 
12-7 
34-50 
n ... 
12-15 p.m. 
Skate Roads 
13-0 
34-20 
Heavy rain. 
July 31st ... 
• • • 
Cullercoats Bay ... 
13-5 
34-35 
Depth of 23 
ff , f f 
13-5 
34-35 
Depth of 28 
Aug. 13th.. 
1-0 p.m. 
Alnmouth Bay .. 
14-0 
34-40 
n 
3-30 p.m. 
Druridge Bay 
13-5 
34-45 
n • • • 
5-40 p.m. 
Blyth Bay 
13*0 
34-45 
Sept. 28th. 
. . . 
Marine Laboratory 
. . . 
34-35 
Oct. 8th ... 
• • • 
n ff 
» • • 
34-35 
Oct. 18th... 
1910. 
... 
f f ff 
... 
34-30 
March 
• • • 
Fenham Flats 
... 
31-50 
M • •• 
* * * 
Holy Island Har- 
bour (ebb tide) 
5-0 
32-30 
Notes on above. — The maximum salinity found was 34-50, the minimum 34 - 35 ; difference of -15. 
The average salinity of the coast being 34-45. 
300 gms. of sea water of 34-3 °/ 00 salinity submitted to a 
freezing mixture began to form ice at — 1-5° centigrade, the tem- 
perature of the sea water gradually falling to — 2-5° centigrade. At 
this stage 100 gms. of ice had formed leaving 200 gms. of water of 
39-5 salinity, and 100 gms., of which the first 50 gms. melted 
tested 17’0 salinity, the second 50 gms. 30-5 salinity. 
An important source of dense sea water in Arctic regions is no 
doubt the winter freezing and consequent partial separation of 
normal sea water into water of high and ice of low salinity. 
