Sea Temperatures, Hawaiian Island Area 1 
A Study of the Distribution of Ocean Temperatures in the Surface and Subsurface Layers 
Based upon Bathythermograph Observations 
Dale F. Leipper and Ernest R. Anderson 2 
INTRODUCTION 
Since 1940 the supply of available sea- 
temperature information has been greatly in- 
creased through the use of the bathythermo- 
graph (Spilhaus, 1940), an instrument which 
may be lowered from moving vessels to 
provide a continuous trace of temperature 
against depth. The temperature values are 
usually accurate to within ± 0.3° F. Great- 
est depths attained are approximately 180, 
450, or 900 feet, depending upon the type 
of bathythermograph used. A detailed sea- 
temperature study of the Hawaiian Island 
area (the area from 15° to 30° north lati- 
tude and 150° to 165° west longitude) was 
prepared by the Bathythermograph Section at 
Scripps Institution of Oceanography (Leipper 
and Anderson, 1948; Hiatt, 1948). This 
study, made from 5,407 observations, is the 
basis of the summary presented here. A sim- 
ilar study was made in the Philippine Island 
area (Leipper and Wood, 1947) but has not 
yet been published. 
Purpose of the investigation 
The purpose of this investigation is three- 
fold: (1) to show the horizontal and vertical 
distribution of temperature; (2) to show the 
Contributions from the Scripps Institution of 
Oceanography, University of California, New Se- 
ries No. 468. This work represents results of re- 
search carried out by the University of California, 
under contract with the Office of Naval Research 
and the Hydrographic Office of the Department of 
the Navy. 
‘Now associated with the Department of Oce- 
anography, Agricultural and Mechanical College 
of Texas, College Station, Texas, and the Oceano- 
graphic Branch, Navy Electronics Laboratory, San 
Diego, California, respectively. 
amount of data that is available and how it 
is distributed; and (3) to further the devel- 
opment of a model temperature-distribution 
study that may in the future be used for other 
regions. 
Availability of bathythermograph data 
The file of bathythermograms for the 
Pacific and Indian Oceans is maintained at 
Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, 
California, and at the U. S. Hydrographic 
Office, Washington, D. C. Copies of obser- 
vations may be requested from the Hydro- 
graphic Office. 
Acknowledgments: Clerical and statistical 
assistance was furnished by Misses A. Kutz, 
V. Wilburn, M. Hunter, M. Oakes, E. Trow- 
bridge, and Mrs. B. Rimbach. Drafting was 
done by Mrs. M. Robinson and photographic 
work by Mr. P. Williams. 
DISTRIBUTION OF BATHYTHERMOGRAMS 
The bathythermograph observations used 
for this investigation cover the period from 
January, 1941, to November, 1947. Of the 
bathythermograms available, 5,377 were suit- 
able for use. 
The time distribution of the bathythermo- 
grams is shown by Tables 1, 2, and 3 fol- 
lowing the text. Table 1 shows the yearly 
percentage distribution; Table 2, the total 
monthly percentage distribution; and Table 
3, the monthly percentage distribution in dif- 
ferent years. The space distribution of the 
bathythermograms is shown in Figure 1. 
(Figures appear at the end of the text and 
tabular material begins on page 232.) 
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