SURFz\CE WATERS OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN. 
85 
3 5‘2 north of the Shetlands protrudes into the North Sea, and north of the Faeroe 
Islands has narrow ridges running out N.E. and S.W. Salinity falls rapidly to helow 
33 pro mille between this patch and tlie Norwegian coast, and a tongue of water 
helow 35 runs south-eastwards from the east of Iceland. There are indications of 
increased salinity to the west and nortli of Iceland and along the west coast of 
Greenland, but tlie April observations are insufficient to make this quite certain. It 
is probable, that the 34 line reaches a m\ich higher latitude in Davis Strait and keeps 
nearer the Greeidand coast, and that the 35 line west of Spitsbergen has moved 
westward. 
Thus the main features are—great increase of the seasonal element in the changes 
of temperature ; closing in of warmer and salter water towards the land on the 
American side ; equalising of salinity in tlie south-east; great freshening of vaiter off 
the Norwegian coast and between Iceland and the Faeroes; probable increase of 
salinity west of Iceland and Greenland. 
June, 1896.—-The rise of temperature in the south-western region continues, but 
the distribution has now become very irregular—the isothermals prohalily i'e|)resenting 
only the general features of complex changes. The isothermal of 20° follows the 
parallel of 40° N. as liir east as 35° W., the 10° line skirts the edge of the deeper 
waters, and the 5° line appears close to the south coast of Newfoundland, and again 
out to the eastward. Temperature has risen slightly in the south-eastern area, the 
line of 18° now appearing near the 40th parallel, hut the 15° lias scarcely moved, 
except near the land, where there is a marked rise. 
In the north-east, the 10° line nmv follows the GOth })arallel from long. 25° W. to 
long. 10° W., where it turns up into the Faeroe-Shetland Channel, defining a narrow 
belt of warm water west of the Shetlands. Temperature has risen a little between 
the Faeroes and Iceland, and east of Iceland, and the hand of cold water is rather 
less clearly marked. AVest of Iceland a large rise has taken place, the 8° line taking 
the }ilace of the 5° line and sweeping well out to sea, while to the north-west and 
north the 5° line replaces that of 0°. 
South-east of Cape Farewell the 0° line retains nearly its last month’s position, 
while tlie 5° bends far to the westward. AVest of Greenland, inlat. 60° N., temperature 
has risen 3°, further north there is little or no change along the coast. North of 
70° N. temperatures are highest near the American coast, in the freshest waters. 
South of Spitsbergen the temperature falls rapidly from 5° to 0° towards the east 
and north-east, slowly towards the west and north-west. 
AVest of long. 50° AV. salinity has diminished—the 36 line has disappeared, and 
the 33 line is crowded close down to the 35, which, however, has scarcely moved. In 
the lat. 40° to 50° N., long. 40° to 50° AA^. area, the increase of salinity noted last 
month continues, the 33 to 35 lines now running north and soutfi, slightly to the east of 
long. 50° AV. East of this area, salinity has increased, both the 36 and 35‘5 lines being 
again convex northward, but this is partly due to a decrease of salinity in the Bay of 
