SURFACE WATERS OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN. 
87 
position as last montli in lat. 57°. This change of form is closely followed by the line 
of 34'5. 
In the south-eastern region the increase of salinity noticed last month is continued, 
the 36 line almost reaches the mouth of the Channel, and the 35'5 line takes a fuller 
northerly bend off the west of Ireland. 
Observations are unfortunately not numerous in the Orkney and Shetland region. 
A central axis of 35 water probably extended far south into the North Sea during 
both June and July. East of Iceland the water is fresher, and a narrow strip of 
water of less than 34 'pro mille salinity runs along the south coast of the island. 
The belt of 35 water to the west of Iceland is a.pparently narrower, Imt the observa¬ 
tions do not make this quite clear. 
The observations in the north of Davis Strait do not indicate any marked 
change. 
The principal features are thus, continued rise of temperature everywhere, without 
much change in distribution, except to the south-east of Newfoundland, whei'e tlie 
rise is slight ; a slight increase of salinity in the south-eastern area; marked 
freshenino- east and south-east of Newfoundland and in mid-Atlantic between 
O 
lat. 50° and 55°; freshening and narrowing of the low-salinity belt east of Iceland, 
and extension of that belt I'ound the south side. 
August, 1806.—In tlie south-western area, under the land, the distrilmtion of 
temperature is much simpler. The position of the 20° and 25° isothermals is little 
changed, but instead of iri'egular patches of colder water there is a steady fall 
towards the north-east to 12° just off Cape Dace. This means on the whole a con¬ 
siderable rise of surface temperature in the shallower waters. There is a great rise 
of temperature to the east of Newfoundland, but the area of relatively cold water 
retains its position, and its form is better defined 1)y the greater number of olrserva- 
tions—note tlie loops in the isothermals of 8°, 10°, 12°, and 15°. 
Between the meridians of 30° and 50° W., the isothermal of 20° remains in its 
position near lat. 50° N., but tlie temperature has increased further south, the 20° 
line being novr close to it. To the north of lat. 50° there is a very marked change of 
temperature, the 10° line has moved northward and westward and straightened out^ 
closing in towards tlie coasts of Labrador and Greenland, while the 8° line, parallel to 
it, almost touches Cape Farewell. 
In the soutli-eastern area temperature is practically unchanged, but to the west of 
L-eland it has fallen, causing the 15° isothermal to follow the 50th parallel closely for 
nearly 30 degrees. The line of 12°, which further west has moved somewhat to the 
north-west, following the 10° line, remains in the same position to the north and north¬ 
west of Scotland, but it has moved far to the eastward from the Faeroe-Shetland 
Channel, changing from a V to a U shape, and leaving an area with a temperature of 
10° or less. This area probably extends far northward and eastward over the Norwegian 
Sea; the line of 9° reaches long. 30° F., and temperatures over 5° occur far along the 
