SUEFACE WATEES OF THE AOIiTH ATLANTIC OCEAN. 
8t) 
Temperature is practically unchanged in tlie middle and eastern Atlantic between 
lat. 40° and 50° N. 
Between lat. 48° and 55° N. the principal changes are in the west and north-west : 
lower temperatures prevail eastvrard from the coast of Labrador, and to the south¬ 
east off Newfoundland, and north-east tlie form of the isotherms has undergone a 
marked change, tongues of colder water pointing S.E. and E. respectively. Note 
especially the changes in the 10°, 9°, and 8° lines. 
South of Greenland, temperature has risen : there are loops to the westward in 
the 8° and 9° lines. The rise of temperature extends north into Davis Strait : note 
the change of form and position of the isothermal of 5°. 
To the west and south-west of Iceland temperature has fallen further, the 10° line 
does not now touch the west of tlie island at all. East of Iceland temjierature has 
fallen considerably, and the cold area seems to have extended. A uniform general 
fall seems to have taken place in the Norwegian Sea up to high latitudes. 
Comparing the salinities in the lower latitudes with both July and August; the 
salter waters appear further north ; the 33 line has moved up towards the iiorth- 
we.st of long. 55° W., and the gradients have become very steep, the 36 line pressing 
close up in long. 60° W. In long. 50° the isohalines bend southward, and there is a 
marked freshenin'.^ of water south-east of Newfoundland ; the 34 line novv^ touchiim- 
the 40th meridian. 
In the south-eastern region the 36 line remains unmoved, but salinities of 36‘5 
appear near the Azores. 
Along the whole length of a belt about 2° or 3° on each side of a line joining 
lat. 50° N., long. 40° W. Avith the west of Scotland there is everywhere a marked 
loAvering of salinity : the 35 line is moved al)Out 5° to the east, and the 35'5 line 
disappears from the area altogether. To the nortli of tliis there a})})ears to ])e a 
.slight increase of salinity across a strip whicli is widest soutli of Iceland, but 
extremely narrow further Avest. South-east of Greenland the area of fresher AA^ater 
seems to have extended, although the observations are insufficient to be certain 
of this. East of Iceland and south of Spitslj>ergen the 35 line lias retreated 
soutliAA'ard. 
Tlie cliief changes are tlnrs—in the .south-Avest a ri.se of temperature and salinity 
at the head of the Gulf Stream : and the appearance of a colder fre.sher band 
close to the land, AAdiich extends east and Avest ; increase of salinity AAuth small 
change of temperature in the south-east; .slight fall of temperature and marked fall 
of salinity southAvards and eastAAm'ds from the east of NcaaTo midland, and right 
across the middle belt of the Atlantic to the British Isles; fall of temperature 
and salinity east of Iceland, sijuth-eo.st of Greenland, and in the north round 
Spitsbergen. 
October, 1896.—In this month the seasonal changes of temperature are again 
strongly marked. Temperature has fallen considerably near the 40th parallel west 
VOL. cxcvi.—A. 
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