SURFACE WATERS OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN. 
91 
Iceland the 10° line has retreated southward, but further west, i.e., south of Green¬ 
land, the fall is inconsiderable till the American coast is approached. A marked faU 
has taken place east of Cape Farewell—note the change in the 8° line, and the 
change of places by the 7° and 5° lines. 
There is practically no change of salinity from last month south of lat. 50° N- 
(the loop in the 36 line in mid-Atlantic is uncertain) except for an extension eastward 
of the 32 line from Cape Race. Between 50° N. and 53° N. the loojss of the 35 and 
3 5‘5 lines have increased in size and now extend much further to the east, while to 
the north of 55° the 35'5 line now bends westward, and the 35 line shows a wider 
and fuller loop (compare September) to the west and north. The fresher waters east 
of Southern Greenland now extend to the south of Iceland—note the 34 line, and the 
whole line from the east of Iceland to the Faeroes, Shetlands, and Norway is probably 
occupied by water under 35. The observations show the 35 line between the 
Faeroes and Shetlands, but it must be regarded with suspicion. 
South of lat. 50° N. there are therefore few variations beyond the ordinary 
seasonal changes of temperature ; north of 50° N. the lines have moved westward; 
south and south-west of Iceland the water is fresher and colder. 
December, 1896.—The distribution of temperature is again very irregular, and the 
seasonal change from November well marked. The 20° line north of 40° N. lat. has 
shrunk to a small arc between long. 55° and 60° W. The 10° line has, roughly, 
taken the place of the 15° line, and the 5° line of the 10°, as far east as long. 50° W. 
East and south-east of Newfoundland temperature has fallen to 0°; the 10° line has 
moved little, but beyond it temperature has fallen; the 15° line has retreated to the 
south-east. 
In the south-eastern region a slight fall of temperature has taken place, but there 
is no marked change. 
The 10° line has scarcely moved between long. 20° W. and the Irish coast, and 
north of this to Ijetween Iceland and the Shetlands there is little or no change 
(lines 8°, 7°, and 5°). Toward the Norwegian coast, however, the fall seems to have 
been considerable. 
A considerable fall of temperature has evidently taken place in the northern 
central region—note the portion of the 8° line close to that of 10°, which has also 
moved southward. 
Salinity has changed little in the fresher waters off the American coasts, the 
positions of the 32 and 33 isohalines being practically unaltered. Further seaward 
there is a marked increase of salinity northward and westward, indicated by the 34, 
35, and 36 pro mille lines. Off Gape Race the belt of fresher water protrudes 
further to the south, while in the area bounded by 40° and 50° N. lat. and 40° and 
50° W. long, there is a general equalisation—the 33 line has moved westward, and 
the 36 line southward. A similar tendency to more uniform distribution appears all 
over the Eastern Atlantic, the 36 line has moved southward, especially near the coast 
N 2 
