SURFACP: WATPAiS OF THP] NORTH ATI.ANTIC OCEAN. 
05 
near the land, and in lat. 40° N. the 20° line has reappeared. The 10° and the 15° 
lines have not altered their positions much. In the south central region tempera¬ 
ture has risen, and there is again a marked rise near the European coast, but north 
and north-east of the Azores there is little or no change. The 8° line has filled out 
north-eastward between Iceland and the Faeroes, and ofi’ the Faeroes the 5° line has 
retreated northward, but east of Iceland itself tiiere is little change. West of 
Iceland there is also little change ; temperature has risen considerably south-east ol 
Greenland and again to the west of Greenland. The greater number of observations 
east and north-east of Newfoundland show a warm area extending westwards 
towards Lal^rador. 
Salinity has fallen along tlie 40th parallel west of long. 50° W., the 36 line has 
moved southward and eastward, while the lines of lower salinity Ijend southward, 
along the coast, towards the west. East of Newfoundland the salter waters extend 
further to the north and west—note tlie 35 line. 
In the south-eastern region the 36 line has retreated from the European coast 
and moved south-westAvard nearly to the Azores, while in the north-east the 35‘5 
line sends a tongue into the Faeroe Channel. The greatest change appears in the 
north central renion, Avhere the 35 line has moved Avestward and north-AvestAAarrd— 
bending up into Denmark and Davis Straits, and apparently running parallel to the 
Labrador coast. The 34‘5 line runs Avell to the N.W. of Iceland. Note the position 
of the 35 line Avest and south of Spitsbergen and ofi’the NorAvegian coast. 
The characteristic changes are therefore marked fall of salinity and absence of 
seasonal rise of temperature north and north-east of the Azores ; increase of salinity 
and rise of temperature in the Avhole of the northern area—in the Faeroe Channel, 
east of Gi'eenland, Avest and south-Avest of Greenland, across to Labrador. 
Comparing the distribution Avith 1896, tlie Gulf Stream “axis” in the south-west 
lies further to the eastAvard—compare temperature 20° and salinity 36 mille. In 
the central southern area temperature and salinity are both greater, tlie loAA^er lines 
being croAA^ded nortliAAmrds and AvestAA'ards towards NeAAdoundland and Labrador. In 
the south-eastern region temperature and salinity are loAver. 
In tlie north-eastern region temperature is very markedly loAver—note the 
isothermals of 10°, 9°, 8°, and 5°. This dilference holds good to a greater or less 
extent over the Avhole distance from south-eastern Iceland to the coast of Noiavay, 
into the North Sea, and along the south coast of Iceland. West of Spitsbergen 
temperature seems higher, east and south-east of Greenland rather lower, and Avest 
of Greenland markedly higher. 
The salinity observations do not, unfortunately, shoAv the distribution east of 
Iceland in 1897. It appears, hoAvever, tliat Avhile salter water extended up the AA^est 
side of the British Isles, the surface of the North Sea AA^as fresher. The salter Avaters 
apparently spread farther to the west of Spitsbergen, but not so far north, and a 
similar difference occurs off the Labrador coast and in Davis Strait. 
