Atlantic oceanography conducted during the period July 1, 1962 -June 30, 1963

Abstract

In July 1962 a short cruise was made on CHAIN to investigate the hypothesis (Worthington 1962) that the major circulation of the North Atlantic is divided into two anti-cyclonic eddies or gyres. Evidence from International Geophysical Year data indicated that the thermocline water east of the Grand Banks had different characteristics from Sargasso Sea water. In particular, the dissolved oxygen content throughout the thermocline was at a much higher level in the more northerly waters than in the Sargasso Sea. It was deduced from this that the Gulf Stream, which transports a large volume of water of the Sargasso Sea type, does not turn south around the Tail of the Banks, but that the strong, narrow currents found to the East of the Banks transport water of different origin.