PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHIC CRUISES NO. 6 AND 7, NARRAGANSETT BAY AND ITS APPROACHES, JULY-SEPTEMBER 1952
Abstract
The cruises were made in order to obtain a 3-dimensional picture of the distribution of various physical oceanographic parameters of Narragansett Bay and its approaches in the summer of 1952. The surface temperature in the approaches increased from the edges of the offshore region to the center. The surface salinity increased from Narragansett Bay, Block Island Sound, and Buzzards Bay to the southeast of the offshore area. The surface was about 19 deg F warmer and about 0.50 deg/oo less saline than the bottom. The central portions of the Bay itself were consistently warmer although no consistent surface temperature gradient was noted in either passage at either stage of the tide. In both passages, surface salinity increased toward the mouth of the Bay at both stages of the tide. On the surface, East Passage was 2 deg to 3 deg F colder than West Passage at both stages of the tide. The temperature on the bottom of the 2 passages at slack before flood was about the same; at slack before ebb, East Passage was about 10 deg F cooler than West Passage. The surface of East Passage was 2 deg F and 11 deg F warmer than the bottom at slack before flood and slack before ebb, respectively; in West Passage, the surface was 4 deg F warmer at both tidal stages. East Passage surface and bottom salinities were about 0.50 deg/oo and 0.80 deg/oo more saline at slack before ebb than West Passage, the surface of which was about 0.10 deg/oo and 0.50 deg/oo less saline than the bottom at slack before flood and slack before ebb, respectively. The surface of East Passage was about 0.80 deg/oo less saline than the bottom.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1953
- Accession Number
- AD0008844
Entities
People
- Robert Campbell
- Steacy D. Hicks
Organizations
- University of Rhode Island