TITLE:     Palmer LTER: Hydrography in the region west of the Antarctic
           Peninsula
AUTHOR:    DA Smith, EE Hofamnn, JM Klinck, BL Lipphardt, Jr., RA Locarnini
           and RC Smith
PAGE:      249 of SCAR SIXTH BIOLOGY SYMPOSIUM, Antarctic Communities: Species,
           Structure and Survival 
ABSTRACTS:  An extensive two month hydrographic survey of the waters west of
the Antarctic Peninsula was performed from March to May 1993 as a part of the
Palmer Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) program.  The study region
encompassed nearly 200 km across-shelf and 900 km alongshelf.  Hydrographic
data were acquired using CTD measurements with an offshore resolution of 10
km.  The across-shelf transects were separated by 100 km.  On most transects,
XBTs were deployed between the hydrographic stations, thus providing
resolution in the temperature field of about 5 km.  Also, XBT data were also
acquired whenever possible between transect lines.  In total, over 200
hydrographic stations were made along with over 100 XBT observations.  In
general, the sampling region was characterized by a well mixed seasonal
surface layer 75 to 100 m deep.  The surface layer was characterized by
considerable variability with temperatures ranging from -2 degrees C to
slightly above 1 degree C and salinity values ranging from 33.1 psu to 34.1
psu.  Stations on the inshore, southern extent of the sampling grid exhibited
low salinity (33.1 psu), cold (< -1 degree C) surface water indicative of melt
water probably originating in the nearby Marguerite Bay.  Temperature and
salinity values typical of winter water occupied the depths below that of the
surface layer.  Circumpolar Deep Water (CDW), the largest volume of water
transported by the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC), was found below 200 m
along the Peninsula well inshore of the shelf break.  The CDW is characterized
by temperature values typically > 0 degree C and salinity values of 34.72 psu.
Data obtained from stations occupied in the Bransfield Strait formed a tightly
correlated region in theta - S space.  This water was generally less saline
and much colder than CDW with salinity values near 34.55 psu and theta < 0
degree C.