Description of the 1995 oceanographic conditions on the northeast Continental Shelf

A summary of hydrographic observations for 23 surveys on the northeast continental shelf during 1995 is presented. Distributions of station position, surface and bottom temperature, salinity, and temperature anomaly are portrayed. The average surface and bottom temperature and salinity have been calculated for each survey in five geographic regions over the northeast continental shelf: western Gulf of Maine (GOMW), eastern Gulf of Maine (GOME), Georges Bank (GB) , northern Middle Atlantic Bight (MABN) and southern Middle Atlantic Bight (MABS). Unlike temperature, salinity properties of the northeast shelf exhibit large interannual variability (Manning 1990). Areal average salinity calculations are included in this report because yearly changes may be an important hydrographic characteristic. The 1995 regional distributions show that nearly the entire northeast shelf region experienced warmer surface temperatures except for the eastern Gulf of Maine. Both regions of the Gulf of Maine show fresher surface and bottom salinity values than the expected conditions. This report is the 5th in a series of yearly compilations of hydrographic data collected on NEFSC cruises (Holzwarth and Taylor 1992-1994, Taylor and Almgren 1996). by Maureen H. Taylor and Daniel W. Almgren. "August 1996." System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Includes bibliographical references (page 7).