Description of the 1996 oceanographic conditions on the northeast continental shelf

A summary of hydrographic observations for 22 surveys on the northeast continental shelf during 1996 is presented. Distributions of station position, surface and bottom temperature, salinity, and anomalies 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 (GOJ'vffi), Georges Bank (GB), northern Middle Atlantic Bight (MABN) and southern Middle Atlantic Bight (MABS). The 1996.regional distributions show that nearly the entire northeast shelf region experienced fresher' surface and bottom salinities relative to the MARMAP reference period. A trend of cooler surface and bottom temperatures was observed during the latter part of the year for the Georges Bank region. 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 Marie E. Kiladis. "December 1997." System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Includes bibliographical references (page 6-7). 1997 NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service) NEFSC (Northeast Fisheries Science Center) Library Public Domain 1863