Summary of the Oceanography and Surface Wind Structure
of the Pacific Subarctic Region
in Relation to Waste Releases at Sea
tLEAi
FEDERAL WATER
QUALITY
ADMINISTRATION
NORTHWEST REGION
PACIFIC NORTHWEST
WATER LABORATORY
C 0 R V A I L I S, OREGON
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Figures 5, 18, 20, 23, 24, 26 and 27 were
reproduced with the permission of Information
Canada.
Figures 1-4, 6-17, 19, 21, 22, and 25 were
reproduced with the permission of the Inter-
national North Pacific Fisheries Commission.
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SUMMARY OF THE OCEANOGRAPHY AND SURFACE WIND STRUCTURE
OF THE PACIFIC SUBARCTIC REGION
IN RELATION TO WASTE RELEASES AT SEA
by
Richard J. Call away
National Coastal Pollution Research Program
Working Paper No. 76
United States Department of the Interior
Federal Water Quality Administration, Northwest Region
Pacific Northwest Water Laboratory
200 Southwest Thirty-fifth Street
Corvallis, Oregon 97330
September 1970
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
In its assigned function as the Nation's
principal natural resource agency, the
Department of the Interior bears a special
obligation to assure that our expendable
resources are conserved, that renewable
resources are managed to produce optimum
yields, and that all resources contribute
their full measure to the progress, pros-
perity, and security of America, now and
in the future.
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CONTENTS
Page
INTRODUCTION 1
*
Geographic Regions 2
Bathymetry . 3
Currents Deduced from Drift Bottle Releases .... 4
Computed Surface Currents . . 5
Inferred Currents 8
Winds 8
NORPAC Data 10
SUMMARY 13
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 15
REFERENCES 17
FIGURES 19
ii
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LIST OF TABLES
Table Page
1 Onshore Winds, Seaward Wind Rose 10
iii
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LIST OF FIGURES
Figure Page
1 Regions and zones in the northern Pacific 19
2 Geography of Subarctic Pacific Region 19
3 Bathymetry 20
4 Chart of the Aleutian Island area 21
5 Coast of southeast Alaska showing inlets
described in this study 22
6 Drift bottle releases in central Subarctic 23
7 Drift bottle releases in eastern Subarctic 24
8 Drift bottle releases in western Subarctic 25
9 Returns from drift bottles released between
January 3 and March 7, 1933, and January 9
and February 25, 1934 (Thompson and Van Cleve,
1936) 26
10 Release and recovery points of selected
drift floats, May to July 1959 (adapted
from Taguchi, 1959) 26
11 Drift of MV P-ameet during three consecutive
nights (July 26-29, 1959) and drift of para-
chute drogues (4.6 m depth) released and
tracked by USC and GS vessel Exp£o/z.eA (June
1959) 26
12 Schematic diagram of surface circulation
relative to 1000 decibars 27
13 Schematic diagram of circulation at 200
decibars relative to 1000 decibars 27
14 Geopotential topography, 0/1000 decibars,
summer 1955 28
iv
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Figure Page
15 Geopotential topography, 0/1000 decibars,
summer 1956 28
16 Geopotential topography, 0/1000 decibars,
summer 1957 29
17 Geopotential topography, 0/1000 .decibars,
winter 1957 . 29
18 Geopotential topography, 0/1000 decibars,
summer 1958 30
19 Geopotential topography, 0/1000 decibars,
winter 1958 30
20 Geopotential topography, 0/300 decibars,
summer 1958 31
21 Geopotential topography, 0/1000 decibars,
summer 1959 32
22 Geopotential topography, 0/1000 decibars,
winter 1959 32
23 Geopotential topography, 0/1000 decibars,
eastern Subarctic Pacific, June 1962 33
24 Temperature at 10 meters depth, summer 1958 .... 34
25 Surface salinity (°/oo). July - August, 1957. ... 35
26 Salinity at 10 meters depth, summer 1958 36
27 Sigma-t, at 10 meters depth, summer 1958 37
28 January surface winds 38
29 January sea level pressure 39
30 February surface winds 40
31 February sea level pressure 41
32 March surface winds 42
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Figure Page
33 March sea level pressure 43
34 April surface winds 44
35 April sea level pressure 45
36 May surface winds 46
37 May sea level pressure 47
38 June surface winds 48
39 June sea level pressure 49
40 July surface winds 50
41 July sea level pressure 51
42 August surface winds 52
43 August sea level pressure 53
44 September surface winds 54
45 September sea level pressure 55
46 October surface winds 56
47 October sea level pressure 57
48 November surface winds 58
49 November sea level pressure 59
50 December surface winds 60
51 December sea level pressure 61
52 Geopotential anomaly of the 0-decibar
surface relative to the 1000-decibar
surface (AD 0/1000) in dynamic meters, NORPAC. . 62
vi
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Figure Page
53 Quantity of zooplankton in milliliters per
1000 cubic meters of water, NORPAC 63
54 Numbers of fish larvae reported, NORPAC 64
55 Numbers and species of seals and porpoises
sighted, and date of sighting, 1955, NORPAC .... 65
56 Numbers and species of whales sighted and
date of sighting, 1955, NORPAC 66
VII
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SUMMARY OF THE OCEANOGRAPHY AND SURFACE WIND STRUCTURE
OF THE PACIFIC SUBARCTIC REGION
IN RELATION TO WASTE RELEASES AT SEA
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this report is to briefly outline the
physical oceanography and surface wind structure of the Gulf
of Alaska and waters adjacent to the Pacific Coast of Alaska.
The information to be gained from this summary is then used
to evaluate the efficacy of the rather arbitrary 50-mile
International Agreement Zone inside which vessels are pro-
hibited from discharging oily ballast waters and slop oil
with a concentration greater than 100 ppm.
The narrative portion of this report is intended as a
resume* of the many accompanying figures. Since the conclusions
reached were based largely on these figures and the reports
from which they were taken, they are presented here as the
background material.
No attempt is made to calculate the dispersion of crude
oil wastes since these are not generally miscible with seawater.
It is known (Kinney et al., 1969) that the lower fraction
hydrocarbons, gasoline and kerosene will evaporate rather
rapidly (less than a day in Cook Inlet studies). The live
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crude oils of Cook Inlet origin are considerably less likely
to remain clumped (at sea) than those originating from Sumatra
or other regions. Oils recovered from tank cleaning are altered
considerably, however. Weathering turns Cook Inlet crude oils
into a viscous, tar-like material (Ray Morris, FWQA, personal
communication). The bulk of this report, then, is concerned
with those wastes discharged in rather large volume which are
likely to maintain their identity in such a fashion that they
will be aesthetic nuisances if washed ashore or will intefere
with bird and animal life at sea or ashore.
Geographic Regions
The North Pacific has been the subject of intense study
by oceanographers from Japan, Russia, Canada, and the United
States for many years, particularly in connection with its
extensive salmon and other fisheries. As a result, the geography
of the so-called Subarctic Pacific (SP) has been well-defined.
Figures 1 and 2 exhibit the principal features of the SP.
Of particular interest are the American and Alaskan Coastal
Regions and the Western Gyral Region south of the Aleutian
chain. These regions are defined mainly on the basis of their
surface and subsurface currents and temperature-salinity re-
lationships. In other words, waters of a particular region
are sufficiently unlike those of others and also so similar
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over a broad area that they can be so classified. The cir-
culation in a given region will be unique; for instance, waters
in the Alaskan Gyral may recirculate within the Gyral for
several orbits before entering the coastal water regions.
Waters once in the coastal regions, however, are more likely
to move westward within the coastal region, leaving the system
by entering the Western Gyral or Subarctic Region.
Bathymetry
The seaward extent of the continental shelf area is some-
times given by the 200-meter depth contour. The bathymetric
charts (Figures 3 and 4) show as the first contour the 1000-meter
isobath; since the 200-meter isobath lies quite close, the former
contour can be taken as the limit of the continental shelf in
the Alaska region. It can be seen that this is near the
Aleutian Island chain, about 60-120 miles off the south and
southeast coast of Alaska, and shows the broad extent of the
shelf area in the Bristol Bay region.
Although the shelf is relatively far offshore (as opposed
to the West Coast of the United States) it will be pointed out
that onshore currents still exist in this region.
Figure 5 shows the complex inland sea area of southeast
Alaska.
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Currents Deduced from Drift Bottle Releases
Because drift bottles are partly exposed directly to the
wind, their use as indicators of surface currents is often
viewed with suspicion by oceanographers. However, drift
bottle release results are good indicators of the path likely
to be followed by solids, such as impacted oil sludges, and
other surface debris.
According to Dodimead et al. (1963), the drift bottle
data shown in Figures 6 to 11 exhibit the following surface
flow phenomena:
1. northward drift between Attu and Komandorski Islands;
2. from as far south as latitude 46°N between 140°W and
145°W into the Gulf of Alaska;
3. around the Gulf of Alaska (Alaskan Gyre);
4. along the southern side of the Aleutian Islands, into
the Bering Sea, and eastward along the northern side of the
islands;
5. circulating within the Subarctic Region;
6. from the Subarctic Region into the California Current
system, toward the Hawaiian Islands, and then westward to the
Philippine and Japanese Islands;
7. around the western Subarctic Gyre.
From the viewpoint of solid wastes drifting with the
surface currents one reaches the unhappy, but not surprising,
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conclusion that there is really no safe place to dump refuse,
even in the middle of the North Pacific Ocean, since the waste
will eventually end up on a beach. In transit, of course, the
waste may disintegrate and fall to the bottom or become in-
distinguishable, depending on the time of transit, the sea
state during its passage, and the nature of the waste.
Computed Surface Currents
Figure 12 shows a schematic diagram of the surface cir-
culation deduced from direct and indirect observations. Some
of the features given in Figures 1 and 2 are also present here.
In Figure 13 the currents at a depth of about 200 meters are
shown; it can be seen that the surface features maintain them-
selves at this depth for the most part with additional structure
coming into the picture as exemplified by the California Under-
current.
Figures 14 to 23 show the so-called geostrophic surface
currents from 1955 to 1962. These currents are computed from
a knowledge of the vertical distribution of density obtained
at widely separated locations in the ocean. Density, in turn,
is calculated from the temperature and salinity of water samples
obtained at different depths in a given column of water.
The charts of 'geopotential topography' show contours on
which current direction is indicated by arrows. Current speed
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is inversely proportional to the separation of the contours,
hence closely spaced contours indicate swift currents. In-
sets on the charts can be used to pick off current speeds.
In general there are rather swiftly moving currents in
the coastal regions moving out along the Aleutian chain.
Currents move northward along the Canadian-Alaskan coast
and eastward from the Subarctic current and the West Wind
drift (Figure 12).
The broad area of seemingly sluggish currents (as re-
vealed by widely separated contours) corresponds to the
Alaskan Gyre.
Because of the method of calculation, the currents shown
are seaward of the 1000-meter isobath with the exception of
Figure 20, which is based on a 300-meter computation. The
latter figure exhibits a component of current toward Kodiak
Island from the east, as well as the onshore currents along
the Aleutians. In the Aleutian chain currents are shown as
moving north into Bristol Bay (this feature is also shown in
the other figures).
Figure 23 shows in more detail the currents in the Gulf
and the relative position of the Alaskan Gyre.
In all figures the velocities in sea miles per day (SMD)
at selected positions are indicated. In the last figure, for
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instance, a current of 1 SMD is shown south of the Alaskan
Gyre, but in Figure 15 a 12 SMD current is shown southwest
of Kodiak.
The current charts, then, exhibit great extremes in speed
and direction, both in time and space. It should be borne in
mind that the currents shown in these charts do not show short
duration wind effects; hence, wind drift at the surface would
be superimposed on these currents. The resultant drift of
surface material could then be parallel to the contours or
could cross the contours at right angles. This is an extremely
important fact to consider when attempting to show probable
drift of any ocean waste discharge, especially one which will
be constrained to remain in the very few upper inches of water
and which is discharged nearshore.
The indications of this section are that there is an on-
shore component of current in the coastal regions; in conjunction
with the drift bottle data it can be seen that material dis-
charged within several hundred miles of the coast will move
alongshore at speeds of 1-15 miles per day (independent of
wind drift). The prevailing wind drift will determine in the
mean whether a waste discharged, say, in the northeast part of
the Alaskan Gyral will move into Cook Inlet, out along the
Aleutian chain, or remain within the Gyral.
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Inferred Currents
Temperature and salinity determine density - the distri-
bution of which can be used to compute current velocity. The
individual distribution of properties can also be used to
infer current directions.
Figures 24 to 27 show these properties; comparison with
the SP zones (Figure 24) reveals the presence of the Alaskan
Gyre, the northward bending of the 10°-15°C temperature con-
tours shows that the temperature of the water masses is fairly
well retained in transit and shows a shoreward component.
The salinity distribution (Figures 25 and 26) reveals relatively
fresh water along the coast due to runoff, The density dis-
tribution (as Sigma-t) also reveals a marked coastal region
extending several hundred miles offshore. As a rule of thumb
it can be postulated that a waste released inside the 23.8
contour west of Juneau and the 24.6 contour south of Kodiak
will quite likely reach shore within a few days, depending on
the set of the wind.
Winds
During the winter, the Subarctic is under the influence
of the Aleutian Low which is located in the Bering Sea near
the Aleutians. In conjunction with the Siberian and North
American Arctic High pressure cells, the winter winds are
8
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predominantly westerly. They blow from the northwest in
the western part of the region through southwest on the
eastern side. In the northern gulf, easterly winds prevail.
In the summer the North Pacific High predominates over
the Aleutian Low, and the prevailing westerlies of the winter
are replaced by south or southwest winds. Near the Canadian
and Alaskan coasts prevailing summer winds are generally
light and variable.
Figures 28 to 51 show average monthly surface wind data,
sea level pressures, and storm tracks in the region of in-
terest.
Each monthly wind rose shows the speed and direction
frequency of surface winds at various locations. For instance,
Figure 28, for January, has onshore winds about 26 percent
of the time at the Seward station. At the station off Queen
Charlotte Island there is an onshore component about 50
percent of the time. Additional information is also given
at each wind rose.
The surface pressure charts can be used to infer wind
direction by noting that circulation is counterclockwise
around a low and clockwise around a high. Wind direction
does not parallel the isobars, but has a slight component
inward toward a low and out from a high. The memory aid is
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that with one's back to the wind the low pressure cell will
be on one's left-hand side. The monthly frequency at the
Seward station is given in Table 1 where an 'onshore component'
is defined as coming from the south, southwest and west bars
of the wind rose.
TABLE 1
Onshore Winds, Seward Wind Rose
(from U.S. Navy, 1956)
Month JFMAMJJASOND
% 26 20 25 22 32 43 34 46 32 34 20 24
The implications of this section on wind are rather ob-
vious: there will be an onshore wind component sometime during
any month of the year. Surface material will drift at 2-5 per-
cent of the imposed wind speed, and this drift will be super-
imposed on the net density related currents shown in the
previous section.
NORPAC Data
During the summer of 1955 a multi-ship, multi-nation
oceanographic expedition of the North Pacific (NORPAC) took
place. The station spacing in the Gulf of Alaska was good
and sections of some of the figures from the NORPAC Atlas are
reproduced.
10
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Figure 52 shows the surface currents during the cruise;
the Alaskan Gyre is outlined by the 0.70 contour and the
currents are similar to those shown previously.
In Figure 53 the quantity of zooplankton was estimated
from data collected at varying depths and with different nets.
Some:features are worthy of comment: note that south of about
latitude 30°N there is a relative absence of zooplankton,
while there is an increase northward and particularly along
the coast. The large amount in the coastal areas supports
the idea that this is a zone of nutrient abundance and is a
very important enrichment and biotic area.
The number of fish larvae, Figure 54, was standardized
to the amount in a volume of water 10 square meters in area
at the surface and 140 meters thick. It is difficult to
generalize on the data presented in the chart, other than
to suggest that there are no obvious barren or fertile zones
that probably could not be explained on the basis of sampling
methods or gear. Larvae are, however, present throughout the
North Pacific.
Seal and porpoise sightings during NORPAC are shown in
Figure 55. Since no special effort was made to maintain a
sea-life watch aboard all vessels, the result should not be
taken as to indicate more than the fact that these mammals
can and do live hundreds of miles from land.
11
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Figure 56 shows whale sightings. As in Figure 54, the
most sightings occur between latitudes 40°N and 50°N, and
longitudes 150° to 180°.
Conclusions to be reached in this section are that the
North Pacific and especially the coastal zones are highly
productive in terms of zooplankton and fish larvae and many
marine mammals can be found far offshore. The Aleutian Islands
are well-known breeding grounds for different species of
seagoing mammals which depend on the nearshore fishery for
food while raising their young. The Gulf of Alaska and the
Bering Sea—Bristol Bay area contains relatively high con-
centrations of nutrients making the lower stages of the food
chain highly productive and available to grazing zooplankton.
As has been shown, this is reflected in the large gradients
of zooplankton toward the coast.
12
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SUMMARY
It has been shown that the circulation in the Gulf of
Alaska and the Pacific side of the Alaska coast is somewhat
closed. A counter-clockwise circulation exists at all times
of the year. Currents near the coast are fairly fast with a
jet-like stream passing south of Kodiak, out along the Aleu-
tian chain and into the Bering Sea.
Wind systems in the Gulf will drive surface material
inshore a few days of each month at a rate of 3-5 percent of
the wind speed.
The naturally high nutrient level in the Pacific Subarctic
supports an extensive and unique biota both inshore and at sea.
The Gulf itself is traversed periodically by Asian and North
American salmon stocks.
13
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CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Nonsoluble or sparingly soluble liquids such as those
normally discharged at sea from freighters and tankers dis-
charging oily ballast or slops from tank-cleaning operations
will eventually end up on Alaskan or other beaches no matter
where they are discharged in the Pacific north of about 45°N
latitude. If the amount of discharge at any one time is
slight, if dispersion is great, or if part of the material
falls to the bottom during its sea drift period, then the
identifiable amount on shore could be minuscule.
The closer to shore the discharge, the better the chance
for its ending up on shore, of course. The dispersant action
of the sea will not apply to these wastes since they are not
miscible in the usual sense. The velocity shear associated
with circulation around the Alaskan Gyral will tend to move
a waste material into the coastal region where the prevailing
onshore wind system will exert itself.
Material once inside the southeast Alaskan inland waters
will be effectively trapped. Wastes discharged at depth in
the vicinity of Cook Inlet will probably move into the estuary
with bottom water which replaces waters moving out at the
surface. This mechanism has not been established for Cook
Inlet but has for the Columbia River and Chesapeake Bay
estuaries, among others.
15
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Releases near the 50-mile zone along the Aleutians will
most likely either end up on the Islands or enter the Bering
Sea, assuming a relatively long half-life. The 50-mile zone
is a rather ineffective arbitrary limit; in fact, there is
no limit that could be set that would ensure that sea dis-
charges would not affect remote areas, much less the immediate
region of the discharge. The NORPAC biological observations
(Figures 52 to 56) point out that there is no desert in the
sea where wastes can be discharged and put out of mind.
16
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REFERENCES*
Call away, Richard J.
of the Aleutian
Comm. Bull. No.
1963. Ocean Conditions in
Islands, Summer 1957. Int.
11, p. 1-29. [4, 25J
the vicinity
N. Pac. Fish.
Dodimead, A. J. and F. Favorite. 1961. Oceanographic Atlas
of the Pacific Subarctic Region, Summer 1958. Fish. Res.
Bd. of Canada. MS Report Series #92. 6 pp plus 40 figures.
[18, 20, 24, 26, 27]
Dodimead, A. J., F. Favorite, and T. Hirano. 1963. Salmon
of the North Pacific Ocean, Part II, Review of Oceanography
of the Subarctic Pacific Regions. Bull. Int. N. Pac.
Fish. Comm. No. 13, 195 pp. [1-3, 6-9, 12-17, 19, 21, 22]
Dodimead, A. J. and 6. L. Pickard. 1967. Annual changes in
the Oceanic-Coastal Waters of the Eastern Subarctic Pacific.
J. Fish. Res. Bd. of Canada. 24(11), pp. 2207-2227. [23]
Favorite, Felix.
Comm. Bull.
1967.
No. 21,
The Alaskan Stream.
p.1-20. [10,11]
Int. N. Pac. Fish
Kinney, P. J., D. K. Button and D. M. Schell. 1969,
of Dissipation and Biodegradation of Crude Oil
Cook Inlet. Presented at the Joint Conference
and Control of Oil Spills: American Petroleum
Federal Water Pollution Control Administration
Kinetics
in Alaska's
on Prevention
Institute,
, December 14-17,
1969, New York, N.Y.
University of Alaska,
Contribution #61, Inst. of Mar. Sci
Pickard, G. L. 1967. Some Oceanographic Characteristics of the
Larger Inlets of Southeast Alaska. J. Fish. Res. Bd. of
Canada. 24(7), pp. 1475-1506. [5]
Oceanic Observations of the
Eps. plus 128 charts.
52-56]
Pacific, 1955. The NORPAC Atlas. 1960.
The University of California Press.
U. S. Navy. 1956.
North Pacific
[28-51]
Marine Climatic Atlas of the World. Volume II.
Ocean"! NAVAER 50- 1C-529. xviii plus 275 charts,
*Numbers in brackets refer to figure numbers in this report taken
from the indicated references.
17
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FIOURK 1 . Kcginns nncl zones in the northern Pacific (nclapter! from Fleming, 19.r>.ri).
NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN
GEOGRAPHY OF THE |
SUBARCTIC PACIFIC REGION
GULF Or ALASKA
3 *, • •. KOMAKC-OSSM
MS
: i / ,
~ . ' f '^_.. ••
i
vSu i
i
7j SUBARCTIC PACIFIC REGION •
\ \ \ i I i ' I
r . i ! t "•
i OCCAM y:-.ltcjl V
I i
I '
-'• SUB7ROPIC REGION
"•Hi
•III,
i'us.--i
!• ' ''
: I
FIGURE -2. Ccogrnphy of Sutmrclic Pacific Region.
19
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130*
ro
o
NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN
BATHYMETRY
(Metres)
---- 5000
------ 6000
---7000
----- 8000
1000
2000
--- 3000
.......... 4000
K
L/^W//1 W^'^^^*'[
J^^M/\ 7} I \VvJA ! I
*T &£m>/- V / i .-' \ q i i i
JfijjC/j&f$''':^<:
•&vPa£'-&t M'f 'i
.v>i-)/V ' ;
ty$$*^ •
•sMS***'* 1.7 i'l
140°
ISO-
~J30° I7O°W
FIGURE 3 . Bathymetry (metres).
140°
130*
120*
-------
R I N 0 S C
V
FIGURE 4 • Chart of the Aleutian Island area.
21
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SOUTHEAST
ALASKA
N'L'ET S
I-""" 51JJM
•>••?!&' l~&/}/*
»
-------
V
NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN
DRJFI BOTTLE RELEASES I960
i i _ i L -J - J —-j
''HOr*'3"^"*"'*"=T$wr """"""""'Cy
FIGURE 6 . Drift bottle releases in central Subarctic.
-------
$ I .'
J is*--
7*1
i NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN |
Estimated path of drift bottles
released at Station "P"
on January 25. 1958
I
Uss
F
NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN j
Estimated path of drift bottles
released on August 4. 1957
NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN
Estimated path of drift bottles
released .on August 10, 1959
FIGURE 7 . Drift bottle rclrases in eastern Subarctic.
24
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ISO" 165° 170° 175° E. Una. 160° 17S°tf. Lena.
60°
60°
I766£. Lena. 180s I7S°W. Long.
55'
45°
I i !
J | I J; i._.J._. ! . I
FIGURE 8« Drift bottle releases in western Subarctic.
25
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Fioimr !l. Returns from drift bullies released between January 3 and March 7, 1933, and January !) ami Ki binary 1?"), I01'
(Tlicmi|)osn. and J/an Clrve, 1936).
• 1 I J .1 1 J
FIGURE 10. Kclca.sc and recovery points of selected drift
floats, May t.-Jnly 1909 (adapted from Taguchi, 1959).
« -o VESSEL DRIFT (MV Pltl.'lti>)
——o SUBFACt K6m I OROCUE ORIFI IUSC 80S IXPlMEjl)
J L
lOUKi-: 1 "\ m Drift of MV I'imeer during three consecutive
nights (July 20-29, 19.r)9) and drift of parachute drogues
(4.0 in dt-plh) released and tracked by USC S: OS vessel
(June I9f>9).
26
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140°
CO0
N
50'
40°
, SUBARCTIC CURRENT
50°
'""' t ^TT^S^^^''1^^ -
; ss^^i r • ' !•' i < -\ • ', • . i "'"'"•••..
/ S <.-•»—-~—— .,, .«.-.«.•..,. : ^ fc.n-xf-1-i-i i r*Ar*irri/^ ^*l IDDCMT J ' !
/^1
^ KUROSHIO
40°
NORTH PACIFIC CURRENT
i .' • i
.U-T. *n_jj=iu_rir-.iTj™oj| — - —^ - — j^j- _._(^o - |4O<)-
FIOURE 12. Schematic diagram of surface circulation relative to 1000 dccibars.
tr.--.izr ».-t
I3O°
..
, "' f ,;, i 'la V
..._!__!--•: "'' V.}»
120°
SO5
40°
I2CP
FK-.URI: 1 3 . Schcmniic diagram of circulaliim at 200 decibars relative to 1000 dccihnrs.
27
-------
NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN
GEOPOTENTIAL TOPOGRAPHY
Dynamic Height Anomaly (AD)
0/1000 declbars
SUMMER 1955
-2-«-Vetoc!ly(M!
"BO- " 176'E "BO- " rro-w ~ "BO- ""5cT~ r*~~~^Sv':r~''~:'K7}0r~
FIGURE 14. Gcopotcntial topography, 0/1000 dccibars, summer 1955.
NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN
GEOPOTENTIAL TOPOGRAPHY
Dynami; Helcht Anor.ialy (AD)
O/IOOOdccibors
SUMMER I95S
— Velocity (sea miles/day)
60*
N
V$L-
^^
I^J-^tw
11*\f?^
J-—AJ/V, S—
Tro^E^ ~idO-~" "TO-W BO-
FIGUKE 15. Geoootcntial topography, 0/1000 decibars, summer 1956,
28
-------
ecr
N
NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN
•GEOPOT&'rnAL. TOPOGRAPHY
Dynamic Height Anomaly (AD)
0/1000 declbora
SUMMER 195?
—«?••• Velocity (sco miles/day)
H-
a-''
T
ISO'
"JTO'F BO' (WW" BO* BO*
FIGURE 16. Gcopotential topography, 0/1000 deeibars, summer 1957.
I60*___j_ _ J50
NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN
GEOPOTEMTIAL TOPOGRAPHY
Dynamic Height Anomaly (AD)
0/1000 decibors
WINTER 1957
—.i-*- Velocity (s«a miles/day)
no-
I6O' 170^ " BO* fWW BO* ISO*
FIGURE 17. Geopotcntial topography, 0/1000 dccibars, winter 1957.
fj^-— -—-—•. -^
29
-------
NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN
GEOPOTENTIAI. TOPOGRAPHY
Dynamic HetgM Anonoly (AD)
O/IOOO doclbort
SUMMER 1958
—/-» Vtloctly (>ea mHe»A1oy)
-Ted1 TWE ;~B6: TSrw
FIOURK "J8. Gcopotential topography, 0/1000 dccibars, summer 1958.
ccr
NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN
GEDPOTEWriAL TOPOGRAPHY
Oynomic Heiohl Anomaly (AO)
OAXXXJeciban
WHfTER 1956
-*— Vlloeity bM m)l«5/&iy)
«»• • iTO-e eo* ~' iww "so1" " wr
FIOURK 1 9 . Ct-ojKitcntial topography, 0/1000 dccibars, winter 1958.
30
-------
NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN
MIC HEIGHT /
! DYNAMIC HEIGHT ANOMALY (AD) I \ |,
0/300 DEC1BARS
J SEA. MILES/6AY
J_L«1 I.
MIK[$ AHD ItCMNlCAL
Figure 20.
-------
fcr_ _ vxr .-J£PL . _-JJ°lg -
NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN
GEOPOTENTIAL TOPOGRAPHY
Dynamic Height Anomaly (AD)
O/IOOO dccibors
SUMMER 1959
.—;?— Velocity Uea-miles/doy)
'"
KO*
ICO' 170-t BO*
Fu;i)KK 21 . Cicoi)olcnlial
tTO-W BO- ISO- ' I4O-
, 0/1000 clcril>ars, siiiiinu-r !!>:">!).
T—
ir:
OP-
60-
N
SOT
NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN
GEOPOTENTIAL TOPOGRAPHY
Dynamic Height Anomaly (AD)
O/IOOO decibars
WINTER 1999
—2-^ Velocity (sea miles/
-------
iw uer
— O-^> Velocity (sea miles/day)
160"
CURRENT SPEEOlMO mtlM/doyl
i&pT'C
140'
I3CT
120-
FIG. 23 .Gcopotcntial topography, 0/1000 decibars, eastern Subarctic Pacific, June 19(52 (broken
line encompasses area shown in subsequent figures).
33
-------
ISSORTH PACIFIC OCEAN
TEMPERATURE
AT 10 METRES DEPTH
SUMMER , 195,8
AL .11
e Uty vr&i-K' bv '.>• C»**d>tn Hywvcrao'we S*
-------
FIGURE 25 . Surface salinity (%o),.July—August, 1957.
35
-------
NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN
jSAL!NiTY(%i)
AT tp METJRES 6EPTH'
SUMMED. I95B
S-148/>
Fioure 26.
-------
NO&TH PACIFIC OCEAN
IGMAft KT.1
wiwiTin * \\s * j
AT id METRES DEPTH
SUMMER. 1958
or umts AND TECHNICAL SURVEYS. OTTAWA
S-143A
Figure 27.
-------
CO
00
JANUARY
Percentage frequency of Wind Speed Seoufort Force 3. or less (< IO Kno
Qireetion Frtquency: Bor« represent percentogo frequency
of wind observed from eoch direction. Eoch circle equols 10%.
( 14% of all Hir.dt "in from N. )
Speed frequency: Printed- figures represent percentoge frequency
\ \ oTwind observed from eoch direction within ecch speed inTervol:
.-( 9 % of all *lia> oeri from S wilh speid Beaufort
•' '•----, ^.5 [.'/•£/ Krtofs] .)
"V
'' Toble below wind rose provides pcrcentqge frequency of wind
speed of eoch Seoufort Force from 2 through 9:
" ____ ( 29% of oil winds wen Beaufort fsrctt 4. )
4- ind'cotes less then 1/2 percent.
Figure 28
-------
i r^fc. s *** '•** "" «••• "•*• % '•<•
I PV./
-------
-p.
o
FEBRUARY
Percentage frequency of Wind Speed Beauforl Force 3 or less (< 10 Knots).
Direclion Frequency: Bars represent percentage frequency
of xlnd observed from each direction. Each circle equals 10%.
( 14% of oil r/m/s nrt from N. )
Speed Frequency: Printed figures represent percentage frequency
of .wind obsei vcd from each direction within each speed interval:
^9% ol oil *Ms wire from S with spaed Beouforl
.•' force 4-i [II-SI Knots}.}
Table bolow wind ro:c provides percentage frequency of wind
speed of each Beouforl Force from 2 through 9: I i I i I
\.....'}... .(29% of oil ftintt *on Beoufort Toro 1.)
« indicates less than 1/2 percent.
Figure 30
-------
-1,,J^
FEBRUARY
Mean Sea Level Pressure In Millibars
Percentage frequency of sea level pressures equal
to or less than the pressure intersected by the
N curve.
of all tte Uvtl prttturts »ir» IO2O
illibor$ or /ess.)
.Primary track, along which there has been maximum
concentration of individual dorm center patht.
«* I i I J.V;j;> ... I
Secondary track, along which If ere has been moderate
concentration of individual storm center
Figure 31
-------
-pa
ro
MARCH
Percentog^ frequency of Wind Speed Beaufort Force 3 or less (< 10 Knots).
Direction Frequency: Bars represent percentage frequency
of wind observed from coch direction. Each circle equals 10%.
( 11% of all ulnc/s »trl tram N. )
:ed Frequency: Printed figures represent percentage frequency
> Btaufort force 1.)
t indicctcs less than I/2 percent.
Figure^ 32
-------
oo
^ I I -«,* 1.^ I
t^fe¥§
^ •/>r
-------
APRIL
Percentogo frequency of Wind Speed Beoufotl Force 3 or less K 10 Knots).
Direction Frequency: Bors represent percenloge frequency
of wind observed from each direction. Each circle equals 10%.
of ell *ln3> »en Iroai N. )
Speed Frequency: Printed figures represent percentage frequency
of wind observed from each direction within each speed kitetvol:
trt from S »ilh spool Beaufort
Krall}.)
Table belo* wind rose provides percentage frequency of wind
speed of eoch (leuulail forte fiom 2 llnuuyliS: l.i_l_i_l i I i I
.i, „
\ _____________ (2f% Of oil tints wtre Bf outer t Fora 4. }
* indicate » lets than 1/2 percent.
-------
en
APRIL
Mean Sea Level Pressure In Millibars
Percentoge frequency of sea level press
to or less than the pressure intersected
curve.
*""•-—( Ti% ot oil tto linl frttsarn nrt IOIO
millibars or lets.)
Primary track, along which there has been maximum
concentration of individual storm center paths.
Secondary track, along which there has been moderate
concentration of individual storm center paths.
Hs
—13'
-------
en
t /^ ° • • / ••'
• /< 'fy • ^-^^
J^^'-L-O'J X>-2~\
7
"?C?. OT>\J .<...;- ...,,,,.>j
ffrfr • fer-.f-'^uyi ^33r
w^;/-.o°U^^?
/rl
PErccntogs frequency of Wind Speed Bcouforl Force 3 or less (< 10 Knots).
Direction Frequency: Bors represent percentoge frequency
of wind observed from each direction. Each circle equals 10%.
-( M % of oil tiluls tnrt from N. )
Speed Frequency: Printed figures represent percentoge frequency
of wind observed from eoch direction within each speed interval:
.<( 9% of oil w-fidt *?re frtVTi J ir/M spaad Peal fort
forct 4-5 [II-ft Knots}.} *
Table betow wind rose provides percentoge frequency cf wind
speed of eoch Beaufort Force from 2 through9: Lj.-l i.l.i-Xj-J
ll?i!li '.'i'i' *
\ ( fS% af'oll finds were fnulort force 4.)
« indicates less than 1/2 percent.
Figure 36
^"
v^-^VV '-. T°ef S &
^-X/S. -....-1/V5
5f>
W
30-
^
-------
-p.
•vj
"N ~>iEB •
'^Tpfjrd -
L^r 1.1 J/
i
Mean Sea Level Pressure In Millibar!
Percentage frequency at sea level pressures equal -I „
to or less than the pressure intersected by the | \<«
vx curve. ~^
•—*»
-trs% el ell Hi !•»•! outturn nrt lOiO
milliboti or /tit.)
Storm Tracks
Primary track, along which there has been maiimum
concentration of individual storm center paths.
Secondary (rock, along which there has been moderate
concentration of individual storm center paths.
Figure 37
-------
\y
'ITMJ'SL!''
i • ' I ir. ;V°'
00
, - ' ,-*. ' xr
&<:}rUX' -
•->>/•.» ; *-r^\r ••
.... r *;> xr—7
(.• V '. .' -I • .• • •
"".•'.•:•&•
! .y 4 '„.
•:'\:»:
t^/i:'.,
i.^_-.;-- ''••)
^^-fc.
Is^rHU
.- -^ ......
,.••' [•.»i"^V,.'i>,«|
rT
-Crfet
2®
A-iri-^
i--* • a'
^
r^nl
li?i!YV
•nd
JUNE
Percantogo frequency of Wind Spood Booufort Force 3 or lest (< to Knots).
Direction Frequency: Bars represent percentage frequency
of wind observed from each direction. Each circle equals 10%.
(14% of all finds Ktrt from N. )
> Speed Frequency: Printed figures represent percentage-frequency
o? wind observed from each direction within each speed interval:
I .49% of of/ xlnds.*in from S m'Hl speed Oeatifort Beaufort
\XVjj>,/y^-' ffrcf 4-S [II-II Knots}.) r°'"'
^-~.^S^' Table belo* wind rose provides percentage frequency of wind
•peed of coch Bco'ulorl Force from 2 through 9: I i I i L_i_l_Lj
\^ .{29% of oil Hinds were Dtouferf Force 4.)
•» indicates less than 1/2 percent.
Figure 38
i*,j-.-_i .T;
r^
g;
^
«fcv.
^ !l\,
"AHK
^
\2tfa.
-^/
['WyTjii
m
J^\
^
-------
v-1-^ "•'•"^.
• a--, mi * ' LI *~X« __ , ^ '.
§
;j|i3i|$l|v
fcsil^SlpaiSfi
^^•1^11-R-^-
/ S& °-/y-£Zf~-
S/& J'
JUNE
Mean Sea Level Pressure In Millibars
Percentage frequency ol sea level pressures equal n
to or less than the pressure Intersected by the
curve.
of ell HO Itnl prtttuni rtrt 1010
millibart or tti$.)
'Primary track, along which there has been maximum
concentration of individual storm center paths.
Secondary track, along which there has been moderate
concentration o( individual storm center paths.
Figure 39
-------
JULY
Parccnloje frequency of Wind Spted Beouforl Force 3 or fcss (< 10 Knots/,
Direction Frequency: Bait repteien! perccntogo frequency
wind observed from eoch direction. Eoch circle equols 10%.
e^ o// »/MJ wen tram N.)
Speed Frequency: Printed figures represent percentoge frequency
of wind observed from eoch direction within eoch speed intervot:
,4 9% of all j*/Vri/5 vcit from S wilti tpood Otoufort
farci 4.3 \ll-ll Knot:,}.)
Toblc below wind rose provides percentoga frequency of wind
speed of eoch Beouforl Force from 2 through 9: I i I . i i i , i
8 J 4 5 « 7 o e
(19% ef all nints vtn emu for/ farce 4.)
t indicoles less thon 1/2 percent.
-------
/- 3, / *- I—L-J '-
,/ 5-i / -V1 •*.-«• "
JULY
M«on Sea Level Pressure In Millibars
Percentage frequency at tea level pressures equal
to or less than the pressure intersected b» the
curve.
ff all Mia tint prittunt rlrt 10fO
millibort or ltst.\
Primary track, along which there has been maximum
concentration ol individual itorm center paths.
Secondary track, along which there has been moderate
concentration of individual storm center palhs.
Figure 41
-------
in
ro
AUGUST
Percentage frequency of Wind Speed Beoufou Force 3 or kiss (< 10 Knois).
Direction Frequency: Bors represent percentage frequency
of wind observed from eoch direction. Each circle equals 10%.
-(14% til ell wMi out Item N.)
Speed Frequency: Printed liqures represent percentage frequency
of wind observed from eoch direction within each speed interval:
,J( 9% of oil rinds »vft from 5 w/M spaed Beaufort
,•' ford 4-S \ll-SIKnots].)
Table below wind rose provides pcrcentoge fiequcncy of wind
speed of eoch Beouforl Force from 2 through 9; l_i_l_i_l_i_L_i_l
..;»(^% of on winds «ete Beaufort Force 4.)
< indicates less than 1/2 percent.
Figure 42
-------
en
CO
AUGUST
Meon Sea Level Pressure In Millibars
Percentage frequency of sea level pressures equal
to or less than the pressure intersected by the
curve.
~ — I 73% of til lea llnl prtiiurtl irtrl IOIO
mi Hi to ft or /til.)
Primary track, along which then has been rnonimum
concentration of individual storm center paths..
Secondary track, along which there has been moderate
concentration of individual storm center paths.
Figure 43
-------
tn
SEPTEMBER
Percentage frequency of V/ind Speed Bcoufoil force 3 cr less !< 10 Knois).
DirociTon F»eoueney: Bors reprotonl percontogo frequency
of wind observed from eoch direction. Each circle equals 10%.
Speed Frequency: Printed figures represent percentage frequency
of wind observed from eoch direction within eoch speed interval:
.A 9% of oil rtr.Js *'fr« from 5 with tpgttt Btoufort
.•' Fcrct 4-5 [//• 21 Knots}.}
Table below wind rose provides percentage frequency of wind
speed of eoch Beaufort Force from 2 through 9: I ' I i I ' I i I
,( 19% at all mmji rtrt Btoufort fbrct 4,)
» indicales less than 1/2 percent.
Figure 44
-------
1110'
iwr
en
en
SEPTEMBER
Mean Sea Level Prcjsure In Millibar*
Percentage frequency at sea level pressures equal
to or less than the pressure intersected by the
curve.
"•--4 75% of olt tie Itvtl prttturti wtrt tOtO
miltitort or ltss.\
Primary track along which there has been maximum
ff concentration of individual storm center paths.
Figure 45
Secondary track, along which there has been moderate
concentration of individual storm center paths.
-------
en
H-/' " :-.;\\ &*
OCTOBER
Percentoge frequency of Wind Speed Beoufort Force 3 or less (<.IO Knots).
Direction FVequency: Bor& represent pcrcentoge frequency
of wind observed from eoch direction. Eoch circle equols \Q%.
Speed frequency: Printed figures represent percentage frequency
of wind observed from ooch direction within eoch speed interval:
,-( S% of all winds tt-gro from S with Sflaetf Boouforl
,•' rorct 4-3 [it-ft Knots].)
Table beta* wind rose provides percentage frequency of wind
speed of eoch Besufofl Force from 2 through 9: l_L_l_i_L-i_Lj_J
\19% of oil winds wtrt Oim'ort force 4.)
indicates less than 1/2 percent.
Figure 46
-------
I6CT
a- •
-------
en
CD
NOVEMBER.
Percentage frequency of Wind Speed Beaufort Force 3 or less (< 10 Knots).
Direction Frequency: Bars represent percentage frequency
of wind observed from eoch direction. F.och circle equals 10%.
( 11% of ell winds Htre from N. )
direction within eoch speed interval:
Speed Frequency: Printed figure's represent percentage^ frequency
of wind observed from eoch di
_ of alt winds were from S *itt> speed Beaufort
,' rotCf 4-5 [II-PI Knots}.}
Toble below wind rose provides percentage frequency of wind
«peed of eoch Beaufort Force .from 2 through 9: ' ' I ' ' ' '
2 9 4 & A 7 9
, „,
( 19% of oil Hindi were Scoutcrt Force 1. )
* indicates less than I/2 percent.
Figure 48
-------
en
10
NOVEMBER
Mean Sea Level Pressure
Percentage frequency of tea level pressure! equal
to or less than the pressure intersected by the
curve.
--- (7i% of all Iff It'll frlltn'ti ••'• IO10
millibars OF le»s.\
Primary track, along which there has been moiimum
concentratian at individual storm center potht.
"Secondary track, along which there has been moderate
"concentration of individual storm center paths.
Figure 49
120-
-------
Speed Frequency: Printed figures represent percentage frequency
of wind observed from eoch direction within eoch speed Entervot:
' ,4 9% of alt mlntft vert from S teff/i tpeod Beaufort
' forct 4.5 \tl-ZI Knats}.)
Table below wind rose provides percentage frequency of wind
speed of eoch Beoufort Force from 2 through9: l.'.'.'.1.1.1 ' '
K
( **% of all vfnrt van Beaufort Force 4.\
t indicates less Ihon 1/2 percent.
-------
<7l
DECEMBER
Meon Sea Level Pressure In Uillibon
Percentage frequency af tea level prenurcs equal
to ar lest than the pressure intersected by the
curve.
"•--< tS% el til ite Itttl priiivm rtn IOIO
_ mitlibott or tttl:\
Primary Irock, along which there has been maximum
concentration of individual storm center paths.
-------
ro
<«£**$&;.:',
Geopotentlal anomaly of the 0-decibar
surface relative to the 1000-decibar
surface (AD 0/1000) in dynamic meters.
-------
£83$if#s
•« Jf? •« -I'J
*r%-
S i
' \ •.
Quantity of zooplankton In milHliters
per 1000 cubic meters of water.
NORPAC - 1955. Figure 53.
lv.:'0
50
-------
'7 31 so -M
188\ 12 -97 Vi
15 .96 \ -43 V,
• -137 u°- •«•
•\ • « \.60 '57
44 2v A 75 157 A60
^o' 35 2 li*156144 352
16 <:6 195 33 40 35
81.137 32 57 150 .36 j
•Rio >3( Numbers of fish larvae reported.
NORPAC ATLAS - 1955. Figure 54
20 2«i
-------
Ol
P—25**^—it)
i7/vn
S-2..S-1
P-
Numbers and species of seals and
porpoises sighted, and date of sighting
1955. NORPAC ATLAS ftgure 55.
— ..~..wi •!%;*• aval ',
FS Fur Seal (Callorhlnus ursinus) |
SL Sea Lion (Eumetopias jubata) :
P Unidentified porpoise !
DP Dall Porpoise (Phpcoeno|des dalLI) •
-------
en
u
li^W^^'^T
^^•fVs, \ W71
i /A-iJ^'V^ U8/VI
*|£ ^
^ef • •
9/VI
'" r ^K """ 4
7 • "1?;i
/ W— 1 K — * £**•
/•30/VJ 20/™
/.W-l 19
. / 30/« wri
/ 3/vn
'-? /
/m i
i
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!
.
i
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/»/.. "-
.
• w-iw-io
2'/«21/W'
to 6 i .
fia ..{ , w-r;w-4
it'l 17>W"/7.
• :.«• • u, 4 .W— 1
«-l) P-!Otol2Wr4 18/VH
/VS 18/VB 16/VH F-2
/ w-'-i 25/V1
I 24/™ F-5orf
/ 17S/^-.fs-« 16/™
I i / / fji 15/ Vffl
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I 18/VB
W-l
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W-l
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s-3 n /vm
w-118/vi — 1 — r-rTTrrT—%t/--'Y"
W-l 18/VI \ 5/VD \
S-l w 6 27/4 \
f6-/6«19/VB27/VI,Wh-l -)
*-! 27/Vi
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W-2 \ K_2
. 21/VI . r25/VSl
1 Lj^
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1
,-
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} . . -
Numbers and species of whales sighted
and data of sighting, 1955.
NQRPAC ATLAS Figure 56.
W Unidentified
Ws Se1 (Balaennptera borealIs)
Wh HumpbackTMggap.tera.jnvflf'.finollap)
B Blue (Balaenoptera musculu«: or
Si.bba.ldus. muscul us)
F Finback (BalaenopterA,chyiftli
------- |