750 A. Physical Oceanography OLR (1982) 29 (12)

Nine satellite-tracked, drifting surface buoys were deployed in the Kuroshio region. Position accuracy was very high, and effects of wind on the speed and course of the buoys were negligible. While composite trajectories showed classical ocean circulation, here- tofore unknown mesoscale features (e.g., a cold eddy east of Okinawa) were discovered. Qualitatively, the experiment proved the long-term usefulness of drifting buoys for surface current measurement, particularly in areas where conventional ship obser- vation is ineffective. Maritime Safety Agency, Tokyo, Japan. (jch)

82:5904 Whitfield, Michael, 1982. Seawater under extreme

pressure. Nature, Lond., 297(5867):p.538.

information about the properties of seawater and the reactions of its constituents in-situ is rapidly becom- ing available. A new equation of state for seawater has been established, and data on ionic molal volumes and compressibilities over oceanic temper- ature and pressure ranges have been compiled. Mar. Biol. U.K., Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK. (dlf)

A40. Area studies, surveys

82:5905 De Maio, Arturo, Mauro Moretti, Emilio Sansone,

Giancarlo Spezie and Mario Vultaggio, 1978/79. Dynamics of the waters in the Gulf of Naples: maps of temperature and salinity at standard depths. Annali Ist. nay. Napoli, 47/48:215-231. (In Italian, English abstract.) Ist. Univ. Navale, Napoli, Italy.

82:5906 Dhanalakshmi, S., 1982. Wave refraction and near-

shore circulation at Visaldmpatnam [east India]. Indian J. mar. Sci., 11(2):153-158.

Waves, nearshore circulation and currents in a region influenced by the outer harbour were inves- tigated. All regions of wave convergence prior to construction of the outer harbour have become regions of either mild divergence or mild conver- gence. The shoreline is generally in better equilib- rium than before. Dept. of Geogr., Andhra Univ., Waltair 530 003, India.

82:5907 Fissel, D.B., 1982. Tidal currents and inertial oscil-

lations in northwestern Baffin Bay. Arctic, 35(1): 201-210.

Offshore, the largest diurnal and semi-diurnal tidal currents were in all cases < 8 cm/s in amplitude.

Nearshore tidal currents can be considerably stronger due to internal tides. Evidence of inertial oscillations was present in the records from upper- most moored current meters; typical amplitudes were 10 to 20 cm/s, with speeds as high as 35 cm/s. Magnitude decreases rapidly with depth; at 250 m, inertial oscillations are difficult to resolve from semi-diurnal tidal currents. They resulted, in large part, from changes in local surface wind; at times of solid ice cover, amplitudes were markedly reduced. Arctic Sci. Ltd., 1986 Mills Rd., R.R. 2, Sidney, BC V8L 3S1, Canada.

82:5908 Fissel, D.B., D.D. Lemon and J.R. Birch, 1982.

Major features of the summer near-surface circulation of western Baffin Bay, 1978 and 1979. Arctic. 35(1): 180-200.

The near-surface circulation is dominated by the southward-flowing Baffin Current which is largely confined to within 100 km of the coast. It varies in both intensity and width, with strongest flows occurring where the current follows a cyclonic intrusion into and out of eastern Lancaster Sound; here in the core of the current the median near- surface speeds are 75 cm/s, decreasing with depth. East of Devon, Bylot and Baffin islands, the current is well-defined, but generally less intense. Transient large-scale meanders and anticyclonic eddies of ~ 2 0 km diameter were observed. Arctic Sci. Ltd., 1986 Mills Rd., R.R. 2, Sidney, BC V8L 3S1, Canada.

82:5909 John, V.C. and K.S. Pal, 1982. Tidal current

fluctuations in Bombay Harbour. Indian J. mar. Sci., 11(2):159-166. Engrs. India Ltd., Post Box No. 730, New Delhi 110 001, India.

82:5910 Lakshmanan, P.T., C.S. Shynamma, A.N. Balchand,

P.G. Kurup and P.N,K. Nambisan, 1982. Dis- tribution and seasonal variation of temperature and salinity in Cochin Backwaters [west India]. Indian J. mar. Sci., 11(2):170-172. Nambisan: Dept. of Mar. Sci., Univ. of Cochin, Cochin 682016, India.

82:5911 Lemon, D.D. and D.B. Fissel, 1982. Seasonal

variations in currents and water properties in northwestern Baffin Bay, 1978-1979. Arctic, 35(1):211-218.

Significant seasonal changes in current speed and direction, temperature and conductivity closely followed seasonal sea-ice cover. General winter weakening of near-surface currents (by a factor of 2