Distribution of temperature, salinity, density and flow across the Drake Passage in December 1994

This paper presents vertical distribution of temperature, salinity, density and flow across the Drake Passage. The seventh Antarctic Ocean Survey cruise by the R/V Kaiyo Maru of the Japanese Fisheries Agency was conducted in the waters around the Antarctic Peninsula in 199/95 austral summer season. In the survey, oceanographic observations were carried out along the north-south line from 56-21 S, 66-37W to 61-49S, 58-28W across the Drake Passage from 1 to 9 December 1994. The Polar Front recognized by a steep gradient in temperature was located between 58-00S and 59-00S. The Antarctic Surface Water, defined as water temperature 0°C or less, was distributed from 58-40S to the southernmost station, 61-49S. The flow across the line was eastward through the whole except the weak flow through some sections. The maximum speed of the flow was approximately 30cm/s corresponding to the Polar Front zone. Upwel1ing of the Warm Deep Water was suggested in the costal water north of the South Shetland Islands.