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Vol. 53 - Alaska Resources Library and Information Services

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SECTION 3.0<br />

RESULTS<br />

3.1 Physical Environment<br />

3.1.1 Hydrography<br />

Salinity. Near-surface salinity contours for the April, June <strong>and</strong><br />

September cruises are presented in Figures 3.1-1, 3.1-2 <strong>and</strong> 3.1-3,<br />

respectively; near-bottom salinity contours are shown in Figures 3.1-4,<br />

3.1-5 <strong>and</strong> 3.1-6. Salinity generally increased offshore. Maximum<br />

salinities at all depths were found in the deepest offshore parts of the<br />

study area <strong>and</strong> lower salinities were found onshore, especially near<br />

areas of freshwater runoff which included Kvichak <strong>and</strong> Nushagak Bays,<br />

Port Heiden <strong>and</strong> Port Moller. Very little vertical salinity stratification<br />

was observed during the study. Salinity decreased slightly<br />

over the study period <strong>and</strong> the lowest salinities were recorded during<br />

September in Kvichak Bay. The freshwater from Kvichak <strong>and</strong> Nushagak Bays<br />

apparently flows largely to the west, along the north side of Bristol<br />

Bay.<br />

Temperature. Near-surface temperature contours for the April, June<br />

<strong>and</strong> September cruises are presented in Figures 3.1-7, 3.1-8 <strong>and</strong> 3.1-9,<br />

respectively; near-bottom temperature contours are shown in Figures<br />

3.1-10, 3.1-11 <strong>and</strong> 3.1-12. Observed temperatures ranged from below 1°<br />

in April to over 12°C in September. The lowest temperatures were found<br />

at depth during the spring <strong>and</strong> the highest were associated with onshore<br />

areas in summer <strong>and</strong> fall. The strongest feature shown by the temperature<br />

data is the seasonal thermocline, which was most prominent during the<br />

June cruise (83-3). The maximum temperature differences between surface<br />

<strong>and</strong> bottom (>4°C) <strong>and</strong> the coldest bottom water during June, were observed<br />

offshore of the Black Hills vicinity (Figure 3.1-11). There was<br />

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