The data set comprises vertical profiles (depth, temperature, conductivity, salinity) in the Pomeranian Bight, between longitudes 13° 30'E - 16° E and latitudes 53° 57'N - 54° 50'N and vertical profiles and 'FISH' profiles in the Slupsk Furrow between longitudes 15° 40'E - 19° 30'E and latitudes 54° 22'N - 55° 40'N

Salinity of the water column; Temperature of the water column

CTD undulators

A new method of measurements was used: the towed scanning CTD probe 'FISH'. A new method of hydrological measurements, giving opportunity to use a standard CTD probe for quasi-continuous profiling, was introduced in IO-PAS in 1993. The CTD probe is towed during ship movement (speed approximately 4 knots). A continuous scanning regime in the defined depth interval is used by means of a cable winch. An underwater unit is installed horizontally in the metal frame. A heavyweight chain coupled to the frame serves as a depressor and is insurance against damage in case of contact with the bottom. Such a construction operates at about 2m safe distance from the sea floor. Original software for registration and processing data, including visualisation of measurement results, is used. Continuous positioning of measurements is guaranteed by navigational GPS-system with an accuracy of about 50m. Two-dimensional distributions of temperature and salinity within the whole depth interval under investigation, obtained in real-time, are very convenient for operative analysis. The Slupsk Furrow: Regions of the Slupsk Furrow and Stolpe Sill are under detailed investigations because of their great significance for transport of deep, high saline and dense water inflowing to the Baltic Sea from the Danish Sounds. The Slupsk Furrow is the only deep link between the Bornholm Basin and the upstream basins of the Baltic Sea; therefore transport and mixing processes over this area are of great importance for renewal water in deep basins. The Stolpe Sill is a factor controlling the dense, high saline water outflow from the Bornholm Basin. The transport of such a water mass across the sill is investigated by measurements over the CTD transects as well as at the mooring station to obtain the time series of the temperature and salinity within the near-bottom layer. The investigations, performed by means of the towed scanning CTD probe, have given evidence of different dynamic processes (e.g. thermohaline fronts, eddies and internal waves), related to the deep-layer transport in the Slupsk Furrow. There is also a great amount of historical CTD data from fixed stations in this area, which is very useful for the analysis of the seasonal and interannual variability. The Pomeranian Bight: Investigations within the Pomeranian Bight area and adjacent deep water basins aim at the description and understanding of the processes governing the expansion of the Odra river waters over the bay. In order to recognize the circulation scheme under the different hydrometeorological conditions, the measurements covering the whole Bight area, as well as the measurements at the dense grid in the vicinity of the river outlet, were carried out. Specific attention was paid to transport and transformations of the lagoon water plumes. The investigations of the Pomeranian Bight are part of the Polish-German interdisciplinary scientific programme to study the distribution, transport and transformation of pollutants discharged by the lagoon water into the bay. The data set includes: 1993 April: 59 vertical profiles (Slupsk Furrow) June: 23 vertical profiles (Slupsk Furrow) July: 60 vertical profiles (Slupsk Furrow) September: 150 vertical profiles (Slupsk Furrow-15 and Pomeranian Bight-135) 1994 April: 79 vertical profiles (Slupsk Furrow) May: 2 'FISH' profiles (Slupsk Furrow - 11 hours) August: 25 vertical profiles (Slupsk Furrow) September: 10 'FISH' profiles (Slupsk Furrow - 33 hours) 1995 May: 95 vertical profiles (Slupsk Furrow-19 and Pomeranian Bight-76) and 16 'FISH' profiles (Stolpe Channel - 74 hours) September: 24 vertical profiles (Pomeranian Bight) October: 99 vertical profiles (Pomeranian Bight) and 3 'FISH' profiles in Slupsk Furrow - 24 hours November: 15 'FISH' profiles in Slupsk Furrow - 102 hours 1996 February: 33 vertical profiles (Pomeranian Bight) and 6 'FISH' profiles in Slupsk Furrow - 40 hours

Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences
Powstancow Warszawy 55
Sopot

81-712
Poland