DRAFT Sen: dater in the wind-stirred layer and downward tc zbout the middle of the thermocline has features representative of the local area. Due to the action of surface vochanteas (sclar radiation, evaporation, precipitation, etc.) the characteristics of this water are in between that of the Pacific Equatorial mass and that of the Western North Pacific Central water. South of the latitude of Bikini, this water mass is present between the surface and depths of 150-200 meters; it appears Letuvecen the surface and depths of 200-265 meters elsewhere in the ares studied, except on the northern boundary where 1t extends to 20 meters depth (Depths of water masses at each location sampled are shown in Fige 14). Beneath the upper water mass a@ layer of vesterr North Pacific Central water Sppears «t nearly every location sampled. This layer is only 10 to 50 meters thick end oceurs at 155 to 245 meters depth near Bikint and south of Bikini's latitude. From there it sucmerges with norchward travel to depths of 265-4CO meters and becomes 5 to 150 meters thick. . irfsce waters move to the right of the current, ae i PLL ng wp He a and usually warmer, ~w a consistent with the fact tht the lighter, This is on the north side of the eres they cause a dovnward cisplace- ment of -water already present eas revezied by lines that celinegate their characteristics, North Pacific Intermediate water is found at every position where sampling was done. On the north side of the aree studied it is 300 to 800 neters thick ond occurs at depths of 400 to 1200 meters. - arm It thins to about 125 meters thickness in the ° we, Mee . h2 . ue neeti 43 oY hae . SS