DRA. en, waters neare. che surface, where currents are stronger, would be swept out of the area in 2 years time, waters at these depths would not have been renewed because of the feebleness of flow there. Also the eddy may be present at 800 to 1200 meters with water in it moving at a speed, of only a few hundredths of one knots; 1t would further delay exchange of water in the area at these depths. Sone information that suggests. the presence of the eddy in this range of depth is inferred from water mass studies, discussed later in the report. 3.3 TEMPERATURE AID DENSITY Surface water temreratures in the Bikini area ere relatively high and uniform. They vary from 25.99° on the northwest side ef the area studied to 27.5°C on the southwest side The most abrupt change is et the 26.6 and 27,0°C isotherms which mark the scuthern boundary of the main branch of the North Equatorial Current tn the ares. Surface waters which are light and warm move very slovly toward the north side of the current; @ é tj 9 2 o> this produces @ more pronounced change in temoerature th This crossdrift is so slow it cannot usualiy be detected sy current measurenenss. As the surface waters move across the equatorial current toward its right hand boundary they become piled up, causing warmer ‘temperature to extend deeper than at the south side. This process is of sufficient importance to overcome the greater solar radiation received at the lower latitudes in spring. This is illustrated by the averege temperature in the uprer 36° SS