Oceanographic circumstances in the North Sea near the island otTexel.
Summary.
Complex oceanographic circumstances are often found near the island of Texal. Generally, large variations occur in the water density
(salinity, temperature), both in horizontal and in vertical direction, and in the course of time. Current velocity and direction are often depth dependent. Interaction between one aspect and the other is not yet clear.
The so-called Texel section (fig. 4) has been sampled for over fourty times during the period 1964-1969. Situations with no density gradients at all, or with gradients only in horizontal or vertical direction, are shown in fig. 6. The mean situation is shown schematically in fig.
8.
It has been found that vertical stratification is dependent on tidal phase to a minor degree only (fig. 9). However, a strongconnexion was found between existence or absence of vertical density stratification in the water, and occurrence of strong winds (table V). The latter can almost prevent such a stratification near Texel for a period of 25 -.42 days afterwards. These figures agree well with the average time freshwater takes between its leaving the Rhine estuary and its arrival near Texal.
