Spray Glider

COUNTOUR PLOT OF SALINITY - The multi-colored lines represent salinity measurements taken on ascent during individual dives by the glider. The black lines are contours of constant salinity (isohaline).

Where contours are close together, the salinity of the water is changing rapidly, known as a halocline.

The abscissa (x-axis) is the distance along the glider track. The ordinate (y-axis) is pressure or depth where 1 dbar of change in pressure is approximately 1 meter.

The deepening of isohalines between 400 and 500 kilometers distance is caused by the crossing of the Gulf Stream.

Blue and purple colors indicate fresher water. Red and orange colors represent saltier water.