North Sea Atlas 
Temperature, Salinity, Density and Heat Content 
Monthly means for the period 1902 to 1954 
Preface 
This atlas is based on two publications. 
1. G. Tomczak und E. Goedecke 
'Die thermische Schichtung der Nordsee auf Grund des mittleren Jahresganges der 
Temperatur in 1/2°- und 1 “-Feldern', (DHZ 1964, Ergänzungsheft Reihe B, Nr. 8). 
The temperature figures of Tomczak and Goedecke represent mean monthly vertical sections and 
horizontal charts of the North Sea, based on 122151 temperature data of the years 1902 to 1954 
Accuracy of the monthly mean values: 
Total: 
+/- 0.9 
Bottom: 
+/- 0.8 
Areas of shallow water: 
Surface: 
+/- 1.2 
Bottom: 
+/- 1.2 
Areas of deeper water: 
Surface: 
+/- 0.8 
Bottom: 
+/- 0.6 
Absolut highest differences of single years from the mean values: +4.6 K and -5.3 K. 
For more details see tabel 1 and 2 of their publication. 
2. Erich Goedecke, Jens Smed und Gerhard Tomczak 
'Monatskarten des Salzgehaltes der Nordsee dargestellt für verschiedene 
Tiefenhorizonte', (DHZ 1967, Ergänzungsheft Reihe B, Nr. 9). 
The mean monthly salinity charts for the depth layers 7,5m, 20m, 30m, 40m, 60m, 80m, 100m and 
the bottom were analysed from 146287 data of the years 1902 to 1954. 
Accuracy of the monthly mean values: 
zonal 
at 59.5°N: 
Surface: 
+/- 0.2 bis 0.4 
Bottom: 
+/-0.1 
meridional 
at 2°E: 
Surface: 
+/- 0.2 bis 0.3 
Bottom: 
+/-0.1 
Accuracy of the yearly mean values: 
zonal 
at 59.5°N: 
Surface: 
+/- 0.2 bis 0.8 
Bottom: 
+/- 0.2 
meridional 
at 2°E: 
Surface: 
+/- 0.2 bis 0.4 
Bottom: 
+/- 0.2 bis 0.3 
For more details see tabel 3 and figures 1 and 2 of their publication.