Biological and Geological Observations on the First Photographs of the Arctic Ocean Deep-Sea Floor

The first series of Arctic bottom photographs give the following indications regarding conditions on the Arctic sea floor: Bottom life appears to be less abundant than in the Atlantic Ocean at similar depths. Loose rocks are more numerous. Ripples seem to be lees abundant in the Arctic are photographed than they do at comparable depths in the Atlantic. A bottom current of 0.3 to 0.6 cm/sec is indicated from movements of sediment clouds. The area is abundantly supplied with curious short "tracks" of uncertain origin. Small irregular holes in the pictures probably represent holes produced by ice-rafted stones and pebbles.