Since 1948, carbon‐14 measurements on the bicarbonate of ocean water samples from the Pacific and Indian oceans have been carried out at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California. Previous reports of the results of these investigations have been confirmed and amended by many recent measurements. The method of extracting CO2 from ocean water has been modified and perfected over the past years. The most notable results of the measurements concern the 14C content of deep ocean water which can be interpreted unambiguously by considering the aging of the water during the time of movement from the Weddell Sea eastward and then northward into the North Pacific Ocean.

Direct measurements of carbon dioxide in surface waters of the Pacific Ocean from 30øN to 65øS indicate high concentration relative to atmospheric CO2 in a broad belt near the equator and approaching the coast of South America. Elsewhere the concentration has been generally found to be nearly in equilibrium with the atmosphere or somewhat lower.

Results of C14 determinations in surface water from the Pacific were in agreement with those reported by Rafter and Fergusson. However, abnormal C14 concentrations seem to exist locally, for which no oceanographic explanation can be given. It seems premature to draw conclusions from existing determinations as to the rate of increase of C" in surface ocean water resulting from the uptake of C14 produced in the atmosphere by atomic bombs.Samples from a constant depth of about 3,500 meters show a C14 content decreasing from south to north. This decrease may be attributed to radioactive decay of C14 during the time of migration. From this the northward component of the rate of water movement of about 0.06 cm/sec can be calculated. The ClS determinations, for the purpose of correcting the C" values for isotope fractionation effects. were found to be remarkably consistent, although made on reburned acetylene.

One portion inoculated with diatoms and placed in the light. + Does not include dissolved organic nitrogen. * One portion inoculated with diatoms and placed in the light. t Does not include dissolved organic nitrogen.

Results of C14 determinations in surface water from the Pacific were in agreement with those reported by Rafter and Fergusson. However, abnormal C14 concentrations seem to exist locally, for which no oceanographic explanation can be given. It seems premature to draw conclusions from existing determinations as to the rate of increase of C" in surface ocean water resulting from the uptake of C14 produced in the atmosphere by atomic bombs. Samples from a constant depth of about 3,500 meters show a C14 content decreasing from south to north. This decrease may be attributed to radioactive decay of C14 during the time of migration. From this the northward component of the rate of water movement of about 0.06 cm/sec can be calculated. The ClS determinations, for the purpose of correcting the C" values for isotope fractionation effects. were found to be remarkably consistent, although made on reburned acetylene.