The hydrografic profiles of Punta Caribe and Margarita Island are shown in Figures 3. The distribution of salinity, temperature and oxygen do not indicate an upwelling above 100 m depth. The isolines of temperature and salinity are lifted on the slope North of Margarita Island indicating upwelling below 100 m. North of station 166 in the profile off Pta Caribe the salinity values in the surface layers shows influence of river outflow possibly from the Orinoco River. There is no vertical movements of water indicated in the profiles of Cabo Codera and Pta Sabana, Figure 4a. The salinity in surface layers in the profiles off Cabo San Roman and especially Gulf of Venezuela, Figure 4b, shows influence of freshwater. In both profiles a countercurrent with water of lower temperature and oxygen values is indicated.
