126 



MAEIOX EXTEniTION TO DAVIS STRAIT AND BAFFIN BAY 



at a distance of l.dO:) feet, and '270 feet per day (O.OOi knot per hour) 

 at a distance of 100 feet from the beroj. Such a current is of such a 

 comparatively small ma<rnitude that it is masked completely b}' the 

 passin^r surface movements due to the waves or the winds. As proof 

 of the above. Kicketts points to the drift of <rrowlers that even on 

 days of light airs and breezes is aAvay from the parent berg. 



The Melting of Ice 



Figure 84. — Fresh ice melting in salt water, according to laboratory 

 experiments, sets up a movement of water near the ice in much the 

 same position shown in the bottom sketch. The upper two draw- 

 ings show the distribution of temperature and salinity after a few 

 moments of melting. (Sketches from I'ettersson and Sandstrom, 

 1915.) 



With conclusions so contradictory it is evident that the picture is 

 far from clear. The experiments of Pettersson, Sandstrom, and 

 Aitken are all open to the criticism that the laboratory conditions 

 may not simulate those existing at sea. Barnes's conclusions are weak- 

 ened by the fact that neither Taylor or Thuras obtained similar re- 

 sults, though Thuras did not have sufficientlv sensitive instruments. 



