MARION 



EXPEDITION TO DAVIS STRAIT AND BAFFIN BAY 



43 



some rain. Seven hours of strong breezes and gales from the north 

 blew during the evening of this day, a fine display of aurora borealis 

 following the gale and rain. 



The next day was mostly clear and warm, considering the latitude, 

 for the drj-bulb thermometer varied from 46° to 53° F. The next 

 day out, August 27, was smooth with partly cloudy to overcast 

 weather. Air temperatures from 48° to 52° F., were enjoyed due 

 to the continued presence of surface water of 47° to 49° F. 



August 28 was overcast with some fog and rain. Light east-south- 

 easterl}^ breezes were the prevailing winds. The Marlon entered 42° 

 surface water near the Greenland coast early in the morning and 

 had, therefore, lower air temperatures than on the preceding days. 

 At 7.30 a. m. the fog ended, enabling a view to be had of the moun- 

 tains of the Greenland west coast between 61° and 62° X. 



ROCKS FROM THE HEIGHTS ABOVE 



Figure 33. — When we got upon the ice surface of the small glacier among the Torngats. 

 the source of the enormous piles of rock fragments of all sizes over which we had been 

 climbing became very plain. They had fallen down from the cliffs surrounding the 

 ice on three sides. Once on the glacier they were slowly carried downward to be 

 deposited during the course of time at its lower end. 



At 11.20 a. m. the last station of the line was occupied and the 

 Marion stood to the eastward toward Arsuk Fiord, having obtained 

 many soundings at and between stations in the deep water of Davis 

 Strait. The only trouble experienced wdth the oceanographic ap- 

 paratus on the run from Labrador was the loss of the bottom sampler 

 at a very deep station on August 26. 



Considerable difficulty was experienced in identifying the different 

 peaks and islands along the Greenland coast due to the impossibility 

 of getting sights tlirough the cloud blanket to locate the correct 

 position of the .ship. At noon it was possible to get sun sights, how- 

 ever, and it was found that the Marlon was about 2 miles off the 

 southeast corner of Sermersut Island. By 1.30 p. m. the ship was 

 between the sharp peak of Umanak Island and Kajartalik. From 

 the latter island the ship stood to the eastward into the narrow waters 

 between Arsuk Island and Mount Kungnat. 



