I9I0] OPENING OF THE PACK 27 



Series of Sea Temperatures 



Temp, (uncorrected) 



- 1-67 



- 1-84 



-1-86 



- 1-89 



- 1-92 



-1-93 



- i-8o 



- i-ii 

 -0-63 



+ 0-24 

 + i-i8 



+ 0-935 

 + o-6i 



+ 0-48 

 + 0-28 

 + o-ii 



- 0-13 no sample 

 bottom 



Dec. 20 2300 (1260 fms.) + 0-48° C. 



" 3220 (1760 fms.) + o-ii° C. 



" 3300 bottom 



A curious point is that the bottom layer is 2 tenths higher 

 on the 20th, remaining in accord with the same depth on the 

 15 th. 



Sunday, December 18. — In the night it fell calm and the 

 floes opened out. There is more open water between the floes 

 around us, yet not a great deal more. 



In general what we have observed on the opening of the 

 pack means a very small increase in the open water spaces, but 

 enough to convey the impression that the floes, instead of wish- 

 ing to rub shoulders and grind against one another, desire to 

 be apart. They touch lightly where they touch at all — such a 

 condition makes much difference to the ship in attempts to force 

 her through, as each floe is freer to move on being struck. 



If a pack be taken as an area bounded by open water, it is 



