74 THE OCEAN. 



contributions the polar counter-current, and the great circuit is estab- 

 lished between the zone of heat and that of ice. Perhaps, too, the 

 reflux of the Gulf-stream is partially accomplished, under the press- 

 ure of water from the north by an abrupt turn. This would explain 

 the strong salinity of 35 thousandths, which Forchhammer found in 

 the waters of the polar current to the east of Greenland. 



It is not only in the wide extent of the North Atlantic, from Nova- 

 Zembla to Iceland, that the Gulf-stream takes a submarine course ; the 

 same is the case, it appears, in Baffin's Bay to the west of Greenland. 

 In fact, from Cape Farewell to eight degrees furtlier north the exist- 

 ence of a coast-current has been ascertained, which carries the ice in 

 an exactly contrary direction to that of the current, which follows on 

 the west the coasts of Labrador, and which serves as a high road for 

 the fragments of the ice-fields.* This current was formerly considered 

 as the continuation of the one which flows along the eastern coast of 

 Greenland from north to south, and which would thus have abruptly 

 turned round Cape Farewell. But it is much more natural to think 

 that the polar current continues its route directly towards the great 

 centre in the tropical seas. In this case, the current on the western 

 coast of Greenland would be simply a branch of the Gulf-stream ; 

 which is rendered almost certain by its waters being comparatively 

 warm. The sea very seldom freezes on the shore which it bathes, and 

 the climate there is on an average nine degrees (Fahr.) warmer 

 than on the coast looking towards the east. Towards the 78th 

 degree of latitude, this river-like current completely ceases, and it 

 is undoubtedly there that it becomes submarine, perhaps to flow on 

 the surface again in the open sea of Kane.f 



On the other hand, if in the icy seas the various branches of the 

 Gulf-stream change into smaller counter-currents, the polar currents 

 do the same more to the south, and become the bed for the waters which 

 flow to the north. These contain, it is true, more saline substances, 

 but they are also warmer ; rendered heavy by the salt, they are light- 

 ened by their high temperature, so that a slight difference of warmth 

 or of salinity can modify their equilibrium and make them change 

 their position with the polar current. In the temperate seas, where 

 they are still warm and strongly saline, they flow on the surface ; but 

 sink on the contrary in the icy seas, where they are chilled or where 

 the admixture of Salter water is eflPected. This explains the intersection 

 of the currents. To the north of Spitzbergen and Nova-Zembla, the 



* See above, p. 43. 

 t Graah. — Miihry, Mittheilungen von Fetermann, t. ii. 1867. 



