Figure 159. Drift of the Solovei-Budimirovich. 



Examining figure 160, we see that the more a given sea has been studied, the more complex 

 its circulation appears. This can only mean that the circulation of ice in the Central Arctic Basin 

 is hardly as simple as we have hitherto believed. 



One feature of the general circulation of ice in the Arctic Basin is worthy of special mention. 

 The drift of ice depends on two factors: Sea currents and wind. It is obvious that ice which rides 

 with approximately 4/5 of its thickness in the water is carried along by surface sea currents. It is 

 also clear that this ice is subject to wind action, which drives it ahead, blowing against the projec- 

 tions and uneven parts of the ice field. But the effect of these factors is not equally felt in different 

 regions. In regions of strong permanent currents, for example in the Greenland Sea, the influence 

 of wind is weakened. In the Central Arctic Basin, where permanent currents are weakly defined, 

 the drift of ice submits easily to the wind. 



Ehiring the drift of the Sedov determinations of the true course of the ship were taken regu- 

 larly. These observations made it possible to follow a most interesting phenomenon: no matter 

 what loops and zigzags the ship described while drifting along with the ice toward the west, it 



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