VEGA-EXPEDiriONENS VETENSKAPLIGA A H BETEN. 



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of the latent heat of its water is well-nigh overlooked. The 

 influence of its temperature being a few degrees above zero is 

 of little consequence compared to the quantity of solar energy 

 stored up in its water as latent heat, whicli is made useful 

 b.y freezing. Moreover the warm temperature of its water is 

 reduced considerably during its course by the influence of the 

 atmosphere, but the latent heat is a reserved capital, whieh 

 €an not be expended before the exact moment of freezing. 



East of Newfoundland, at 45° or 47° Lat. N., the arctic 

 current in spring and early in summer pours great masses of 

 polar ice into the midst of the Gulf-stream. Another battle- 

 field of the warm and cold Atlantic currents is, according to 

 Petermann,' Irminger- a. O, the sea east of Iceland and 

 w^est of Beeren Island. In each of these places masses of 

 drift-ice are melted at the cost of the solar energy stored up 



1 Der Golfström, Mitth. 1870. 



2 Die Temperatur im Nördl. Atl. Meer etc. Alitth. 1870. 



