PREFACE 



This report is the 62nd in a series of annual reports on the International 

 Ice Patrol Service in the North Atlantic Ocean. It contains information on 

 Ice Patrol organization, communications and operations, on ice and environ- 

 mental conditions and their interaction as observed during 1976, and on 

 various Ice Patrol research efforts. 



The authors of this report, Lieutenant H. Gregory KETCHEX, USCG 

 and Marine Science Technician First Class Charles W. JENNINGS, USCG 

 acknowledge the Canadian Department of the Environment for providing ice 

 and weather information, the United States Weather service for weather 

 updates, the United States Naval Weather Service for both weather and 

 oceanographic products, and the United States Coast Guard Oceanographic 

 Unit and Cutter EVERGREEN for oceanographic data collected during the 

 course of the ice season. Acknowledgement is also made to Yeoman Second 

 Class Terry L. GEST, USCG and Marine Science Technician Chief Neil O. 

 TIBAYAN, USCG for their assistance in the typing and preparation of the 

 majority of illustrations in this report. 



