across the Labrador Current. These have been compared with 

 seasonal normal values where such normals are available and the 

 figures for the 1953 deficiency in volume and heat transport have been 

 given. 



The 12 occupations of the Bonavista triangle made during the past 

 6 years have been summarized as to volume of flow, mean temperature, 

 minimum observed temperature, and heat transport for each of the 3 

 sides and approximate normal seasonal variation relationships devel- 

 oped for these functions and for the percentage of the volume transport 

 following the eastern branch of the Labrador Current. 



A new self-contained rapid response subsurface thermograph, 

 which records temperatiu-e against depth down to 1,800 meters, has 

 been described and the results of field tests have been discussed. 

 Fourteen traces obtained before accidental destruction of the instru- 

 ment have been shown with corresponding observations by reversing 

 thermometers. The results indicate the presence of short period 

 internal waves which are averaged out in the reversing thermometer- 

 Nansen water bottle method. 



The temperature-salinity characteristics of the Labrador Current 

 water, mixed water and Atlantic Current water found in the Grand 

 Banks region in 1953 have been compared with the 8-year mean for 

 the period 1934-41. The year-to-year changes in the position of the 

 T-S points for several levels in each of the 3 water masses were investi- 

 gated for the 6 postwar years 1948-53 but any steady trend which 

 may be present was masked by the large year-to-year excursions of 

 the points. Some slight freshening in the deeper levels, compared to 

 prewar observations, was noted. 



Two more surveys in 1953 were added to the study of the relation- 

 ship which is presumed to exist between the location of the northern 

 boundary of Atlantic Current water in the Grand Banks region, the 

 strength of the Labrador Current and the strength of the North 

 Atlantic eddy as indicated by the difi'erence in sea level between 

 Bermuda and Charleston. As with all the postwar observations, the 

 1953 measurements gave a poor agreement with the relationship 

 developed for the prewar observations. 



The 1953 repetition of the section from South Wolf Island, Labrador, 

 to Cape Farewell, Greenland, has been examined and the results 

 presented. The abnormally vigorous circulation in the Labrador 

 Sea which has characterized the last few years continued in 1953. 

 The temperature minimum of the intermediate water was found to 

 be warmer than dm-ing the period 1934-39. In this respect 1953 was 

 like 1940-41 and all the postwar years except 1950. On the basis of 

 the salinity maximum in the West Greenland Current the Irminger 

 Current contribution to that current was judged to be negligibly small 



VI 



