the station containing the salinity maximum in the West Greenland 

 Current was indistinguishable from the others m the group from 

 the Central Labrador Sea and West Greenland Current. In 1953 

 the station containing the salinity maximum was lower in phosphorus 

 than the group from the central Labrador Sea and West Greenland 

 Current and close to but somewhat higher than the low phosphorus 

 group. 



From the observations available, and on the basis of the charac- 

 teristic curves shown in figure 40, it is not possible to identify the 

 high salinity core of the West Greenland Current off Cape Farewell 

 in either 1952 or 1953 as having been contributed by the Irminger 

 Current. Wliether this is because of a change in the characteristic 

 total phosphorus distribution which takes place during the long 

 journey from the Grand Banks to Cape Farewell by way of Iceland, 

 or because the salinity maximum was not contributed by the Irminger 

 Current, cannot be stated from the information now available. 



The distribution of total phosphorus concentration along the section 

 across the Labrador Sea found m 1952 and 1953 is shown in figures 

 43 and 44. Lines of equal phosphorus are shown broken and the 

 isen tropic surfaces of equal Cjs are shown as solid lines. While, 

 as noted above, the concentration was less in general in 1953 than 

 in 1952, figures 43 and 44 display some features of distribution in 

 common. There is a maximum in the central part of the section in 

 the intermediate water which grades to lower values at the bottom 

 and to minima on each side. These minima reach to the surface near 

 the offshore boundaries of the swifter horizontal circulation. Shore- 

 ward of these minima there are maxima near the continental slopes. 

 A considerably smaller concentration is present in the upper 50 meters. 



SUMMARY 



1. The surface circulation in the Grand Banks region during the 

 ice patrol season of 1953 has been discussed on the basis of four 

 dynamic topographic surveys which indicated the presence of currents 

 adequate to transport bergs to areas of potential hazard to the steamer 

 lanes if bergs had entered the surveyed area from the north. 



2. The circulation in the upper 1,000 meters in the Grand Banks 

 region has been considered in greater detail by presentation of the 

 volume and heat transports, mean temperature and minimum tempera- 

 ture observed in 1953 during 19 occupations of 10 selected sections 

 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. 



3. The 12 occupations of the Bona vista triangle made during the 

 past 6 years have been summarized as to volume of flow, mean temper- 



91 



