ature, minimum observed temperature, and heat transport for each 

 of the three sides and approximate normal seasonal variation relation- 

 ships developed for these functions and for the percentage of the vol- 

 ume transport following the eastern branch of the Labrador Current. 



4. A new self-contained rapid response subsurface thermograph, 

 which records temperature 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 technic. 



5. 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 investigated 

 for the 8 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. 



6. 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 CmTent and the strength of the North 

 Atlantic eddy as indicated by the difference 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. 



7. 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 Labra- 

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

 The temperatm-e minimum of the intermediate water was found to 

 be warmer than during 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 in 1953. The temperature of this portion of the 

 West Greenland Current, however, remained fairly warm, so that on 

 the basis of heat transport and assumed constant mean temperatures 

 of the contributary currents the Irminger Current contribution was 

 about two-thirds of its normal volume transport. 



92 



