54 



in degrees centigrade, and heat transfers in millions of cubic meter 

 degrees centigrade per second. A final column gives the berg count 

 for the year (south of latitude 48° N.). 



It will be seen from the above table that the volume of flow, the 

 mean temperature, and the heat transfer were all markedly below the 

 average of the nine occupations of this section in 1940. It is also of 

 interest to note that during each of the 3 years, 1931, 1936, and 1940 

 when the number of bergs south of latitude 48° N., was extremely 

 small, the heat transfer and mean temperature were correspondingly 

 below average. The volume of flow during these years was also sub- 

 normal but not as consistently or to as great a degree. It is also to be 

 noted that the converse is not true, namely, that unusually large 

 values of heat transfer and berg count do not coincide. The impor- 

 tance of the mean temperature suggests a relationship with the West 

 Greenland Current component of the Labrador Current. South of 

 Davis Strait a major branch of the West Greenland Current moves 

 westward to form the warmer, oft'shore component of the Labrador 

 Current. The remainder of the West Greenland Current continues 

 northward across Davis Strait ridge into Baffin Bay. Under condi- 

 tions of abnormal southerly winds in the vicinity of Davis Strait it is 

 conceivable that more of the West Greenland Current would enter 

 Baffin Bay and less would cross to the American side to contribute to 

 the Labrador Current. The resulting mean temperature of the 

 Labrador Current would be lowered and the same southerly winds 

 would impede the bergs entering the Labrador Current from Baffin 

 Bay. The optimum condition for an excessive amount of the West 

 Greenland Current component of the Labrador Current, resulting in 

 a high mean temperature, would result from abnormal easterly winds \ 

 in the vicinity of Davis Strait. This would not materially help the 

 bergs entering the Labrador Current from Baffin Bay and might even 

 reduce the berg count through increased berg mortality if stranding 

 along the Labrador shelf or if an onshore displacement of the thermal 

 characteristics of the Labrador Current resulted. Thus it would 



