GREENLAND AREA 



The Greenland area takes in coastal and offshore waters on 

 both the east and west coasts of Greenland and those of Denmark 

 Strait. The sighting reports for this area are given in the table 

 entitled "Table of Ice Reports, Greenland Area." 



The season's first storis passed Cape Farewell on 21 December. 

 1942. Patches of storis reached latitude 60^40' N., on the west 

 coast by 25 January but not in quantity to interfere with naviga- 

 tion to Skov Fjord. The northern limit of storis on the west coast 

 fluctuated between Cape Farewell and Cape Desolation during the 

 period January through April but did not completely block the 

 embayment off Julianehaab at any time during this period. In the 

 months of ]\Iay, J une and July the northern limits of this ice were 

 quite frequently reported between latitudes of 61° N., and 62° N., 

 with ice extending off shore to longitudes of 50° W., to 51° W. The 

 embayment off Julianehaab was completely blocked for short 

 periods during this part of the season, but not for any protracted 

 period. The entrance to Arsuk Fjord was not completely blocked 

 at any time. After 11 August storis was no longer a threat to 

 navigation west of Cape Farewell. 



The same winds that were so effective in keeping the storis from 

 moving north along the west coast from January to the end of 

 April pushed it well off shore to the south and southeast of Cape 

 Farewell. The outer limit of the pack was reported 100 miles south 

 of Cape Farewell on 20 April, its greatest reported extension to the 

 south during the season. On 23 April pack was reported at latitude 

 58°30' N., longitude 40° W., about 130 miles southeast of Cape 

 Farewell. In March the outer edge of the pack was never reported 

 as more than 80 miles south of Cape Farewell, and after the ice 

 started to push up the west coast in May the southern limit was 

 seldom more than 50 or 60 miles off the coast. By the 3d of August 

 storis had all but disappeared south of Cape Farewell. 



Few reports giving positions of individual bergs were received 

 from the Greenland area. Bergs near the coast generally are pres- 

 ent in such numbers that positions of individuals lose their signifi- 

 cance. A few bergs and growlers appear to have drifted to between 

 100 and 150 miles southeast of Cape Farewell with the greatest 

 extension occurring in March. On 19 INIarch a vessel struck a 

 berg in latitude 58° 05' N., longitude 43° 50' W. The accident 

 occurred at night during a snow storm. The vessel was apparently 

 turning to avoid the berg and struck on the quarter. It sank on 21 

 INIarch. Approximately 32 people were on board when the vessel 

 sank, some of whom were rescued. A total of 132 survivors were 

 taken from the ship prior to the sinking or were picked up later. 



The amount and extent of both bergs and pack ice in the vicinity 

 of Cape Farewell and along the west coast during the 1943 season 

 is considered about average. 



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