DAVIS STRAIT AND LABRADOR SEA 



47 



branch is deflected southwestward offshore. A more active mixing 

 in the Cape Farewell region may also be contributed by an intensi- 

 fication of the offshore circulation, at which times a portion of the 

 Atlantic current in the Labrador Sea may join the West Greenland 

 Current setting northward toward Davis Strait. 



A comparison between the relative positions of the coldest water 

 and the saltest water and the position of the strong slope current 

 off Ivigtut (fig. 22) continues to substantiate previous findings, 



OM 

 100 

 2 



10 



12 



15 



Figure 22. — The Ivigtut profile August 28, 1928. The relative positions of east Green- 

 land Arctic water and Irminger-Atlantic water in the West Greenland Current are 

 shown by the 0° C. isotherm and the isohalines greater than 34.95%o, respectively. 

 The velocity lines represent northwesterly current e.xpressed in centimeters per second. 



namely that the "West Greenland Current was composed of two types 

 of water of opposite characteristics; (a) inshore in the surface 

 layers as marked by temperatures <3.0° C, east Greenland Arctic 

 water; and, (&), farther offshore and about 100 meters deeper, as 

 embraced b}^ salinities >34.95%o, Irminger-Atlantic water. 



It will be noted that in none of the Coast Guard's surveys has water 

 as salt as 35.00%o been found west of Cape Farewell on the sea 

 surface. The axis of greater than 35.00%o water, wherever present, 

 immediately north and west of Cape Farewell, has been concentrated 



