129 



cubic meters per second, heat transfer in million cubic meter degrees 

 Centigrade per second, and mean temperature in degrees Centigrade. 



From the above table it will be noted that both the Labrador and 

 West Greenland Currents, crossed by the section from South Wolf 

 Island, Labrador, to Cape Farewell, Greenland, were flowing with 

 about average volume, had about average temperature, and were 

 consequently transferring about the average amount of heat past the 

 section. The conformity of the Labrador Current is not remarkable. 

 However, in view^ of other evidence from the Greenland coast that 

 1938 was abnormally cold ^ the apparent normality of the West 

 Greenland Current off Cape Farewell merits closer scrutiny. It 

 must be remembered that the West Greenland Current comes from 

 the confluence near Cape Farewell of the cold East Greenland Current 

 and the warm Irminger Current. It is quite possible that a change in 

 the ratio of the volumes of these two components, compensated for 

 by a change in the mean temperature of either or both might result 

 in an unchanged volume of flow of the West Greenland Current 

 having a normal mean temperature. Such a situation would be 

 characterized by the existence of greater than normal contrasts 

 between the cold, less saline inshore portion and the warm saltier off- 

 shore portion. No doubt these conditions prevailed during 1938. 

 During the occupation of this section the highest temperature ob- 

 served in the warm water core was 6.98° C. and the low^est observed 

 in the inshore component was — 1.45°,C. 



The comparison of the mean temperature of 4.69° with the average 

 of other occupations of this section is misleading. On record are 

 eight previous occupations of this section and they indicate that a 

 considerable seasonal change occurs in the mean temperature of the 

 West Greenland Current. These eight values of mean temperature, 



» U. S. Hydrographic Office Weekly Bulletin, published the following on August 17, 1938: "Capt. J. 

 Gabrielsen, of the Norwegian steamer Borgfred reports that after leaving Ivigtiit, Greenland, July 25, 1928, 

 on a passage toward Philadelphia, Pa., drift ice was encountered with rendered it necessary to steer due 

 west for 30 miles before clearing. Ice conditions were found to be very severe this year and although bergs 

 have always been seen, drift and pack ice which is usually gone by the end of June, was plentiful. Infor- 

 mation was received from a Danish hydrographer that the wat^r along the Greenland Coast was colder 

 this year than had been observed during the past 14 years." See also, remarks on Ice Conditions, North 

 Atlantic Ocean, 1938, July, August, and September in an earlier part of this Bulletin. 



I 



