104 



by the Meteor, all of the results tabulated are from the post-season 

 cruises of the General Greene. Volumes of flow are given in millions 

 of cubic meters per second, mean temperatures in degrees centigrade, 

 and heat transfers in millions of cubic meter degrees centigrade The 

 values given for the occupations prior to 1935 have not been as pre- 

 cisely determined as the later values and may be subject to further 

 revision. Consideration of table 4 shows that in 1939 the Labrador 

 Current off South Wolf Island was flowing with very nearly average 

 volume, had very nearly the average mean temperature and trans- 

 ported heat at the average rate and that these elements were unaf- 

 fected by the offshore shift discussed earlier in connection with 

 figure 29. 



Table 4 



Table 4 shows the West Greenland Current at Cape Farewell to 

 have been flowing with greater than average strength. As pointed 

 out in Bulletin No. 28 of this series,^ the unquahfied mean temperature 

 of the West Greenland Current at Cape Farewell for any single 

 occupation of the section cannot be compared with the average of 

 other occupations without misleading results. The reason for this 

 is the considerable seasonal variation in temperature. Figure 53 of 

 Bulletin No. 28 showed a smooth curve representing this seasonal 

 variation. In 1939 the mean temperature of 4.19° C. was not only 

 colder than the average, but also was 0.44° colder than the normal 

 mean temperature for the time of year as indicated by this curve. 

 As the curve was based on a small number of points its absolute 

 values of temperature are questionable. Its shape, however, seems 

 to be well defined and if the whole curve is too low or too high the 

 errors involved in departures from normal mean temperatures will 

 be constant. Because of this it is considered to be worth while to 

 present a preliminary study of these variations having fundamental 

 ramifications. 



^ Soule, Floyd M. International Ice Observation and Ice Patrol Service in the North Atlantic Ocean- 

 Season of 1938. Oceanography. U. S. Coast Guard Bull. No. 28. Washington, 1940. 



