PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHY OF THE GRAND BANKS REGION 

 AND THE LABRADOR SEA IN 1956 1 



By Floyd M. Soule and J. E. Murray 

 (U. S. Coast Guard) 



The USCGC Evergreen served as oceanographic vessel of the 

 International Ice Patrol again in 1956. Descriptions of instru- 

 ments, and deck and laboratory arrangements have been pub- 

 lished in earlier bulletins of this series. No new gear was used 

 nor were any major changes in arrangement made in 1956. 



Temperature and salinity data were collected during three sur- 

 veys made during the season and on a postseason cruise. The first 

 survey, intended to develop the dynamic topography of the waters 

 over and immediately seaward of the eastern and southern slopes 

 of the Grand Banks from the latitude of Flemish Cap to the Tail 

 of the Grand Banks and westward of the Tail to about 52°W., 

 took place between 31 March and 14 April (Argentia to Argentia) 

 with the work of collection of data confined to the period from 

 1 April to 13 April. The weather did not require the suspension 

 of oceanographic work at any time during the survey. The only 

 delay was a six-hour period on 12 April during which a fathom- 

 eter fault was located and repaired. During the first survey 86 

 stations (6037 to 6122) were occupied. 



Because of necessary engine repairs, departure for the second 

 survey was from Boston on 15 May instead of from Argentia on 

 25 April as had been planned. On completion of the survey the 

 Evergreen returned to Argentia on 2 June. The actual work of 

 collection of data took place between 19 May and 1 June. The 

 area covered by the 95 stations of the survey was the same as 

 that of the first survey plus a westward extension westward of 

 the Tail of the Banks to about longitude 53° W. A delay of about 

 3 hours was caused by gales on 27 May and another 1 hour delay 

 on 31 May was occasioned by the replacement of a GEK electrode 

 cable which had been cut by the screw. 



The third survey, from 11 to 21 June (Argentia to Argentia) 

 developed the dynamic topography of the waters over and imme- 

 diately seaward of the northeastern slope of the Grand Banks 



1 To be reprinted as Contribution No. 877 in the Collected Reprints of the Woods Hole 

 Oceanographic Institution. 



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