



PREFACE 



This bulletin is No. 45 in the series of annual reports on the International 

 Ice Observation and Ice Patrol Service, season of 1959. It is divided into 

 three general parts. The first is a report of the patrol operations which 

 extended from 5 March to 17 July 1959. Ship, aircraft and communica- 

 tions activities are described in detail and special sections deal with ob- 

 served monthly ice conditions, experiments in iceberg demolition, a 

 summary of ice conditions 1900 1959 and statistics on ice reports for 1959. 



The second part is a special report on a program of ice detection by 

 radar conducted during the 1959 season. The results contained herein, 

 both in theory and observation, set forth the limitations of present day 

 radars for ice detection. 



The final section comprises a preliminary presentation of the oceano- 

 graphic data collected during 1959. Included are charts of dynamic 

 topography of the sea surface (ocean current maps), tables of oceano- 

 graphic data and a brief discussion of results of the season's four oceano- 

 graphic surveys and the post-season research cruise to Greenland. 



The authors of the section on oceanography are Floyd M. Soule, 

 Oceanographer, USCG, and Lt. P. A. Morrill, USCG. The report on radar 

 ice detection was compiled by Lt. (j.g.) T. F. Budinger, USCG. The re- 

 mainder was written by Lt. Comdr. R. P. Dinsmore, USCG. 



