PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHY OF THE GRAND BANKS REGION 

 AND THE LABRADOR SEA IN 1959 1 



By Floyd M. Soule and P. A. Morrill 

 (U. S. Coast Guard) 



The 180-foot tender class cutter U.S.C.G.C. Evergreen served again as 

 the oceanographic vessel of the International Ice Patrol for 1959. No 

 marked alterations affecting the oceanographic work were made in the 

 vessel since the 1958 season. 



The Evergreen departed Argentia, Newfoundland, on 4 April to conduct 

 the first survey of the 1959 season. This survey covered the waters over 

 and immediately seaward of the southern and eastern slopes of the Grand 

 Banks from westward of the Tail-of-t he-Banks northward to the latitude 

 of Flemish Cap. The work of collection of data began on 5 April at station 

 6890 located off the southwestern slope of the Banks and progressed from 

 south to north without major interruption. On 18 April the final station, 

 6976, was completed and the Evergreen proceeded to Argentia arriving 

 there the following afternoon. 



A second survey, stations 0977 to 7004, made between 30 April and 12 

 May, and a third survey, stations 7065 to 7149, made between 27 May 

 and 6 June, covering the same general area as the first survey, were com- 

 pleted without major interruptions. 



On 14 June the Evergreen departed Argentia to conduct the fourth 

 survey over and immediately seaward of the northeastern slope of the 

 Grand Banks, including an occupation of the Bonavista triangle. The 

 work of collection of data began during the late evening of 15 June at 

 station 7150, located at the northern corner of the triangle. Again there 

 were no major interruptions or delays, the work progressed in a counter- 

 clockwise direction around the triangle and thence southeasterly to the 

 latitude of Flemish Cap where the last station, 722!), was completed on 

 24 June. 



From 7 to 14 July the Evergreen assumed the duties of Surface Ice 

 Patrol Vessel, during which time studies were conducted by Lt. (jg.) 

 Thomas F. Budinger of the Ice Patrol staff, on iceberg detection and 

 iceberg disintegration. The results of the detection study may be found 

 in the preceding section of this bulletin. During the disintegration studies 

 a number of oceanographic observations were made and these will be 

 published at a later date. 



1 To be reprinted as < lontribution No. 1091 in the Collected Reprints of the Woods Hole Oceanographic 

 Institution. 



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