Figure 19. Iceberg distribution on March 4, 2003 from the iceberg analysis issued by the CIS. There 

 are about 1 10 icebergs and radar targets shown on this plot, most within the sea-ice edge. 



When IIP formally opened the 2003 

 season on 24 March, both the southern 

 and eastern LAKI (page 31) were between 

 the 75'^ percentile and the nnedian 

 according to Viekman and Baumer's 

 iceberg climatology classification (Viekman 

 and Baumer, 1995). As is common in the 

 beginning of an iceberg season, most of 

 the icebergs were within sea ice, so the 

 LAKI was defined primarily by the location 

 of the sea ice edge. Throughout the last 

 week of March the southern LAKI stretched 

 rapidly southward, as both the sea ice and 

 icebergs within it moved under the 

 influence of the Labrador Current. By 

 month's end, the southern LAKI position 

 was between the median and the 25"" 

 percentile while the eastern limit was 

 between the 75'^ percentile and the 

 median. 



During March, an estimated 84 

 icebergs drifted south of 48°N, which is 

 above the month's average of 61 . 



April 



Persistent offshore winds kept the 

 main ice pack offshore for the entire 

 month, but the retreat was slowed 

 somewhat owing to colder than normal air 

 temperatures in Newfoundland and 

 southern Labrador during the first three 

 weeks. Indeed, sea ice persisted in the 

 northern reaches of Flemish Pass until the 

 last few days of April. By month's end, the 

 southern sea ice extent was at the latitude 

 of Cape Freels, about 40 NM south of its 

 normal position for the date. The eastern 

 extent was about 100 NM east of its 

 normal position due to the persistent 

 offshore winds. 



19 



