ICE CONDITIONS, 1970 SEASON 



September-December 



After the close of the 1969 Ice Patrol season 

 occasional icebergs continued to drift south along 

 the Labrador coast. During September there were 

 eight reports of iceberg sightings, all north of the 

 Strait of Belle Isle. Occasional reports continued 

 to be received throughout October, November, 

 and December, including one large iceberg re- 

 ported in the vicinity of Fogo Island on 1 No- 

 vember. On 13 November there v/as a report of 

 an iceberg sighted midway between Cape Fare- 

 well, Greenland, and Goose Bay, Labrador. It is 

 uncertain whether this iceberg came from east 

 Greenland or Baffin Bay. There were several re- 

 ports of iceberg sightings southeast of Cape Fare- 

 well, Greenland, as far offshore as 270 miles. 

 Although iceberg sightings this far southeast of 

 Greenland arc relatively infrequent, they are by 

 no means rare. 



During the period 18-23 September 1969, a pre- 

 season iceberg survey was made of the Labrador 

 coast and Baffin Bay. The purpose of the survey 

 was to study iceberg distribution patterns and to 

 assess the iceberg potential for the coming season. 

 The number of icebergs counted per one degree 

 rectangle is shown in figure 1. The count in the 

 area between Cape Dyer and Cape Christian off 

 the Baffin Island coast was about 85% higher 

 than the 1964-69 average count of 364 in this 

 area, thus indicating that the iceberg potential 

 for a heavy iceberg season on the Grand Banks 

 in 1970 was good. 



A preseason flight along the Labrador coast 

 and into southwestern Baffin Bay was also con- 

 ducted during the period 11-16 December. The 

 iceberg counts on this survey are shown in figure 

 2. Counts in the area offshore Baffin Island be- 

 tween Cape Dyer and Cape Christian were about 

 90% higher than the 1963-69 average of 257. 

 Counts in the area between Hudson Strait and 

 Cape Dyer were about 30% higher than the 1963- 

 69 average of 201. The counts in both of these 

 areas continued to indicate a heavier than normal 

 iceberg season on the Grand Banks. Sea ice was 



encountered during the December survey about 

 60 miles south of Hudson Strait. 



January 



Only three icebergs were reported to the Ice 

 Patrol office in January. All three were north of 

 56N. One was approximately 60 miles off the 

 Labrador coast at 56N, one was near Ocean Sta- 

 tion Bravo, and the third was about 100 miles 

 south of Cape Farewell, Greenland. During the 

 period 20-24 January a preseason flight was 

 made along the Labrador and Baffin Island coasts 

 as far north Cape Dyer. The results of this flight 

 are shown in figure 3. Counts in the area between 

 Hudson Strait and Cumberland Sound were 

 about the same as the 1963-70 average of 162. 

 Counts south of Hudson Strait were about 90% 

 higher tlian the 1963-70 average of 80. At the 

 time of the January survey sea ice was beginning 

 to drift across the approaches to the Strait of 

 Belle Isle. 



February 



During February 1970 occasional reports of 

 icebergs or growlers were made by Coast Guard 

 ships enroute or on Ocean Station Bravo. The 

 southermost of these reports was a growler re- 

 ported at about 52-OON 51-30W on 16 February. 

 A group of six icebei'gs was also reported at 

 57-OON 49-lOW by an aircraft on 2 February. 

 A preseason icebei'g reconnaissance was made 

 along the Labrador coast during the period 27 

 February^ March. The results of the survey are 

 discussed in the section on March ice conditions. 



March 



By early March, sea ice extended from the 

 general area of Fogo Island and Cape Freels 

 northeastward to about 52N, and then generally 

 ran northward paralelling tlie Labrador coast 

 about 150 to 180 miles offshore. The final leg of 

 the preseason iceberg survey started in late Feb- 

 ruary was completed on 4 March with a flight 

 from Goose Bay to Argentia. Unfortunately the 

 visibility was bad south of 53N on this flight. 



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