ICE CONDITIONS, 1972 SEASON 



September - December 



After the close of the 1971 Ice Patrol season, occasional icebergs 

 continued to drift south along the Labrador coast. During September 

 there was a report of an iceberg and growler in the eastern portion of 

 the Strait of Belle Isle and another report of an iceberg and several 

 growlers in its eastern approaches. On 2 October a large iceberg was 

 reported in the middle of the Strait of Belle Isle. A total of seven 

 iceberg reports plus several reports of growlers were received for the 

 remainder of October, November and December, all north of the Strait 

 of Belle Isle. In addition, one bergy bit was reported 160 miles east 

 of Cape Bauld, Newfoundland on 3 November. By the end of December open 

 pack ice extended down into the Strait of Belle, closing it to navigation. 



January 



There were no icebergs reported to the Ice Patrol office in January. 

 During the period 10-14 January preseason flights were made along the 

 Labrador and Baffin Island coasts as far north as Cape Dyer. The results 

 of this flight are shown in figure 1. Iceberg counts in the area between 

 Hudson Strait and Cumberland Sound were one-half the 1963-71 average of 

 293 icebergs. The counts south of Hudson Strait were two-thirds the 

 1963-71 average of 76. The latitudinal distribution is illustrated 

 graphically in figure 2. The ice east of Newfoundland had undergone 

 considerable disintegration as storms crossed the area in early January. 

 By 20 January the southern ice edge was near 50-15N but the eastern edge 

 was near 52W from 50-30N to 53N. The ice south of latitude 52-30N was 

 mostly in the grey-white and grey stages and close pack except along the 

 southern and eastern pack edges where new and grey ice predominated. 



