Preliminary analysis of the data collected during the surveys 

 indicated that the water temperatures of the Labrador Current and on the 

 Grand Banks were generally colder than normally encountered. Except 

 for an unusually strong geostrophic current of 2.3 knots observed near 

 44°37'N, 49''02'W on 14 May, the maximum value of the Labrador Current 

 seldom exceeded 1 knot. The colder water temperatures and almost 

 constant current velocities were two of the factors contributing to 

 the record number of icebergs (1587) encountered south of 48°N during 

 the 1972 season. 



A more detailed analysis of the oceanographic of the Grand Banks in 

 1972 will be published in the U.S. Coast Guard Oceanographic Report 

 Series (CG-373) . 



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