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c 2000 



EnvirCT¥fMt / EjMfimemert Canaid 



ANALYSE OriCEBERG ANALYSIS 



ISSUED OY nc iiVi«OIAN ICE SEfMO! 

 tN OTTAWA ( EMSfc PAH 1 S SERVlCf- 

 CANKOEN oes Gl>>C£S A OTTAWA 



Figure 16. Iceberg distribution on 14 February 2000 from the iceberg analysis issued by the 

 Canadian Ice Service. There are approximately 340 icebergs shown on this plot 



March 



In March, low pressure systems 

 continued to cross Newfoundland 

 frequently, resulting in moderate winds that 

 were primarily from the southwest in the 

 south and central part of the island, and 

 moderate northeast winds in the northern 

 part. Across the entire island, the mean air 

 temperature was warmer than normal for 

 the entire month, 3.5 to 5X during the 

 first half of the month and 1 ° to 1 .5"C in the 

 second half. Labrador was also 

 experiencing above normal mean air 

 temperatures, particularly in the north 

 where they were 3° to 5°C above normal 

 for the entire month. 



The eastern and southern limits of 

 sea ice in east Newfoundland waters grew 

 slowly during the first half of March. By 

 mid-month, the southern and eastern sea 

 ice extent was less than normal, and the 

 ice was looser and thinner than normal. 

 Throughout the remainder of the month, 

 the ice edge changed very little, and, by 



month's end, the sea ice extent was 

 slightly less than normal. 



On 1 March, Ice Patrol formally 

 opened the 2000 ice season. The mid- 

 month distribution of icebergs was about at 

 the median for the southern extent and 

 slightly less than the median for the 

 easterly extent. The first month of the 

 season was very active, with an estimated 

 286 icebergs drifting south of 48 N, well 

 above the 101 -year average of 61 for the 

 month. In March, more icebergs passed 

 south of 48'N than in any other month of 

 the 2000 season. Most frequently (73 of 

 101 years), the busiest month of an 

 iceberg season is April or May. 



April 



During the first half of April, 

 Labrador's south coast and east 

 Newfoundland waters experienced 

 moderate southwest winds and mean air 

 temperatures 2° to 5'C warmer than 

 normal. This pattern was caused by a 



17 



