Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society. Vol. 13, no. 3.

Date:
1869
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society. Vol. 13, no. 3. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    98/128 (page 228)
    so considerable, that not only the sea between Cape North of Iceland and Greenland is blocked up with ice, but it also strikes against the north coast of Iceland between Cape North and the Bay of Skaye- strand, and then, favoured by the said eddies, closes the north and east coast of Iceland entirely. On the 24th of May, 1840, this ice was met with even about 100 nautical miles from the east coast. Still this ice never remains on these coasts later than the month of August, but generally leaves earlier, and then swings round in a north-east direction to the Icy Sea again. The temperature of the sea seems to prove that the warmer current of the Atlantic approaches as well the east as the north coast of Iceland more in summer than earlier in the year. It happens, notwithstanding, that a small part of that ice which now and then encloses the east coast is, by gales from north and north-east, carried to the south shore of the island; but as soon as it appears here it is carried away again with the north-westerly current from the Atlantic, passing Cape Eeikianges, and thus onward to the other ice, constantly blocking up the east coast of Greenland. The enclosed description* of the currents and ice-drifts near Iceland will give more detailed information for those who may wish it; but I must observe expressly, that the ice which now and then encloses the above-mentioned coasts of Iceland never is met with in lower latitudes, as would be the case if the current or drift of the Atlantic were not towards the north. By studying the temperature of the North Atlantic between Shetland and Cape Farewell, it will be observed that streaks of warmer water are found here, some of which I have indicated on the appended sketch. These warmer streaks are not to be found every year in the same longitude, and I think they have their origin from the Gulf Stream, which has retained this higher temperature, and that these warmer streaks, sometimes met with more easterly or at others more westerly, possibly may be caused by the pressure of the current coming from Labrador, passing Newfoundland, &c.; where this current influences more or less the limits of the Gulf Stream, causing its heated water to be inclined sometimes more easterly and at other times more westerly. Severe gales might likewise possibly have an influence on this deviation. These warmer streaks, combined with the different tropical pro- ducts constantly thrown on the shores of Norway, the Faroe Isles, * * Str0muiuger og Iisdrift ved Island : ’ a printed pamphlet, now in the Library of the Society.—[Ed.]