THE GULF STREAM.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 14 August 1924, Page 9

THE GULF STREAM.

MENACE OP ICEBERGS. The “cold wall” is a name given to the boundary in the North Atlantic Ocean between the cold Arctic water and the warm tropical water of the Gulf Stream. “Off the Tail of the Grand Banks,” a Hydrographic Office report says, “these two waters abut on each other with remarkable distinctness. Not only is there a noticeable temperature difference on either side of this wall,' hut there is a striking change of colour, the Arctic side of the wall being an olive or bottle green, while the Gulf Stream is indigo blue. In winter the drop in temperature when entering the area of mixed waters may be as much as 22 degrees in less than a ship’s length.” The meteorological phenomenon of chief interest in connection with the above-cited facts, the report continues, is the persistence of a blanket of fog over the area of cold water north of the “cold wall.” The fact that the region most infected by bergs is also the region that is enveloped in fog for a large percentage of the time greatly Increases the danger of collision with ice. Vessels approaching the danger zone are now supplied with the very latest developments in the ice situation by the Ice Patrol, by radio broadcast twice dnilv.

Contrary to the popular impression, the report states that the presence of an iceberg has no appreciable effect upon the temperature of the Water immediately surrounding it. Nor can any appreciable change of air temperature be delected, as a rule, near a berg. Submarine microphones have attained a certain measure of success in locating the position of bergs, but they still constitute a dangerous menace.