Jökull - 01.12.1967, Page 92

Report on Sea Ice off the Icelandic Coasts
October 1966 to September 1967
HLYNUR SiGTRYGGSSON,
THE ICELANDIC METEOROLOGICAL OFFICE, REYKJAVÍK, ICELAND
Drift ice was frequently observed close to the
north coast of Iceland, and almost continuously
from March 21st to the end of May. The ice
was never dense however, and its adverse effects
on shipping were minimal.
The year was colder than normal, only Janu-
ary and February being in general slightly above
normal. March was very cold, with frequent N
and NE wind. Some monthly mean values of
temperature are quoted below.
Hornbjargsviti (Cape North) 66°25' N, 22°23’ W, 26 rn above M.S.L.
Months O N D j F M A M j j A S Year
Normals 1931 /60 . . . 3.7 1.9 0.2 - 0.8 - 1.1 - - 0.4 0.4 3.9 6.6 8.2 8.2 6.6 3.1
Means 1966-67 2.2 - 1.1 -3.2 - 0.3 - 0.8 - - 5.9 - 0.6 0.3 5.1 6.3 7.8 7.0 1.4
Deviations - 1.5 - 3.0 - 3.4 0.5 0.3 - - 5.5 - 1.0 - 3.6 - 1.5 - ■ 1.9 - 0.4 0.4 - 1.7
Stykkishólmur 65°05’ N, 22°44' w, 26 m above M.S.L
Months o N D J F M A M j j A S Year
Normals 1931 /60 . .., 4.5 2.2 0.4 - 0.8 -0.9 0.2 1.8 5.7 8.7 10.4 10.0 7.9 4.2
Means 1966-67 3.1 - 0.0 -2.4 0.0 0.4 - - 4.2 0.8 3.5 8.0 9.0 9.7 7.6 3.0
Deviations -1.4 -2.2 - 2.8 0.8 1.3 - -4.4 - 1.0 - 2.2 - 0.7 - 1.4 - 0.3 -0.3 - 1.2
Raufarhöfn 66°27’ N, 15°57' W, 5 m above M.S.L.
Months o N D j F M A M j j A S Year
Normals 1931 /60 . . . . 3.3 1.1 - 0.5 - 1.4 - 1.9 - -0.9 0.3 4.0 6.9 8.9 8.8 6.8 2.9
Means 1966—67 1.5 - 1.5 - 2.4 - 1.4 - 0.1 - -6.0 - 1.7 0.1 5.7 5.9 7.5 7.1 1.2
Deviations - 1.8 - 2.6 - 1.9 0.0 1.8 - - 5.1 - 2.0 - 3.9 - 1.2 - 3.0 - 1.3 0.3 - 1.7
OCTOBEll 1966
Near the end of the rnonth the ice edge ivas
reported 40—50 nautical miles from the NW
coast of Iceland and approxirnately parallel
to it.
25/io The Coast Guarcl Aircraft TF-SIF
(hereafter reíerred to as SIF) reports scatterecl
ice 65 miles NW from Straumnes1, and one large
iceberg at the same position. The bearing of
the ice edge was approximately 60° (true).
31 /io After a reconnaissance flight SIF re-
ports characteristic points of the ice edge at the
following coordinates: 6620/2550, 6635/2510,
1) See Appendix for coordinates of locations.
326 JÖKULL 17. ÁR
6635/2455, 6655/2435, 6702/2330, 6715/2430,
6717/2410, 6725/2420, 6750/2355. Coverage be-
hind the ice edge was 4/10—6/10.
NOVEMBER 1966
No ice was reported in Icelandic waters.
DECEMBER 1966
In t.he first two weeks of the month, scatter-
ed drift ice was reported off the NW penin-
sula, about 6 to 40 rniles from the coast. lie-
ports were also received of icebergs on shipp-
ing routes SE of Greenland.
2/i2 Meerkatze at pos. 6648/2430 reports
edge of drift ice 8—12 miles north of position.