Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-04-24

Patrol and experts of the Weather
Bureau are studying.
1t is expected that the number of
icebergs in the Atlantic this yeaI
will be unusually large because the
winter of 1928 has been the storm
lest the North Atlantic has known
for many years. Gales of cyclonic
intensity have swept the northern
seas and there has been a rapid
running of TIE lei currents. All
over the world meteorologists have
J beer amazed at unusual weather
phenomena during the past year and
the harvest of bergs is expected to
add another chapter to the unusual
occurrences.
Lieutenant Smith thinks that the
Government should establish year
round meteorological stations in the
far north TO send out frequent re-
ports by radio on the condition of
the weather. By scientific charting,
these reports could be built up in
such a manner as to indicate weeks.
perhaps months in advance. just
what mariners may expect in the
way of icebergs in the spring and
summer.
The Dangerous Period
The very name of iceberg has so
cold and forbidding a sound that the
casual person naturally would as
sumo that the winter season is the
time when these monsters stalk
about the seas. That is not so. In
winter the bergs are moored in
chains of ice to the glaciers whence
they come. 1t is in the balmy days
of spring and summer that they
haunt the seaways. The Titanic, it
will be remembered, was sailing on
a smooth sea, in the middle of April
when she crashed into the berg that
sent her to the bottom with 1900
souls.
High as many bergs tower above
the waterline, by far their greater
bulk is beneath the surface. Amere
fraction extends into the air. This
means that a ship must give a berg
a wide berth, for a few feet under
the surface its lower portion may
extend to a much wider circumfer-
ence than is apparent. 1t also means
that a vast amount of solid ice is
down beneath the surface where it
gets the full pulling force of the
ocean currents.
The study Of ocean currents has
developed the interesting fact that
there may be one current flowing one
direction on the surface of the sea
while another flows in an almost OPP
posite direction beneath 1t. Thus,
the warm Gulf Stream flows from
the south. Heat rises. In nature.
then, the warm water of the Stream
stays on top. The frigid waters of
the southwark flowing Labrador
Current dive beneath the Gulf
J waters. If a berg is small and shall
low, it will be moved in n direc-
ton by the surface current; If its
greatest bulk is far below the sur-
face, the diving, submarine current
will determine its course
Lieutenant Smith believes a Gov
eminent outpost Lhould. be stationed
somewhere in the bleak region OF
the Arctic Drift, From such a post
the observer could watch the pag.
cant of the passing bergs and report
them by radio. Stations further
south, could report their direction
and progress. Observations OF
winds, currents and the temperature
OF the water would give additional
data which would enable the experts
to determine on the speed and des-
tination of the bergs.
While the warm water, flowing
north In the Gulf Stream, seeks the
surface and usually claims it, there
is another element which adds fur.
Their uncertainty to this science. Sail
water is heavier than fresh water
The water Of the Arctic Seas is mucl
fresher than any other seawater. i
consists very largely of the melted
SHOWS and the ice OF the polar re
gions which of course are fresh. Be.
ing lighter than the heavily saline
waters of the northward flowinl
Gulf Stream, these Arctic waters
drifting south, also seek the surface
There is constant warfare between
these influences. The warm water
flowing north is forever attempting
TO stay ON top of the cold northern
water while the fresh northern
water forever seeks to flow over tn
heavy salt brine from the south.
This new science is in it's infanc.
but already has made rapid stride
apd in a few years the iceberg prob
ably will be but little menace to tn
ship equipped with radio.