The Oceanographic work of the United States Coast Guard in 1936 and plans for 1937

Abstract

In 1936 the United States Coast Guard assigned two first‐class cruising cutters, the Pontchartrain and Champlain, to the duties of the International Service of Ice Observation and Ice Patrol in the North Atlantic Ocean. The 125‐foot patrol boat General Greene was designated as the oceanographic vessel of the Ice Patrol Force. The ice‐observation officer, who has charge of the scientific work on the patrol cutters was Lieutenant G. Van A. Graves, and the oceanographer in charge of the scientific work on the oceanographic vessel was Floyd M. Soule. As in past years, several thousand temperature‐reports were received from passing steamers, thus enabling the ice‐observation officer to maintain an up‐to‐date surface isothermal chart of the usually ice‐infested area in the vicinity of the Grand Banks. From these data six fortnightly sea‐surface isothermal charts were prepared and will appear in Coast Guard Bulletin No. 26 which is now in press.