Page:Polar Exploration - Bruce - 1911.djvu/192

188 of so many expeditions choosing this, the easiest route to the far south in Antarctic seas, we have not many serial sea temperature observations in these longitudes; consequently there is a fine field of work for future explorers, who are in command of well-equipped oceanographical ships, and whose programme, differing from the plans of previous expeditions to this region, is the exploration of the sea rather than the land, for this land has become specially well known owing to the splendid efforts of Scott and Shackleton.

Just as there are evidently inflows of warm water and outflows of colder water in Antarctic seas, so are there similar phenomena in Arctic seas. Reference has already been made to the Gulf Stream. One of the most marked of the cold currents is the East Greenland current, which has been known for a long time. Scoresby in 1823 pointed out that this main current along the eastern coast of Greenland "sets to the south-westward." He also pointed out a periodical offset and inset that occurred. Leigh Smith says, "Down the east coast of Greenland there is an Arctic current about 200 miles broad, bearing on its surface a mighty floating glacier, which extends to Cape Farewell, a distance of 1,400 miles. The rate of this current is variously estimated from 5 to 15 miles a day." Captain David Gray