SLIPPERY WATER
Between 1344 and 1354 there were 9 out of 11 years where the temperature was cold enough to freeze the sea water hard enough for people to walk on the ice during the winter. During five of those years the water froze enough for people to walk on the ice all year around
GREENLAND TEMPERATURES
Temperature Deviation from Normal
Degrees Fahrenheit
1321 +14.4 1331 + 7.2 1341 + 9.2 1351 - 30.6 **
1322 +12.6 1332 - 12.6 * 1342 + 5.4 1352 + 7.2
1323 ------- 1333 - 27.0 ** 1343 + 10.8 1353 - 32.4 **
1324 - 21.6 * 1334 + 7.2 1344 - 16.2 * 1354 - 28.8 **
1325 - 27.0 ** 1335 + 9.0 1345 - 12.6 * 1355 - 7.2
1326 - 28.8 ** 1336 + 3.6 1346 + 1.8 1356 - 9.0
1327 - 23.4 ** 1337 ------- 1347 - 10.8 * 1357 - 5.4
1328 - 10.8 * 1338 - 14.4 * 1348 - 10.8 * 1358 + 3.6
1329 - 1.8 1339 - 7.2 1349 - 25.2 ** 1359 + 1.8
1330 + 1.8 1340 - 8.0 1350 - 23.4 ** 1360 + 3.6
(Fitzhugh/Ward, Vikings, The North Atlantic Saga, p39)
MODERN TEMPERATURE DIFFERENTIALS
Arctic Circle to Mellville Bay = c15 degrees F
* Ice conditions similar to Mellville Bay in modern era. In the modern world people travel on the Mellville Bay ice every winter. The average difference in temperature between Melville and Davis Strait at the Arctic circle is 15 degrees F.
Arctic Circle to Polar ice = c25 degrees F
** Ice conditions similar to Polar ice. In the modern world people travel on polar ice all year around. The average difference in temperature between Davis Strait at the Arcti circle and the polar ice is 25 degrees F.
Comment: If the average temperature in Davis Strait at the Arctic circle is 15 degrees F lower than normal, the sea water would freeze solid enough to enable walking on it during winter. If the average temperature is 25 degrees F lower than normal, people could walk on the ice all year around
