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Status of the Barents Sea Ecosystem Norwegian Institute of Marine Research Abstracted by J. Overland, NOAA, Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory October 14, 2010 Summary The stocks of capelin, Northeast Arctic cod and haddock are all increasing. Stocks of shrimp and saithe have decreased in recent years. All five stocks are harvested in a sustainable manner and have full reproductive capacity. The stock of polar cod is at a high level. The stocks of Greenland halibut, golden redfish, deep-sea redfish and coastal cod are at low levels. In a long-term perspective, the water masses are warm, although on average, not as warm as in 2006 (Figure BA1). The temperature goes down in the Barents Sea The downward trend in sea temperature that has been observed in the Barents Sea since 2006 continues. Preliminary data from ecosystem cruises shows that the southwestern parts of the ocean are still slightly warmer than average, but colder than in 2009. The biggest change is in the area outside of northern Svalbard, where temperatures in some areas are more than 3°C lower than the year before. There is much ice north of Svalbard, although elsewhere in the Arctic ice cover is low (see Sea Ice section). Atlantic water flowing into the Barents Sea from the south has great influence on sea temperatures. The inflow of this water is measured in a fixed oceanographic section, Fugløya Bear Island, which crosses the entrance to the Barents Sea. Since the record warm year in 2006, there has been a gradual decline in temperatures in the Atlantic waters, and this year's research shows that this persists (Figure BA1). Still, the temperature is above average, but only by about 0.3°C, and this is the lowest that has been measured since 2001. Climate variability in the ocean area is large, and the decline that is now observed is consistent with natural climate fluctuation. Sea temperatures are measured at all stations around the Barents Sea. The data from the southwestern Barents Sea suggest the same as average: Slightly colder than the previous year, but still above the long-term average. Ecosystem expeditions cover the areas west and north of Svalbard, and it is in these areas that the largest changes have recently been observed. In 2009, in Atlantic waters off the northern part of Svalbard, temperatures were recorded up to about 7.5°C (Figure BA1), while this year's cruise shows maximum temperatures of about 4.5°C in the same area indicating a significant decline in sea temperature in these areas.
Ice conditions In 2010, much ice was be found in the area north of Svalbard at the end of summer, but it is also the only place with a lot of ice relative to the mean (Figure BA2). For most of the Arctic, the minimum summer sea ice extent was much less than average (see the Sea Ice summary for more details). Sea ice position is largely dependent on wind direction. West wind results in ice moving southward, and in the last few weeks of September there was an extensive concentration of ice in the area north of Svalbard. The relatively large amount of ice in this area is likely an indication of frequent west winds and lower temperatures.
References Norwegian Institute of Marine Research Printable Handout :: Executive Summary :: Full Arctic Report Card (PDF) |
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DOC | NOAA | NOAA Arctic Research Program |
