Water temperature trends in the bottom layer of the Barents Sea in the summer season for the period 2004–2019

Abstract

The aim: to determine the areas in the Barents Sea where the most significant changes in water temperature in the bottom layer occured over the last 15 years. Methods used: analysis of time series of water temperature in the bottom layer to identify trends in their structure, at grid nodes with steps of 10’ in latitude and 30’ in longitude; calculation of correlations with hydrometeorological parameters. Novelty: аreas with significant trends in water temperature in the bottom layer of the Barents Sea were identified on the basis of observations for 2004–2019, and trend coefficients were calculated. Result: for the investigated period, there were no significant changes in water temperature in the bottom layer in the central and southern parts of the Barents Sea. The area of positive trends was found off the western coast of the Novaya Zemlya Archipelago, with an increase in temperature by 0.1–0.2 °C per year. In the northern part of the sea, the area of decreasing trends in water temperature (by 0.1–0.2 °C per year) was identified. Practical significance: trend coefficients make it possible to estimate rates of changes in water temperature in the bottom layer, analyze features of year-to-year variability of water temperature, and consider the possible impact on ecosystem components.