Spatial and temporal variability of satellite-derived sea surface temperature in the Barents Sea

Abstract

The Barents Sea (BS) is an important region for studying climate change. This sea is located on the main pathway of the heat transported from low to high latitudes. Since oceanic conditions in the BS may influence vast areas of the Arctic Ocean, it is important to continue to monitor this region and analyse the available oceanographic data sets. One of the important quantities that can be used to track climate change is the sea surface temperature (SST). In this study, we have analysed the 32 years, (1982-2013) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Optimum Interpolation SST Version 2 data for the BS. Our results indicate that the regionally averaged SST trend in the BS (about 0.03°C year -1 ) is greater than the global trend. This trend varies spatially with the lowest values north from 76°N and the highest values (about 0.06°C year -1 ) in proximity of Svalbard and in coastal regions near the White Sea. The SST and 2 m air temperature (AT) trends are high in winter months in the open BS region located west from Novaya Zemlya. Such trends can be linked to a significant retreat of sea ice in this area in recent years. In this article, we also documented spatial patterns in the annual cycle of SST in the BS. We have shown that the interannual variability of SST is similar in different regions of the BS and well correlated with the interannual patterns in AT variability.

Marine Heatwaves Characteristics in the Barents Sea Based on High Resolution Satellite Data (1982–2020)

“…It should be noted that the maximum of the SST variations in the second period (2004-2020) also includes the eastern Barents Sea, the Storfjorden through and Storfjorden, and the western and northern shelf areas around Svalbard (Figures 3E,F). The increased variability could be the result of more AW at the sea surface when sea ice has retreaded along the AW pathways (Jakowczyk and Stramska, 2014;Lien et al, 2017) and intrusion of Atlantic Water on the Spitsbergen continental shelf (Nilsen et al, 2016).…”

From high friction zone to frontal collapse: dynamics of an ongoing tidewater glacier surge, Negribreen, Svalbard

“…During Stage 1, Negribreen was retreating into deeper water (Ottesen and others, 2017), exposing more of the glacier terminus to submarine melt throughout the year, which could have aided in its destabilization. However, Negribreen outlets on the eastern coast of Svalbard, where ocean temperatures are typically lower than on the west coast (Jakowczyk and Stramska, 2014), suggesting that the influence of the ocean may not be as strong as at other glaciers. We also do not see any strong correlation between ocean surface temperatures and either length change or surface velocity, further suggesting a smaller influence of the ocean in this case.…”

Sea surface temperature variability in the Arctic Ocean and its marginal seas in a changing climate: Patterns and mechanisms

“…The northern region has seen a relative sea ice decrease in the past decades coupled with reduced sea-surface albedo. Spatial variations in the summer trends in the Barents Sea are due to sea ice extent being comparatively higher near Novaya Zemlya (north) than the rest of the sea (Jakowczyk and Stramska, 2014).…”