The Barents Sea is a sea located on the edgeThe Arctic Ocean. More precisely, it is located beyond the northern polar circle, between the islands of Spitsbergen, Franz Josef Land, Vaigach and the Europe Coast. The waters of the Barents Sea are washed by the shores of Norway, but most of all - by Russia. Until the end of this place has not been studied. Many do not even know what the salinity of the Barents Sea is and what is the temperature of its waters. Well, this can be understood.
Salinity and temperature of the Barents Sea depend onmany indicators. After all, water comes here not only through rivers, but also from the Atlantic. All this affects the salinity and temperature. It is worth to clarify that the river runoff, if you take into account the volume and area of the sea, in this case is not large. During the year, approximately 163 cubic kilometers of fresh water enter here. Most of the rivers flow into the southeastern part of the Barents Sea. The largest arteries are marked here. Judging by the usual indicators of water content, Pechora discharges about 130 cubic meters of water into the basin. This accounts for about 70% of the total river flow during the year. In this area in the sea falls a few more smaller reservoirs.
It should be noted that on the banks of the Kolathe peninsula and the coast of Norway account for only 10% of the river flow. After all, here fall mainly small mountain streams. The highest indicator of continental runoff is recorded in the spring, and the minimum in winter and autumn. But this also affects the salinity of the Barents Sea. Significantly, the river flows only to the hydrological conditions of the southeastern part. This area of the sea is the shallowest, and it is often called the Pechersk basin.
Salinity of the Barents Sea, as well as its temperaturewaters depend not only on fresh water flows. These factors are influenced by other factors. Do not forget about the water exchange with the seas, located in the neighborhood. Of course, one should also take into account their peculiarities. Most of all in the Barents Sea comes Atlantic warm waters. The annual influx is approximately 74 thousand square kilometers.
Water from the neighboring seas brings to the Barents Seafrom 177 to 1012 kcal of heat. Of this amount, only 12% is absorbed. The rest is spent in the Barents Sea. Naturally, the water becomes not so cold. It should be noted that the Barents Sea is the warmest sea among those that are part of the Arctic Ocean. Some areas here simply do not freeze. The water temperature from the European coasts to 75 ° north is constantly above zero.
To determine the salinity of the Barents Sea, it is worthwhile to carefully consider the structure of its waters. At the moment, there are 4 main masses:
The Barents Sea is well connected to the ocean.At the same time, the continental freshwater flow is small. Due to this, salinity indices here practically do not change and do not differ from the average salinity of the ocean. It is worth noting that the changes depend not only on the seasons, but also on the regions. For example, in the southwestern part, the highest salinity of the Barents Sea is noted. Here, this figure is 35 ‰. This is the area of the North Cape Trench. Salt Atlantic waters pass here and there is never ice.
In the southern and northern part of the decline occursindicators up to 34.5 ‰. Melting of ice is observed in this area. In the southeast, the water masses are even fresher. In this region, the salinity of the Barents Sea in ppm is about 32-33. Here is marked the largest river runoff of fresh water. Melting of ice also occurs in this area.
Changes in salinity indices in the depthwaters depend on the tributaries of the Atlantic water masses, river flows, as well as on the bottom topography. On the surface, they can range from 34 ‰ and above, and at the very bottom - up to 35.2. In the smaller limits, changes are noted over the submarine elevations vertically.
Стоит отметить, что на протяжении сезона salinity indices practically do not change. The changes are very weak. The surface layer in summer is more fresh. A sharp increase in salinity with depth is observed from horizons of 25-30 meters. In winter, a similar jump is almost smoothed. In the southeast, changes in salinity indices are clearly visible with depth. It is worth noting that in such places the difference may be in a few ppm.
In winter, leveling is noted.almost the entire thickness of the Barents Sea. In the spring, the surface layer becomes more bland. In summer, this process is only intensified due to melting ice. That is why a sharp jump in salinity indices is observed between horizons 10–25.
In addition, do not forget about otherfactors. For example, in the northern part of the sea in winter the water masses are more dense, and in the central - in the summer. In this case, the causes of this phenomenon are completely different. In the north, this is due to the inflow of fresh water, and in the south, as a result of warming up.
In winter, the figure for the entire sea areaquite high and is 35 ‰. Least of all in the south-eastern part - up to 33 ‰. This is due to the large influx of Atlantic masses, a decrease in the continental runoff and the intensive formation of ice. In the spring, high salinity figures remain. The only exception is the narrow coastal strip in the Kaninsko-Kolguyevsky region and near the Murmansk coast. Here the salinity goes down.
In the summer, there is an influx of water masses fromAtlantic melting of ice and the spread of river water. As a result of all this, the indicator is significantly reduced. In the south-eastern part, the mark can fall to 25, and in the south-west - to 34.5. In the fall, rates also remain lowered. However, due to the fact that the continental runoff gradually slows down, the salinity of the Barents Sea increases in percentage. In addition, intensive ice formation begins during this period. Gradually, the salinity index reaches the winter mark.
Теперь вы знаете, какова солёность Баренцева моря and what influences it. Despite such fluctuations, there are about 110 species of fish. Their species diversity decreases from west to east. This is associated with a decrease in the temperature of water and air, as well as with the ice regime. It is worth noting that the Barents Sea supplies many cities with cod, goby and flatfish. Haddock, capelin, herring, halibut, cod, catfish, Arctic dog and sea bass are harvested here.
