Reduced efficiency of the Barents Sea cooling machine

Øystein Skagseth (), Tor Eldevik, Marius Årthun, Helene Asbjørnsen, Vidar S. Lien and Lars H. Smedsrud
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Øystein Skagseth: Institute of Marine Research and Bjerknes Centre of Climate Research
Tor Eldevik: Geophysical Institute, University of Bergen and Bjerknes Centre of Climate Research
Marius Årthun: Geophysical Institute, University of Bergen and Bjerknes Centre of Climate Research
Helene Asbjørnsen: Geophysical Institute, University of Bergen and Bjerknes Centre of Climate Research
Vidar S. Lien: Institute of Marine Research and Bjerknes Centre of Climate Research
Lars H. Smedsrud: Geophysical Institute, University of Bergen and Bjerknes Centre of Climate Research

Nature Climate Change, 2020, vol. 10, issue 7, 661-666

Abstract: Abstract Dense water masses from the Barents Sea are an important part of the Arctic thermohaline system. Here, using hydrographic observations from 1971 to 2018, we show that the Barents Sea climate system has reached a point where ‘the Barents Sea cooling machine’—warmer Atlantic inflow, less sea ice, more regional ocean heat loss—has changed towards less-efficient cooling. Present change is dominated by reduced ocean heat loss over the southern Barents Sea as a result of anomalous southerly winds. The outflows have accordingly become warmer. Outflow densities have nevertheless remained relatively unperturbed as increasing salinity appears to have compensated the warming inflow. However, as the upstream Atlantic Water is now observed to freshen while still relatively warm, we speculate that the Barents Sea within a few years may export water masses of record-low density to the adjacent basins and deep ocean circulation.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41558-020-0772-6

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