Science Source

Arctic warming hotspot in the northern Barents Sea linked to declining sea-ice import

States the Arctic has warmed dramatically in recent decades, with greatest temperature increases observed in the northern Barents Sea
States the warming signatures are not constrained to the atmosphere, but extend throughout the water column
Uses a compilation of hydrographic observations from 1970 to 2016 to investigate the link between changing sea-ice import and this Arctic warming hotspot
Finds a sharp increase in ocean temperature and salinity from the mid-2000s
Shows the sharp increase in ocean temperature and salinity can be linked to a recent decline in sea-ice import and a corresponding loss in freshwater, leading to weakened ocean stratification, enhanced vertical mixing and increased upward fluxes of heat and salt that prevent sea-ice formation and increase ocean heat content
Deduces the northern Barents Sea may soon complete the transition from a cold and stratified Arctic to a warm and well-mixed Atlantic-dominated climate regime
Concludes that such a shift would have unknown consequences for the Barents Sea ecosystem, including ice-associated marine mammals and commercial fish stocks