A note on water movement in the Greenland-Norwegian Sea

Abstract

The oceanography of the Greenland-Norwegian Sea which was described by Norwegian oceanographers in the early part of the present century is reviewed in the light of recent winter data.

The dynamic topography and two-hundred metre temperatures indicate a circulation generally similar to that given in the earlier descriptions except that the cyclonic movement in the Norwegian Sea appears to be further west and the Norwegian Current appears to be much broader than it was previously considered to be.

Deep water identical to that of the Norwegian Sea and appreciably warmer than that of the Greenland gyral core lies on at least three sides of that gyral, and it is suggested that this is the major source of Polar Basin deep-water. It is probably formed within the Norwegian gyral. Deep-water in the Greenland-Norwegian Sea may not be formed each winter but only during particularly cold seasons. Deep-water which is formed within the Greenland gyral eventually loses its cold identity through gradual mixing with the surrounding water from the Norwegian gyral.

A temperature-depth diagram demonstrates two distinct types of intermediate and deep-water as well as two groups of stations showing some of the characteristics of each type within a single water column. Bottom topography is believed to play a significant role in the distribution of this type of station.

Further field studies, especially in the western part of the Greenland Sea, are needed to fill the large gaps in our knowledge of the circulation pattern.