Research Document 1997/04

Oceanographic conditions in the Newfoundland region duing 1996 with comparisons to the 1961-1990 average

By E. Colbourne

Abstract

Oceanographic observations from St. Pierre Bank, Grand Bank, Flemish Cap, Northeast Newfoundland Shelf and the Labrador Shelf during 1996 are presented and referenced to the long-term (1961-1990) mean. At Station 27 water temperatures were above normal throughout most of the year over the entire water column except during July when surface temperatures were 1.0 °C below normal. Salinities were below normal during most of the year over the entire water column. In the inshore regions temperatures were significantly below normal during early 1990s but had warmed considerably by the summer of 1994 and throughout 1996. The cold-intermediate-layer (CIL) on the Newfoundland Shelf was slightly below normal along the Flemish Cap transect (Grand Bank), below normal along the Bonavista transect and below normal along the Seal Island transect. Minimum CIL core temperatures were normal along the Seal Island transect, slightly above normal along the Bonavista transect and above normal on the Grand Bank. Bottom temperatures on the shelf during the fall period increased significantly over previous years and were up to 0.5 °C above normal. Surface temperatures during the summer were below normal but increased to above normal values over most regions by the fall of 1996. In general, the analysis presented here shows the below normal oceanographic trends in temperature and salinity established in the late 1980s reached a peak in 1991. This cold trend continued into 1993 but started to moderated during 1994 and 1995. During 1996 temperature conditions were above normal over most regions, however, salinity conditions continue slightly below the long-term normal.

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