Research Document - 2003/001

Oceanographic conditions in NAFO Subdivisions 3Pn and 3Ps during 2002 with comparisons to the previous year and the long-term (1971-2000) average

By Colbourne, E.

Abstract

Oceanographic data from NAFO subdivisions 3Pn and 3Ps during the spring of 2001 and 2002 are examined and compared to the long-term (1971-2000) average. Temperature measurements on St. Pierre Bank show anomalous cold periods in the mid-1970s and from the mid-1980s to mid 1990s. Beginning around 1996 however, temperatures started to moderate, decreased again during the spring of 1997 and returned to more normal values during 1998. During 1999 and 2000 temperatures continued to increase, reaching the highest values observed since the late 1970s in some regions. During the spring of 2001 and 2002 however, temperatures cooled significantly over the previous two years to values observed during the mid-1990s. However the 2002 values were slightly warmer than those reported in 2001. The areal extent of <0^oC bottom water increased significantly from the mid-1980s to mid-1990s but decreased to very low values during 1998-2000. During 2001 however, this area increased to values observed during the mid-1990s, and then decreased slightly during 2002. Since 1995 the areal extent of bottom water with temperatures >1^oC has been increasing, reaching pre-1985 values during 1999-2000. During 2001 this area decreased significantly compared to the previous 3-years but increased slightly during 2002. On St. Pierre Bank <0^oC water completely disappeared during the warm years of 1999 and 2000. It has since increased to between 20-30% areal extent during 2001 and 2002. The area of near-bottom water on the banks with temperatures >1^oC was about 50% of the total area during 1998, the first significant amount since 1984. This subsequently increased to about 70% during 1999 and to 85% during 2000 but decreased to low values during the past 2 years. In general, temperature conditions in this region during the spring of 2002 were cold on the banks but increased slightly over values observed in 2001, while salinity values were fresher than those observed in 2002.

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