Research Document - 2008/016

An Overview of Meteorological, Sea Ice and Sea-Surface Temperature Conditions off Eastern Canada during 2007

By B. Petrie, R.G. Pettipas, and W.M. Petrie

Abstract

In 2007, the NAO index returned to a positive value, but only slightly above normal (2.5 mb, 0.3 SD). A positive index implies stronger winds from the northwest, cooler air temperatures and increased heat loss from the ocean during winter over the Labrador Sea and partly over the Labrador and Newfoundland Shelf. The mean annual air temperatures decreased at selected sites from the northern Labrador Sea to the Gulf of Maine except Cape Hatteras, but still remained above normal by ~1°C over the Labrador Sea and Shelf, 0.3°C over the Grand Banks, and ~1°C over the Gulf of St. Lawrence. On the other hand, annual air temperatures over the Scotian Shelf and Gulf of Maine were about 0.2°C below normal. The average December-June Newfoundland and Labrador sea ice cover and ice volume were 1.2 and 0.6 SD below normal respectively. However, ice persisted on the east coast north of Cape Bonavista for longer than it has in recent years. The Gulf of St. Lawrence ice cover (Dec-Apr) in 2007 was the second lowest in the 38 year record with only 2006 having less cover. Below normal ice conditions (-0.8 SD) also prevailed on the Scotian Shelf with ice cover (January-April) the 15th least in 39 years. Three hundred twenty-four icebergs reached the Grand Banks in 2007, a substantial increase from 2006 when none were observed but still well below the long-term mean. The analysis of satellite data indicates a northeast to southwest gradient of sea surface temperature anomalies similar to the air temperature anomaly distribution, i. e., generally above normal SST (by ~0.7°C) to the northeast and below normal values (-0.6°C) over the western Scotian Shelf, Lurcher Shoals and Georges Bank. Eighteen of twenty-three areas had positive annual SST anomalies; values ranged from -0.8°C (western Scotian Shelf) to 1.5°C (Labrador Shelf).

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