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This study examined the psychometric properties of the Ego Resiliency Scale-Revised (ER89-R). Though support exists for a multidimensional conceptualisation using classical test theory approaches (i.e., a higher-order model comprising Openness to Life Experiences and Optimal Regulation factors), this measure has not been subjected to Rasch analysis. Accordingly, this paper evaluated the higher-order model via confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) before assessing Openness to Life Experiences and Optimal Regulation components using Rasch analysis. CFA, using a general population sample (N = 2009), supported the higher-order factor structure. Openness to Life Experiences and Optimal Regulation scales met Rasch model assumptions. Specifically, good item/person fit and item/person reliability, and evidence of unidimensionality. Moreover, most items displayed gender invariance. Overall, findings supported the higher-order conceptualisation of the ER89-R, and indicated that the Openness to Life Experiences and Optimal Regulation scales are relatively useful measures of ego resiliency components in a general population sample.

This study examined whether thinking style mediated relationships between belief in conspiracy and schizotypy facets. A UK-based sample of 421 respondents completed the Generic Conspiracist Beliefs Scale (GCBS), Oxford-Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experiences Short (O-Life), and measures indexing preferential thinking style (proneness to reality testing deficits and Need for Cognition). Path analysis revealed direct and indirect relationships between Conspiracy Beliefs and schizotypy facets. Unusual Experiences had a direct effect on Conspiracy Beliefs and predicted Reality Testing and Need for Cognition. Preferential thinking style mediated the schizotypy-belief in conspiracy relationship. This pattern of results (higher experiential-based processing and lower Need for Cognition) was consistent with intuitive thinking. Introverted Anhedonia and Impulsive Nonconformity predicted Reality Testing and had indirect effects on Conspiracy Beliefs. Finally, Reality Testing predicted Conspiracy Beliefs, whereas Need for Cognition did not. These results confirm that cognitive processes related to thinking style mediate the schizotypy-conspiracist beliefs relationship.

The Inventory of Personality Organization-Reality Testing Subscale (IPO-RT) and Belief in Science Scale (BIS) represent indirect, proxy measures of intuitive-experiential and analytical-rational thinking. However, a limited appraisal of factorial structure exists, and assessment of person-item functioning has not occurred. This study assessed the IPO-RT and BIS using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and Rasch analysis with a sample of 1030 participants (465 males, 565 females). Correlation analysis revealed a negative, moderate relationship between the measures. CFA supported a bifactorial model of the IPO-RT with four bifactors (Auditory and Visual Hallucinations, Delusional Thinking, Social Deficits, and Confusion). A one-factor model best fitted the BIS. Satisfactory item/person reliability and unidimensionality was observed for both measures using Rasch analysis, and items generally exhibited gender invariance. However, IPO-RT items were challenging, whereas BIS items were relatively easy to endorse. Overall, results indicated that the IPO-RT and BIS are conceptually sound, indirect indices of intuitive-experiential and analytical-rational thinking. Acknowledging the breadth of these thinking styles, a useful future research focus includes evaluating the performance of IPO-RT and BIS alongside objective tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic time pressure represents a prevalent concern within modern society, and effective measurement is crucial for research advancement. The Chronic Time Pressure Inventory (CTPI) has thus far demonstrated adequate psychometric properties. However, only two studies have examined the measure and evidence of its validity is limited. Accordingly, the current investigation, via two independent studies, assessed the factorial composition and validity (convergent/discriminant) of the CTPI. Methods: Study 1 (N = 398) examined competing factorial models and validity in relation to the Big Five personality traits (Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Neuroticism, Openness). Study 2 (N = 358) replicated the analysis of factor structure and assessed validity in comparison with five time perspectives (Past Negative, Present Fatalistic, Future, Past Positive, Present Hedonistic). Participants across both studies completed standardized self-report measures capturing the variables. Results: Comparison of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and exploratory structural equation modelling (ESEM) factor solutions indicated that an ESEM bifactor model provided the strongest data-model fit. This included a general chronic time pressure component alongside specific subfactors of Feeling Harried and Cognitive Awareness of Time Shortage. All scale items reflected the general factor; however, some items loaded weakly on the intended specific factor. The CTPI is thus a robust indicator of chronic time pressure but needs refinement as a measure of the specific factors. Convergent/discriminant validity analyses inferred that the CTPI captured chronic time pressure as a related, but distinct, construct to perceived stress, and evidenced a relationship with theoretically associated constructs (Big Five personality traits and time perspective). Overall, the CTPI is a sound measure of chronic time pressure and has the potential to further cohesive research efforts on the contribution of this construct to various life domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It was disappointing that during the JP's period of editorial transition we were neither notified in advance about Solfvin's (2020) original Letter criticizing the development of our 'Survey of Strange [...]

Noting concerns about the non-clinical efficacy of the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), specifically the instrument's ability to discriminate between lower levels of hopelessness, this paper describes the development of the General Hopelessness Scale (GHS) for use with general samples. Following a literature review an item pool assessing the breadth of the hopelessness construct domain was created. This was then placed in survey form and assessed within two independent studies. Study 1 (N = 305, 172 women, 133 men, Mage = 28.68) explored factorial structure, item performance, and convergent validity of the GHS in relation to standardised measures of self-esteem and trait hopelessness. In Study 2 (N = 326, 224 women, 102 men, Mage = 26.52), scrutiny of the GHS occurred using confirmatory factor analysis and invariance tests, alongside item performance and convergent validity analyses relative to measures of affect, optimism, and hope. Factor analysis (using minimum average partial correlations and exploratory factor analysis) within Study 1 revealed the existence of four dimensions (Negative Expectations, Hope, Social Comparison, and Futility), which met Rasch model assumptions (i.e., good item/person fit and item/person reliability). Further psychometric assessment within Study 2 found satisfactory model fit and gender invariance. Convergent validity testing revealed moderate to large associations between the GHS and theoretically relevant variables (self-esteem, trait hopelessness, affect, optimism, and hope) across Study 1 and 2. Further examination of performance (reliability and ceiling and floor effects) within Study 1 and 2 demonstrated that the GHS was a satisfactory measure in non-clinical settings. Additionally, unlike the BHS, the GHS does not assume that administrators are trained professionals capable of advising on appropriate interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research exploring general subjective paranormal experience (GSPE) has traditionally used a quantitative approach. Resultant statistical analysis focuses upon categorization, validity and reliability, and fails to consider fully the impact of paranormal experiences at an intimate/personal level. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), this paper explored how individual understanding of paranormal events was constructed. IPA focuses on personal experience and considers the meaning individuals attach to phenomena. Analysis of four interviews gave rise to three themes: distortion of reality (physical and mental fantasy of experience), you are not alone (third party sensory presence), and personal growth (effect on self). Emergent themes suggested an inextricable link between belief, behavior and perception. Paranormal event comprehension and rationalization profoundly affected individuals; was accompanied by fear of the unknown, and an unwillingness to accept the uncertain. Keywords: general subjective paranormal experience; interpretative phenomenological analysis Spanish La investigacion que explora la experiencia paranormal subjetiva general ha utilizado tradicionalmente un enfoque cuantitativo. Los analisis estadistico resultante se centran en la categorizacion, validez, y fiabilidad, y no toman en cuenta plenamente el impacto de las experiencias paranormales en un nivel intimo/personal. Usando un Analisis Interpretativo Fenomenologico (IPA), este trabajo explora como se construye la comprension individual de los acontecimientos paranormales. El IPA se centra en la experiencia personal y considera el significado que los individuos atribuyen a los fenomenos. El analisis de cuatro entrevistas dio lugar a tres temas: la distorsion de la realidad (fantasia fisica y mental de la experiencia), que uno no esta solo (presencia sensorial de un tercero), y el crecimiento personal (efecto sobre uno mismo). Los temas emergentes sugieren un vinculo indisoluble que existe entre la creencia, la conducta y la percepcion. La comprension y racionalizacion del evento paranormal afecto profundamente a los afectados y estuvo acompanada por el miedo a lo desconocido y el no querer aceptar lo incierto. French La recherche explorant les experiences paranormales subjectives generales (GSPE) a traditionnellement employee une approche quantitative. Les analyses statistiques qui en resultaient se focalisaient sur la categorisation, la validite et la fiabilite, et echouait a considerer pleinement l'impact des experiences paranormales a un niveau intime/personnel. En utilisant l'analyse phenomenologique interpretative (IPA), cet article explore comment la comprehension individuelle des evenements paranormaux est construite. L'IPA se focalise sur le vecu personnel et considere la signification que les individus associent au phenomene. L'analyse de quatre entretiens fait emerger trois themes : la distorsion de la realite (l'imaginaire physique et mental associe au vecu), vous n'etes pas seul (la presence sensorielle d'un tiers), et la croissance personnelle (effet sur le soi). Les themes emergents suggerent un lien inextricable entre la croyance, le comportement et la perception. La comprehension et la rationalisation des evenements paranormaux affectent profondement les individus ; elles sont accompagnees par la peur de l'inconnu et un refus d'accepter l'incertain. German Die bisherige Forschung zur Untersuchung allgemeiner subjektiver paranormaler Erfahrungen (ASPE) war traditionellerweise quantitativ orientiert. Bei der daraus resultierenden statistischen Analyse steht die Kategorisierung, Validitat und Reliabilitat im Vordergrund und vernachlassigt den Einfluss paranormaler Erfahrungen auf einer privaten/personlichen Ebene. Unter Verwendung der Interpretativen Phanomenologischen Analyse (IPA) untersucht dieser Artikel, wie ein individuelles Verstandnis paranormaler Vorgange zustande kommt. Im Mittelpunkt der IPA steht die personliche Erfahrung und die Bedeutung, die Individuen den Phanomenen zusprechen. Bei der Analyse von vier Interviews ergaben sich drei Themen: Realitatsverzerrung (physische und mentale Fantasieerfahrung), Du bist nicht allein (die sensorische Prasenz eines Dritten) und personliche Entwicklung (Auswirkung auf das Selbst). Die sich daraus ergebenden Themen legten eine unauflosbare Verbindung zwischen Einstellung, Verhalten und Wahrnehmung nahe. Das Verstandnis und die Rationalisierung paranormaler Vorgange ubten auflndividuen einen tiefgreifenden Einfluss aus und war begleitet von der Furcht vor dem Unbekannten und der mangelnden Bereitschaft, das Ungewisse zu akzeptieren., The current paper focused on percipients' accounts of general subjective paranormal experiences (GSPE). Such narratives are of interest to wider society and academics because GSPEs are common (Haraldsson & Houtkooper, [...]

This study investigated the relationship between conspiracist beliefs, reality testing, belief in the paranormal, and related anomalistic beliefs (urban legends). Attitudes toward general conspiracist beliefs and endorsement of specific conspiracy theories correlated with reality testing deficits and belief in the paranormal. High reality testing deficit scores were associated with less critical ratings of conspiracy theories and increased belief in the paranormal. Regression analysis indicated that reality testing and belief in the paranormal predicted attitudes toward general conspiracist beliefs. Partial correlation revealed that reality testing and belief in the paranormal explained similar amounts of variance; both measures were similarly associated with attitudes toward general conspiracist beliefs. Conspiracist beliefs positively correlated with related anomalistic beliefs (urban legends). Correlations were found between attitudes toward general conspiracist beliefs, conspiracy theory endorsement, and individual conspiracy theory ratings; general attitudes were associated with specific theory endorsement, and belief in one conspiracy theory was associated with belief in others. These findings are discussed in the context of recent research. Keywords: reality testing, conspiracy theory, paranormal belief, Este estudio investigo la relacion entre las creencias conspiracionistas, la prueba de la realidad, la creencia en lo paranormal y creencias anomalas semejantes (leyendas urbanas). Actitudes favorables hacia creencias generales [...]

The current study investigated the relationship between paranormal belief and cognitive-perceptual personality measures. Participants completed a questionnaire battery containing a paranormal belief measure, the Schizotypai Personality Questionnaire (SPQ-B), and the Revised Transliminality Scale (RTS). Scores on the SPQ-B and RTS were found to be positively correlated with overall paranormal belief. Differences in level of paranormal belief for participants scoring high and low on each cognitive-perceptual measure were assessed. Participants above the median demonstrated higher levels of endorsement across all paranormal belief subscales (hauntings, aliens, superstition, other life, religion, PK, ESP, astrology, and witchcraft) than those scoring below the median. Partial correlation and hierarchical regression revealed the majority of the variance was explained by the cognitive-perceptual factor of the SPQ-B. In addition to this, within the regression model, the RTS was found to explain additional variance to that accounted for by the cognitive-perceptual factor of the SPQ-B. Keywords: paranormal belief, transliminality, schizotypy La presente etude etudie la relation entre la croyance paranormale et des mesures de la personnalite cognitivo-perceptuelle. Les participants ont complete une batterie de questionnaires dont une mesure de la croyance paranormale, le Questionnaire de la Personnalite Schizotypique (SPQ-B), etl'Echelle Revisee de la Transliminalite (RTS). Les scores sur la SPQ-B et la RTS furent positivement correles avec la croyance paranormale. Des differences dans les niveaux de croyance paranormale furent detectees entre les participants qui avaient des scores eleves ou faibles a une mesure cognitivo-perceptuelle. Les participants au-dessus de la mediane montraient des niveaux plus eleves d'acception de toutes les sous-echelles de la croyance paranormale (hantises, extraterrestres, superstition, autres vies, religion, PK, ESP, astrologie et sorcellerie) que ceux ayant des scores en-dessous de la mediane. Une correlation partielle et une regression hierarchique revelent que la majorite de la variance s'expliquait par le facteur cognitivo-perceptuel de la SPQ-B. En plus de cela, au sein du modele de regression, la RTS expliquait la variance additionnelle a celle dont rendait compte le facteur cognitivo-perceptuel de la SPQ-B. EL siguiente estudio, investigo la relacion entre creencia en lo paranormal y medidas de personalidad cognitivo-perceptuales. Los participantes completaron una bateria de cuestionarios que contenia una medida de creencia en lo paranormal, el Cuestionario de Personalidad Esquizotipica (CPE), y la Escala de Transliminaridad Revisada (ETR). Puntajes dei CEP y ETR fueron encontrados que correlacionaban positivamente con los indices generales de creencia en lo paranormal. Diferencias en el nivel de creencia en lo paranormal, para los participantes con puntajes altos y bajos en cada medida cognitivo-perceptual, fueron realizadas. Participantes sobre la media demostraron altos niveles de aprobacion a traves de todas las subescalas de creencia en lo paranormal (apariciones, alienigenas, superticion, otras vidas, religion, PK, PES, astrologia y brujeria), con respecto a los que puntuaron bajo la media. Analisis de correlaciones parciales y regresionjerarquica, revelaron que la mayoria de la varianza era explicada por el factor cognitivo-perceptual del CPE. Ademas de esto, dentro del modelo de regresion lineal, se encontro que el ETR explico un nivel de varianza adicional a la correspondiente ai nivel de varianza identificado al factor cognitivo perceptual del CPE. Die vorliegende Studie untersucht den Zusammenhang zwischen paranormaler Glaubenseinstellung und kognitiv-perzeptuellen Pers6nlichkeitsmagen. Die Teilnehmer fullten eine Fragebogenbatterie bestehend aus einem Malss fur paranormale Glaubenseinstellung, dem Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ-B) und der Revised Transliminality Scale (RTS) aus. Die Punktwerte auf dera SPQ-B und der RTS korrelierten positiv mit der paranormalen Glaubenseinstellung insgesamt. Unterschiede in der Auspragung der paranormalen Einstellung bei solchen Teilnehmern, die hoch bzw. niedrig bei den jeweiligen kognitiv-perzeptuellen Magen abschnitten, wurden uberpruft. Die uber dem Median liegenden Teilnehmer zeigten hohere Zustimmungswerte auf den Subskalen fur paranormale Glaubenseinstellung (Spukhauser, Aliens, Aberglaube, ausserirdisches Leben, Religion, PK, ASW, Astrologie und Hexerei) ais die unter dera Median liegenden. Mittels partieller Korrelation und hierarchischer Korrelation liess sich zeigen, dass der Hauptanteil der Varianz durch den kognitiv-perzeptuellen Faktor, gemessen durch den SPQ-B, aufgeklart wurde. Zusatzlich zeigte sich innerhalb des Regressionmodells, dag die RTS zusatzliche Varianz aufklarte neben der durch den kognitivperzeptuellen Faktor des SPQ-B., Schizotypy is a multifactorial psychological construct, which describes a continuum of personality characteristics and experiences related to psychosis, and in particular schizophrenia (Goulding, 2004). Three models have commonly been used [...]

The NCEP reanalysis data of surface heat fluxes and other related data are used to study their relationship with the Arctic Oscillation (AO). Positive and negative high correlation regions (HCR) between heat fluxes and the AO within the northern North Atlantic are identified. The main factor influencing heat fluxes is the atmospheric circulation over the Nordic Seas, which produces meridional heat transports and generates ocean circulation variability. Our hypothesis is that there are positive feedbacks that enhance the AO and negative feedbacks that weaken it. Among the three main factors related to the atmospheric circulation in Nordic Seas, meridional wind and ocean circulation result in negative feedbacks. Upward airflow produces three effects: upward advection of warm air, latent heat release by condensation and increased short-wave radiation absorption, which all result in positive feedback to the AO. The region dominated by positive feedback is referred to as Arctic Oscillation Positive Feedback Region (AOPFR). Its area is relative small, but it may have hemispheric effects through the divergence of the airflow. Regarding the driving factor of AO, we find that the upwelled airflow produces the only positive feedback, while oceanic circulation acts as a negative feedback contributor. Both atmospheric and oceanic processes are all important factors governing the evolution of the AO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The focus of this study is on the relative roles of winds and buoyancy in driving the Nova Scotia Current (NSC) utilizing detailed hydrographic glider transects along the Halifax Line. We define a Hydrographic Wind Index (HWI) using a simplistic two‐layer model to represent the NSC and its frontal system. The HWI is based on local characteristics of the density front extracted from the glider data (e.g., frontal slope). The impact of wind‐driven isopycnal tilting on the frontal slope is estimated and corrected for to accurately scale the buoyancy‐driven component of the NSC. Observations from independent current profilers deployed across the NSC confirm that the HWI captures the low‐frequency variability of the NSC. The monthly wind‐driven flow is estimated to represent between 1.0% (±0.1%) and 48% (±1%) of the total alongshore currents, with a yearly mean of about 36% (±1%). We demonstrate that using local conditions is more appropriate to the study of buoyancy‐driven currents ranging over distances on the order of O(100 km), compared to the traditional approach based on upstream conditions. Contrary to the traditional approach, the HWI is not affected by the advective time lag associated with the downshelf propagation of the buoyant water coming from the upstream source. However, the HWI approach requires high‐resolution data sets, as errors on the estimates of the buoyancy‐ and wind‐driven flows become large as the sampling resolution decreases. Despite being data intensive, we argue that the HWI is also applicable to multisource currents, where upstream conditions are difficult to define. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the degree to which paranormal believers, who profess 'strong' belief in the popular expression of a topic known as the primary item (e.g., Psychics possess a mysterious ability to know things about a person's past and future), disagree with related items and/or the putative 'cause' of the topic, known as secondary items (e.g., Some people have a mysterious ability to accurately predict such things as natural disasters, election results, political assassinations, etc.). It was theorized that scoring differences between primary and secondary items might indicate certain kinds of paranormal believer, which might then allow us to conduct deeper analyses of paranormal belief (PB) and its putative relationships with deficits and dysfunctions. A complete set of items drawn from ten established PB scales was administered to a sample of 343 respondents. Using Factor Analysis, we developed the Paranormal Belief Informedness Scale (PBIS), consisting of 10 primary items, and 10 secondary items, scores of which were used to identify three major PB types: 'primary believers' (who believe in all 10 primary items, and thus exhibit 'strong' PB), 'primary non-believers' (who believe in none of the 10 primary items), and 'mixed believers' (who believe in only some primary items). We found significant response-rate differences between primary and secondary items across believer types, and across psi categories (i.e. extra-sensory perception, psychokinesis, and life after death). For the full sample, it was shown that there is a significant relationship between PB and reality testing deficits as measured on the reality testing subscale of the Inventory of Personality Organisation (IPO-RT) (Lenzenweger et al. 2001). However, this relationship tended not to be significant across believer types. Also, there was no evidence in the full sample, or in any believer type, that PB was correlated with depression as measured on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II). We suggest that paranormal believers have differences that may be reflected in their responses to predictor variables, and/or in how informed their paranormal belief is. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research has examined the relationship between exposure to death and dying and death anxiety. However, the extent to which research in this area provides a coherent body of work is unclear. To investigate varied exposures of death and dying and to reproduce findings, a measure that encompasses the range of ways in which people can be exposed is necessary. Accordingly, this study developed a new measure, the Exposure to Death and Dying Scale (ED&DS), and investigated specifically how professional exposure to death and dying was related to death anxiety in high-exposure and non-exposure professions. Professional exposure is defined as exposure to death and dying in a professional setting, as opposed to in one's personal relationships or with one's self. The Death Anxiety Scale Extended (DAS-E) was used to provide a score for unease surrounding death. Participants (N = 468) were separated into different groups based on their profession: non-exposure professions and high-exposure professions, which consisted of 6 sub-categories: mental health professionals, the general medical field, nursing, mortuary professionals, end-of-life care, and forensic professionals. Professional exposure rates to both death and dying were calculated, as well as death anxiety scores and time spent in each profession. Non-exposure professions were shown to have lower levels of exposure than all categories of high-exposure professions. Oneway ANOVA revealed that exposure (vs. non) professionals had a lower level of death anxiety. High-exposure occupations varied in levels of death anxiety. The mental health group had the highest mean death anxiety (111.52), followed by the forensic professionals (107.36), general medical field (106.66), nurses (104.79), mortuary professionals (104.60), and end-of-life carers (93.89). Although there was a trend toward a decline in death anxiety with increasing time spent in high-exposure occupations, there was also an increase in death anxiety among individuals with the longest tenure in their field, indicating that this is not a clear linear relationship. Overall, this study showed that the higher professional exposure to death and dying, the lower that individual's reported death anxiety was, regardless of the type of exposure experienced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To anticipate the response of fish populations to climate change, we developed a framework that integrates requirements in all life stages to assess impacts across the entire life cycle. The framework was applied on plaice ( Pleuronectes platessa) and Atlantic herring ( Clupea harengus) in the North Sea, Atlantic cod ( Gadus morhua) in the Norwegian/ Barents Seas and European anchovy ( Engraulis encrasicolus) in the Bay of Biscay. In each case study, we reviewed habitats required by each life stage, habitat availability, and connectivity between habitats. We then explored how these could be altered by climate change. We documented environmental processes impacting habitat availability and connectivity, providing an integrated view at the population level and in a spatial context of potential climate impacts. A key result was that climate-driven changes in larval dispersion seem to be the major unknown. Our summary suggested that species with specific habitat requirements for spawning (herring) or nursery grounds (plaice) display bottlenecks in their life cycle. Among the species examined, anchovy could cope best with environmental variability. Plaice was considered to be least resilient to climate-driven changes due to its strict connectivity between spawning and nursery grounds. For plaice in the North Sea, habitat availability was expected to reduce with climate change. For North Sea herring, Norwegian cod and Biscay anchovy, climate-driven changes were expected to have contrasting impacts depending on the life stage. Our review highlights the need to integrate physiological and behavioural processes across the life cycle to project the response of specific populations to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Concern about future anthropogenic warming has lead to demands for information on what might happen to fish and fisheries under various climate-change scenarios. One suggestion has been to use past events as a proxy for what will happen in the future. In this paper a comparison between the responses of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) to two major warm periods in the North Atlantic during the 20th century is carried out to determine how reliable the past might be as a predictor of the future. The first warm period began during the 1920s, remained relatively warm through the 1960s, and was limited primarily to the northern regions (>60°N). The second warm period, which again covered the northern regions but also extended farther south (30°N), began in the 1990s and has continued into the present century. During the earlier warm period, the most northern of the cod stocks (West Greenland, Icelandic, and Northeast Arctic cod in the Barents Sea) increased in abundance, individual growth was high, recruitment was strong, and their distribution spread northward. Available plankton data suggest that these cod responses were driven by bottom-up processes. Fishing pressure increased during this period of high cod abundance and the northern cod stocks began to decline, as early as the 1950s in the Barents Sea but during the 1960s elsewhere. Individual growth declined as temperatures cooled and the cod distributions retracted southward. During the warming in the 1990s, the spawning stock biomass of cod in the Barents Sea again increased, recruitment rose, and the stock spread northward, but the individual growth did not improve significantly. Cod off West Greenland also have shown signs of improving recruitment and increasing biomass, albeit they are still very low in comparison to the earlier warming period. The abundance of Icelandic cod, on the other hand, has remained low through the recent warm period and spawning stock biomass and total biomass are at levels near the lowest on record. The different responses of cod to the two warm events, in particular the reduced cod production during the recent warm period, are attributed to the effects of intense fishing pressure and possibly related ecosystem changes. The implications of the results of the comparisons on the development of cod scenarios under future climate change are addressed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The principal features of the marine ecosystems in the Barents and Norwegian Seas and some of their responses to climate variations are described. The physical oceanography is dominated by the influx of warm, high-salinity Atlantic Waters from the south and cold, low-salinity waters from the Arctic. Seasonal ice forms in the Barents Sea with maximum coverage typically in March–April. The total mean annual primary production rates are similar in the Barents and Norwegian Seas (80–90gCm−2), although in the Barents, the production is higher in the Atlantic than in the ice covered Arctic Waters. The zooplankton is dominated by Calanus species, C. finmarchicus in the Atlantic Waters of the Norwegian and Barents Seas, and C. glacialis in the Arctic Waters of the Barents Sea. The fish species in the Norwegian Sea are mostly pelagics such as herring (Clupea harengus) and blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou), while in the Barents Sea there are both pelagics (capelin (Mallotus villosus Müller), herring, and polar cod (Boreogadus saida Lepechin)) and demersals (cod (Gadus morhua L.) and haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus)). The latter two species spawn in the Norwegian Sea along the slope edge (haddock) or along the coast (cod) and drift into the Barents Sea. Marine mammals and seabirds, although comprising only a relatively small percentage of the biomass and production in the region, play an important role as consumers of zooplankton and small fish. While top-down control by predators certainly is significant within the two regions, there is also ample evidence of bottom-up control. Climate variability influences the distribution of several fish species, such as cod, herring and blue whiting, with northward shifts during extended warm periods and southward movements during cool periods. Climate-driven increases in primary and secondary production also lead to increased fish production through higher abundance and improved growth rates. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A mass mortality of `warm-water' tilefish in the Middle Atlantic Bight between April and August of 1882 suggests an episode of extreme cold in the shelf waters off the north-eastern United States. This cooling is hypothesized to be a consequence of enhanced equatorwards transport of cold water in the Labrador Current, coincident with a minimum in the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index during the early 1880s. Although there is little direct evidence for this historical event, an analogue for the 1880s cooling is found in the 1960s, at the most recent NAO-index minimum. Post-1945 observations in the Middle Atlantic Bight / Gulf of Maine region reveal changes in winter baroclinic circulation between cool and warm decades, with greater equatorward penetration of south-westwards flow along the shelf-edge during the cool 1960s. Over the period 1934–77, the NAO is found to account for 17% of the interannual variance in Labrador Current transport around the Grand Banks. Proxy evidence for the cold episode of the early 1880s is sought. Records of bottom temperature in the Middle Atlantic Bight region are reconstructed using stable oxygen isotopic analysis on the annual bands of shells of a bivalve mollusc (Arctica islandica) and an empirical model of covariability with local air temperature. The result is confirmation of the presence of anomalously cold water during the early 1880s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Abstract: The impact on downwelling irradiance of phytoplankton, cromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) and particulate inorganic carbon (PIC) in the form of coccoliths, is described using a radiative transfer model and field data from the Barents Sea (BS). While annual Emiliania huxleyi blooms in the BS have been detected with satellite remote sensing, this is the first bio-optical field study on E. huxleyi from this area. Bio-optical variables were measured in August 2007 along a transect through the Polar Front from Arctic Water (ArW) into an E. huxleyi bloom in Atlantic Water (AW). The depth of the euphotic zone was on average 52m in ArW, 45m in frontal mixed water (FMW) and 21m in AW. At the 10% irradiance depth in AW, phytoplankton had attenuated 40%, CDOM 17% and PIC 18% of the irradiance from 400 to 700nm. Numbers from ArW were 36%, 26% and <1%, respectively. The relative potential for Primary Production (PP pot) in AW was 1.8× higher than in ArW, and PIC had reduced PP pot in AW by 20–40% at stations with ~100–130mg PIC m−3. A novel approach for estimating PIC based on a theoretical relationship between diffuse attenuation and irradiance reflectance is also described. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this paper we present data on hydrography, nutrients, phytoplankton biomass distribution and photosynthetic activity from a cruise in early August 2007, covering the waters between the island of Hopen on Spitsbergenbanken and of Storbanken in the Barents Sea. The Polar Front, which separates Atlantic and Arctic waters, was observed along the eastern slope of Spitsbergenbanken at 29.5°E and the western slope of Storbanken around 33°. A surface layer front associated with the meltwater appeared near 26.7°E on Spitsbergenbanken, with strong horizontal temperature and salinity gradients, but relatively weak horizontal density gradients. Phytoplankton biomass was generally low with chlorophyll a (Chl a) concentrations lower than 2mgm−3. No stimulatory front effect was found in this context. The highest concentrations were found as subsurface maximum over Spitsbergenbanken. Nutrients were also low, probably limiting phytoplankton growth. However, enhanced photosynthetic activity was seen near the pycnocline on Storbanken and Spitsbergenbanken, probably an effect of turbulent mixing caused by strong tidal currents, bringing phytoplankton cells in contact with more nutrient rich water, originating from below the pycnocline. Low-light acclimated phytoplankton cells were found at depth in stratified Atlantic Water. About 60% of the nitrate winter reservoir for the upper 100m of the water column had been consumed during the growth season prior to the cruise. This corresponds to a new primary production of 48gCm−2. At the time of the cruise, however, primary production was probably based on regenerated nutrients, conditions that seemed to favour dominance of the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi and ultraplankton (<5μm) flagellates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]