Vertikaľnaya termokhalinnaya struktura Severnogo Ledovitogo okeana v period MPG2007/2008 (The vertical thermohaline structure of the Arctic Ocean, in Russian)

The large scale features of the vertical thermohaline structures in the Arctic Ocean during 2007-2009 were considered to reveal the changes in temperature and salinity in comparison with the historical data. In general, the main features of vertical thermohaline structures have remained unchanged over the Arctic and demonstrate the frontal barrier area between Eurasian and American basins. However, the unique summer atmospheric forcing in 2007 resulted in the considerable thermohaline changes in the surface layer. The large areas of positive and negative anomalies in temperature and salinity have been formed over the Arctic Ocean. The volumetric changes in the water masses with different temperature and salinity gradation have been also observed. The volume of Atlantic Waters with temperatures above 0°C and salinity above 34,6 increased at 22% in 2007 in comparison with 1970-1979 mean. The changes in the deeper layers habe also been revealed. Thus, the volume of intermediate waters with temperatures ranged from -0,4 to 0°C and salinities above 34,6 decreased at 30% in 2007. The most saline and cold bottom waters became warmer and fresher.