Focusing on different depths, the area covered by warm water (above 4, 3 and 1°С at 50, 100 m and near the bottom, respectively) in August–October 2020 was close to that in 2019 (Fig. 3.1.14). The area covered by cold water (below 0°С) was 3 and 6% larger than in 2019 at 50 m and near the bottom, respectively, but 3% smaller – at 100 m.
Water masses
Since 2000, the area covered by cold bottom water was the largest in 2003 and rather small in 2007, 2008, 2012, 2016–2018; in 2016, it reached a record-low value since 1965 and then it has been increasing for the past four years; in 2020, it reached the largest value since 2011.
Figure 3.1.14. Areas covered by water with different temperatures at 50 m (upper panel), 100 m (middle panel) and near the bottom (lower panel) in the Barents Sea (71–79°N, 25–55°E) in August–October 2000–2020.