Air temperature data from the NOMADS (NOAA Operational Model Archive Distribution System http://nomad2.ncep.noaa.gov) website were averaged over the western (70–76°N, 15–35°E) and eastern (69–77°N, 35–55°E) Barents Sea. During 2012, positive air temperature anomalies prevailed in the Barents Sea, with the largest values (4–7°C) in the eastern part of the sea from January to April (Figure 4.2.2).
Figure 4.2.2. Air temperature anomalies over the western (upper) and eastern (lower) Barents Sea during 1985–2013 (Anon., 2013).Table 4.2.1 summarizes air temperature anomalies at meteorological stations located in western and southern areas of the Barents Sea (Svalbard airport, Bear Island, Tromsø, Vardø, Murmansk and Kanin Nos) from late 2012 through 2013. During this period, air temperatures over the region were generally warmer than normal in early winter and summer with the largest positive anomalies (>3.0°C) occurring at Svalbard airport during January and Murmansk and Kanin Nos during May through August. During March (late winter), temperatures were generally lower than normal, with the largest negative anomaly (–5.5°C) was observed in Kanin Nos. Mean annual air temperatures for 2013 were warmer than average by 0.7–1.9°C; comparable air temperatures for 2012 were 1.1–2.4°C warmer than average. Stations in the western Barents Sea (at Tromsø, Svalbard, and Bear Island) had the smallest annual anomalies (+0.7 to +0.8°C).
Table 4.2.1. Monthly mean air temperature anomalies at weather stations located in the Barents Sea between December 2012 and December 2013, the yearly mean anomalies in 2013, maximum anomalies, and years when they were observed. Anomalies were calculated relative to the period 1981–2010.
