The volume flux into the Barents Sea varies with periods of several years. The annual volume flux was relatively high during 2003–2006 (Fig. 3.1.4a). From 2006 to 2014, the inflow was relatively stable before it increased substantially in 2015 to about 1 Sv above the long-term average. The year of 2016 had relatively low inflow. Since 2017 the annual volume inflow to the Barents Sea has decreased (Fig. 3.1.4a). There is no statistically significant trend in the annual volume fluxes
Currents and transports
Volume fluxes split into quarterly periods show that volume flux decreased in winter (January–March) and spring (April–June) during the years 2015–2019, while increased in summer (July–September) and fall (October–December) (Fig. 3.1.4b). This shifted in 2020 however, possibly due to the strong winds and stormy conditions and the first quarter of 2020 had very high inflow. The inflow in spring 2020 was also relatively high and higher than in 2019, but these number might change when the time series (which presently stop in May 2020) is updated.
Figure 3.1.4. Observation-based annual volume flux anomalies (in Sverdrups) through the Fugløya–Bear Island Section. Upper panel (a) show annual mean volume flux, while the four lower panels (b) show quarterly volume flux (black) and mean temperature in March (blue) and August (red). The volume flux is calculated for the area 71°15 to 73°45’N, and include all waters flowing inside this area.