The Atlantic Inflow to the Barents Sea

The inflow of Atlantic Water is of crucial importance for the physical and ecological conditions of the Barents Sea. With the inflowing Atlantic Water, fish larvae and zooplankton are adverted into the Barents Sea from the Norwegian Sea (e.g. Skjoldaet al., 1992). The climatic conditions affect the growth rate and distribution of zooplankton and fish larvae, as well as fish population parameters as growth, recruitment, migration and distribution (e.g. Ottersn ad Loeng, 2000).ol iriien The Barents Sea also influences the Arctic Ocean. Both by providing a pathway for Atlantic Water to the Arctic Ocean, but also as a shallow shelf sea producing dense water through cooling and brine release. When passing through the Barents Sea the Atlantic Water is strongly modified by cooling, mixing and freezing during winter and all the Atlantic Water entering in the west is modified and leaves the shelf toward the Arctic Ocean mostly with temperatures below 0oC.