Formation of dense bottom water in the Barents Sea

Abstract Formation of dense bottom water through rejection of brine during freezing is a regular phenomenon in the Barents Sea, particularly on the Novaya Zemlya Shelf, but it has also been observed in other shallow areas of the sea. Water with temperature around −1°C and salinity above 34.95ℵ moves eastward on the southern side of the Novaya Zemlya-Franz Josef Land Channel, which communicates with the Arctic Ocean. The relatively high salinity is a result of admixture with dense water formed during the freezing process.