Hydrography in the north–western Barents Sea, July–August 1996

CTD profiles from the north–western Barents August 1996, have been analysed and characteristics of have been compared with former analyses and investigations The barotropic and baroclinic modes of the Rossby radius of deformation have been estimated in order to give an estimate in order to give an estimate of the spatial scale of variations. The first baroclinic mode of the Rossby radius of deformation is estimated to be around 3 km. Cold halocline water (CHW) is found in the southern part of the investigation area, supporting a hypothesis that the production of CHW is located in the area around Storbanken, and not closer to the shelf break further north. Another hypothesis is proposed: tidal induced horizontal circulation and vertical currents may explain a northward transport of warmer water across sills and banks in the north–western Barents Sea.