Seas around Svalbard unusually warm
The waters around Svalbard were exceptionally warm this summer. Measurements show that surface temperatures in July were, in some places, more than three degrees above the long-term average. Scientists are now investigating the consequences of this warming for the Barents Sea ecosystem.
As reported by the Norwegian Havforskningsinstituttet (Institute of Marine Research) in early September, the unusually high temperatures during the current Barents Sea Ecosystem Survey are being investigated in more detail. To this end, four research vessels will be operating for around six weeks between the Norwegian coast and Svalbard.
The situation around the archipelago is particularly striking. According to the Havforskningsinstituttet, sea surface temperatures there were already more than three degrees Celsius above the long-term average in July. The researchers now want to find out how deep the unusually warm water extends.
Atlantic water continues to advance northwards
The Barents Sea is one of the regions of the Arctic that is changing particularly rapidly. Warmer and saltier water from the Atlantic is increasingly reaching further north. This so-called ‘Atlantification’ influences sea ice conditions and, at the same time, alters the living conditions of numerous animal species.
During the current expedition, scientists are therefore surveying the entire ecosystem, from plankton and fish stocks to marine mammals. Of particular interest is whether cold-loving Arctic species are retreating further north, whilst species from more southerly waters are expanding their range.
The findings are also important for fisheries, as the Barents Sea is one of the most productive marine areas in the Arctic. The Norwegian Institute of Marine Research will compare the current data with its long-term time series. This should reveal just how exceptional the summer of 2026 actually was – and what consequences the unusually warm sea around Svalbard might have for the Arctic ecosystem.
Heiner Kubny, Polarjournal
