West Spitsbergen Current

The West Spitsbergen Current is an ocean current in the Norwegian Sea and the Greenland Sea. The current forms at the border of the Norwegian Sea to the Barents Sea, where the Norwegian electricity in a east and a north flowing stream - the West Spitsbergen Current - divides. Part of it is therefore referred to as the northernmost branch of the Gulf stream. The West Spitsbergen Current is the main source of salt and heat in the Greenland Sea and the Arctic Ocean.

They go to Spitsbergen ( formerly known as West Spitsbergen ) north passing to the Fram Strait. In the Fram Strait, the West Spitsbergen Current is divided into three parts due to the complex topography. Two of these flow into the Arctic, the main current flows north of Spitsbergen along the continental slope to the north, a weaker branch flows around the Yermak Plateau and flows eastwards. Part of the West Spitsbergen current circulates in the Fram Strait, unites with the East Greenland Current and flows with this along the coast of Greenland south again.

The current temperature is 6-8 ° C, its salinity is from 35.1 to 35.5. The transported amount of water is volatile and is on average 5 to 8 Sverdrup. The bulk of the Atlantic water is then in 100 to 200 meters depth.

The West Spitsbergen Current, thus ensuring the relatively mild climate of Spitsbergen and brings warm Atlantic water into the Arctic.

Comments

  • Ocean current
  • Greenland Sea
  • Norwegian Sea
  • Barents Sea
Norwegian Current
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