The atlantic inflow to the North Sea and the Skagerrak indicated by surface observations

Abstract

By means of surface observations of temperature and salinity along shipping routes across the North Sea it is shown that the Atlantic inflow along the western and southern edge of the Norwegian Channel seems to reach the surface during winter. This gives rise to a frontal zone of increased temperature along the route of the inflow. During summer a drop in surface temperature is detectable in the same zone, but the mechanism is probably different.