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Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat
Research Document - 2006/039
An Overview of Meteorological, Sea Ice and Sea-Surface Temperature Conditions
off Eastern Canada during 2005
By Petrie, B., R.G. Pettipas, and W.M. Petrie
Abstract
A review of meteorological, sea ice and sea surface temperature conditions in
the Northwest Atlantic in 2005 is presented. After 4 consecutive years of below
normal values, the NAO index was above normal (~4.1 mb) in 2005. A positive NAO
index implies stronger winds from the northwest, cooler air temperatures and
enhanced heat loss from the ocean during winter over the Labrador Sea and partly
over the Labrador and Newfoundland Shelf. However, except for January, the
observed air temperatures were warmer than normal over the Labrador Sea;
furthermore, the NCEP winter wind anomalies were generally towards the north in
the Labrador Sea, opposite to our expectations for a positive NAO anomaly.
Annual average air temperatures were above normal by 0.7 to 2.2°C over the
Labrador Sea and Shelf, the Newfoundland Shelf, the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the
Scotian Shelf; Gulf of Maine air temperatures were about 0.4°C below normal. The
Newfoundland-Labrador ice coverage was the 5th lowest in 43 years and its
duration was generally less than average. The Gulf of St. Lawrence ice coverage
in 2005 was also less than normal ranking 15th of 43 years; the ice season was
the 6th shortest in 43 years. Both the ice coverage, 13th least in 44 years, and
its duration, 17th shortest in 44 years, on the Scotian Shelf were below normal.
Only 11 icebergs reached the Grand Banks in 2005, considerably less than the 262
in 2004, and the lowest since 1985, when more accurate counts became available.
It was also the 7th lowest count in 126 years. The analysis of satellite data
indicates a north-south gradient of sea surface temperatures similar to the air
temperature distribution. In 2005, there were positive annual SST anomalies from
Bravo in the Labrador Sea to the central Scotian Shelf of 0.6 to 1.3°C, with the
exception of the St. Lawrence Estuary which had an anomaly of nearly 0°C. The
western Scotian Shelf, Lurcher Shoals, Bay of Fundy and Georges Bank were colder
than normal with annual SST anomalies of ~0°C to -0.9°C.
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