Barents Sea - washes the northern coast of the Scandinavian and Kola Peninsulas, Norway and Russia. It is a marginal sea of ​​the Arctic Ocean.

Bounded from the north by the archipelagos and Franz Josef Land, from the east by the archipelago New Earth.

The area of ​​the Barents Sea is 1424 thousand sq. km. Volume - 282 thousand cubic meters. km. Depth: average - 220 m. maximum - 600 m. Borders: in the west with the Norwegian Sea, in the south with the White Sea, in the east with.

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The Northern Seas have long attracted Russian people with their riches. An abundance of fish, sea animals and birds, despite ice water, long and cold winters made this region quite suitable for a well-fed stay. And when a person is full, he doesn’t mind the cold.

In ancient times, the Barents Sea was called the Arctic, then Siversky or Northern, sometimes it was called Pechora, Russian, Moscow, but more often Murmansk, according to old name Pomeranian (Murmansk) region of the earth. It is believed that the first Russian boats in the waters Barents Sea sailed back in the 11th century. Around the same time, Viking boats began to sail here. And then trading settlements began to appear in the north of Rus', and fishing began to develop.

Until Russia acquired a full-fledged fleet capable of crossing the expanses of the northern seas, the northernmost Russian city was Arkhangelsk. Founded by decree of Tsar Ivan the Terrible in 1583-1584 near the Archangel Michael Monastery, small town became the main Russian port where foreign sea vessels began to call. An English colony even settled there.

This city, located at the mouth of the Northern Dvina flowing into the river, was very attractive to Peter I, and over time it became the Northern Gate of Rus'. It was Arkhangelsk that had the honor of playing a leading role in the creation of the Russian merchant and navy. Peter founded the Admiralty in the city in 1693, and founded a shipyard on the island of Solombala.

Already in 1694, the ship "St. Paul" launched from this shipyard - the first merchant ship of the Russian Northern Fleet. "St. Paul" had 24 guns on board, which Peter personally cast at the factory in Olonets. To equip the first ship, Peter himself turned the rigging blocks. The launching of "St. Paul" was carried out under the direct supervision of Peter. “St. Paul” was issued a “travel certificate” for the right to trade abroad. The ship "St. Paul" was the first of six three-decker merchant ships launched from the sovereign shipyard from 1694 to 1701. Since then, Arkhangelsk has become the center of all foreign trade activities of the Russian state. It was from here that the Russian North began to develop.

Of course, even before Peter’s time, there were pilotage directions for the mouth of the Northern Dvina, the White Sea and the coastal part of the Siverskoe Sea, which were inherited by local pilots. But under Peter these cards were refined and made it possible to walk quite large ships without fear of running aground or reef, of which there are a great many in these waters.

These places were very attractive for navigation due to their peculiarity, because the sea did not freeze here, thanks to the Gulf Stream, the warm waters of which reached these northern shores. This made it possible for ships to pass west into the waters of the Atlantic and further south to the shores of America, Africa, and India. But the lack of sea ships and the short navigation time prevented the development of the waters of the North Sea. Only rare boats of brave sailors reached the shores of Spitsbergen and Franz Josef Land, which separated the North Sea from endless spaces Arctic Ocean.

The beginning of the study of the Barents Sea took place in the 16th-17th centuries, during the era of the Great geographical discoveries. Looking for trade routes, European sailors they tried to go east to go around Asia to get to China, but they couldn’t go far because most was covered with hummocks of ice that did not melt even during the short northern summer. The Dutch navigator Willem Barents, in search of northern trade routes, very carefully explored the waters of the North Sea.

He discovered the Orange Islands, Bear Island, and explored Spitsbergen. And in 1597, his ship was frozen in the ice for a long time. Barents and his crew left the ship frozen in the ice and began to make their way to the shore in two boats. And although the expedition reached the shores, Willem Barents himself died. Since 1853, this harsh North Sea began to be called the Barents Sea in his honor, although before that it was officially listed on maps as Murmansk.

Scientific exploration of the Barents Sea began much later. 1821-1824 Several sea expeditions were undertaken to study the Barents Sea. They were headed by the future president of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences, an honorary member of many Russian and foreign scientific institutions, a tireless navigator, Admiral Fyodor Petrovich Litke. On the sixteen-gun brig "Novaya Zemlya" he went to the shores of Novaya Zemlya 4 times, explored and described it in detail.

He explored the depths of the fairway and the dangerous shallows of the White and Barents Seas, as well as the geographical definitions of the islands. His book “Four Voyages to the Arctic Ocean on the Military Brig “Novaya Zemlya” in 1821-1824,” published in 1828, brought him worldwide scientific fame and recognition. A complete thorough investigation and hydrological characteristics The Barents Sea were compiled during a scientific expedition in 1898-1901. headed by the Russian scientist hydrologist Nikolai Mikhailovich Knipovich.

The efforts of these expeditions were not in vain; as a result, the rapid development of navigation in the northern seas began. In 1910-1915 A hydrographic expedition of the Arctic Ocean was organized. The purpose of the expedition was to develop the Northern Sea Route, which would allow Russian ships the shortest route pass along the northern coast of Asia into the Pacific Ocean to the eastern shores Russian Empire. The expedition, consisting of two icebreaking ships - "Vaigach" and "Taimyr", under the leadership of Boris Andreevich Vilkitsky, covered the entire northern route from Chukotka to the Barents Sea, with a wintering place near the Taimyr Peninsula.

This expedition collected data on sea currents and climate, ice conditions and magnetic phenomena in these regions. A. V. Kolchak and F. A. Mathisen took an active part in developing the expedition plan. The ships were manned by combat naval officers and sailors. As a result of the expedition, a sea route was opened that connected the European part of Russia with the Far East.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, measures were taken to develop the first port beyond the Arctic Circle. Murmansk became such a port. A very good location was chosen for the future port on the right bank of the Kola Bay. In 1915, during the First World War, Murmansk was upset and received city status. Making this port city made it possible Russian fleet gain access to the Arctic Ocean through an ice-free bay. Russia was able to receive military supplies from its allies, despite the blockade of the Baltic and Black Seas.

IN Soviet era Murmansk became the main base of the Northern Navy, which played a huge role in the USSR victory over Nazi Germany and the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945 The ships and submarines of the Northern Fleet became the only force that managed, under the most difficult conditions, to ensure the passage of convoys delivering military cargo and food for the Soviet Union from the allies.

During the war, Severomorsk destroyed more than 200 warships and auxiliary vessels, more than 400 transports and 1,300 aircraft fascist Germany. They provided escort for 76 allied convoys, which included 1,463 transports and 1,152 escort ships.

And now Northern Fleet The Russian Navy is based at bases located in the bays of the Barents Sea. The main one is Severomorsk, located 25 km from Murmansk. Severomorsk arose on the site of the tiny village of Vaenga, which in 1917 was inhabited by only 13 people. Now Severomorsk, with a population of about 50 thousand people, is the main stronghold of the northern borders of Russia.

The best ships of the Russian Navy serve in the Northern Fleet. Such as the aircraft-carrying anti-submarine cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov

Nuclear submarines capable of floating directly at the North Pole

The Barents Sea also served to develop the military potential of the USSR. An atomic test site was created on Novaya Zemlya and in 1961 a super-powerful 50-megaton test was carried out there. hydrogen bomb. Of course, all of Novaya Zemlya and the adjacent territory are strongly and for many years suffered, but Soviet Union for many years received priority in atomic weapons, which continues to this day.

For a long time, the entire water area of ​​the Arctic Ocean was controlled by the Soviet Navy. But after the collapse of the Union, most of the bases were abandoned. Everyone and everyone is flocking to the Arctic. And after opening largest deposits oil on the Arctic shelf, the question arose of protecting the Russian northern possessions possessing strategic raw materials. Therefore, since 2014, Russia has been renewing its military presence in the Arctic. For this purpose, bases are now being unfrozen on Novaya Zemlya, on Kotelny Island, which is part of the New Siberian Islands, on the land of Franz Joseph and. Modern military camps are being built and airfields are being restored.

Since time immemorial, a lot of all kinds of fish have been caught in the Barents Sea. It was almost the main food of the Pomors. Yes and on mainland There were constant convoys of fish. There is still a lot of it in these northern waters, about 114 species. But the main types of commercial fish are cod, flounder, sea bass, herring and haddock. The population of the rest is falling.

This is the result of neglect of fish stocks. Lately, more fish have been caught than can be reproduced. Moreover, artificial breeding of Far Eastern crabs in the Barents Sea had a negative impact on the restoration of fish mass. The crabs began to multiply so quickly that there was a threat of disruption to the natural biosystem of this region.

But nevertheless, in the waters of the Barents Sea you can still find a variety of fish and marine animals such as seals, seals, whales, dolphins, and sometimes.

In pursuit of new oil and gas fields, oil-producing countries increasingly began to move north. Thus, the Barents Sea became the site of a conflict between Russia and Norway. And although in 2010 Norway and Russia concluded an agreement on the division of borders in the Barents Sea, disputes still do not subside. This year, the Russian Gazprom began industrial oil production on the Arctic shelf. About 300 thousand tons of oil will be produced within a year. By 2020, it is planned to reach a production level of 6 million tons of oil per year.

The return of the Russian Armed Forces to the Arctic could help settle these disputes. The Russian Arctic is the property of our people and it must be fully used for the benefit of the people and well protected from those who like to profit at the expense of others.

Despite the fact that the Barents Sea is polar, in recent years this region has become increasingly popular for tourists, especially those interested in diving, fishing and hunting. Such an extreme type of recreation as ice diving is very interesting. The beauty of the under-ice world can surprise even experienced swimmers. For example, the span of the claws of Kamchatka crabs that breed in these waters sometimes exceeds 2 meters. But you need to keep in mind that diving under ice is an activity for experienced scuba divers.

And hunting on the islands of the Barents Sea for seals, seals or birds, which are apparently not visible here, will not leave any seasoned hunter indifferent.

Any diver, fisherman, hunter or just a tourist who has visited the Barents Sea at least once will still strive to get here to see these northern beauties that are impossible to forget.

Video: Barents Sea:...

Characteristics of the Barents Sea

The Barents Sea has clear boundaries in the south and partly in the east; in other areas, the boundaries run along conventional lines drawn along the shortest distances between coastal points. The western border of the sea is the line of Cape Yuzhny (Spitsbergen) - about. Medvezhiy - m. North Cape. The southern border of the sea runs along the coast of the mainland and the line between Cape Svyatoy Nos and Cape Kanin Nos, separating it from White Sea. From the east, the sea is limited by the western coast of the Vaygach and Novaya Zemlya islands and further by the line of Cape Zhelaniya - Cape Kolzat (Graham Bell Island). In the north, the border of the sea runs along the northern edge of the islands of the Franz Josef Land archipelago to Cape Mary Harmsworth (Alexandra Land Island) and then through Victoria and Bely Islands to Cape Lee Smith on the island. Northeast Land (Spitsbergen).

Located on the northern European shelf, almost open to the Central Arctic Basin and open to the Norwegian and Greenland seas, the Barents Sea is a type of continental marginal sea. This is one of the largest seas in terms of area. Its area is 1,424 thousand km2, volume is 316 thousand km3, average depth is 222 m, greatest depth- 600 m.

There are many islands in the Barents Sea. Among them are the archipelagos of Spitsbergen and Franz Josef Land, Novaya Zemlya, the islands of Nadezhda, King Charles, Kolguev, etc. Small islands are mainly grouped into archipelagos located near the mainland or larger islands, for example Krestovye, Gorbov, Gulyaev Koshki, etc. Its complex dissected coastline forms numerous capes, fjords, bays, and bays. Certain sections of the Barents Sea coast belong to different morphological types of coasts. The shores of the Barents Sea are mainly abrasive, but there are accumulative and icy shores. The northern coasts of Scandinavia and the Kola Peninsula are mountainous and steeply drop to the sea; they are cut by numerous fjords. The southeastern part of the sea is characterized by low, gently sloping shores. The western coast of Novaya Zemlya is low and hilly, and in its northern part glaciers come close to the sea. Some of them flow directly into the sea. Similar shores are found on Franz Josef Land and on the island. North-Eastern land of the Spitsbergen archipelago.
Climate

The position of the Barents Sea in high latitudes beyond the Arctic Circle, its direct connection with the Atlantic Ocean and the Central Arctic Basin determine the main features of the sea's climate. In general, the climate of the sea is polar marine, characterized by long winters, short cold summers, small annual changes in air temperature, and high relative humidity.

Arctic air dominates in the northern part of the sea, and air of temperate latitudes dominates in the south. At the border of these two main flows there passes an atmospheric Arctic front, generally directed from Iceland through the island. Bear to the northern tip of Novaya Zemlya. Cyclones and anticyclones often form here, affecting the weather patterns in the Barents Sea.

In winter, with the deepening of the Icelandic minimum and its interaction with the Siberian maximum, the Arctic front intensifies, which entails increased cyclonic activity over central part Barents Sea. As a result, very changeable weather sets in over the sea with strong winds, large fluctuations in air temperature, and precipitation in bursts. During this season, predominantly southwestern winds blow. In the north-west of the sea, north-east winds are also often observed, and in the south-eastern part of the sea - winds from the south and south-east. Wind speed is usually 4-7 m/s, but at times increases to 12-16 m/s. The average monthly temperature of the coldest month - March - is -22° on Spitsbergen, -2° in the western part of the sea, in the east, near the island. Kolgueva, -14° and in the southeastern part -16°. This distribution of air temperature is associated with the warming effect of the Norwegian Current and the cooling effect Kara Sea.

In summer, the Icelandic low becomes less deep, and the Siberian anticyclone collapses. A stable anticyclone is forming over the Barents Sea. As a result, the weather here is relatively stable, cool and cloudy with weak, predominantly north-eastern winds.

At the very warm months- July and August - in the western and central parts of the sea the average monthly air temperature is 8-9°, in the southeastern region it is slightly lower - about 7° and in the north it drops to 4-6°. Normal summer weather is disrupted by an invasion air masses from Atlantic Ocean. At the same time, the wind changes direction to the southwest and intensifies to 10-12 m/s. Such incursions occur mainly in the western and central parts of the sea, while relatively stable weather continues to prevail in the north.

IN transitional seasons(in spring and autumn) there is a restructuring of pressure fields, so unstable cloudy weather with strong and variable winds prevails over the Barents Sea. In spring, precipitation occurs in bursts, and the air temperature rises quickly. In autumn, the temperature decreases slowly.
Water temperature and salinity

The river flow in relation to the area and volume of the sea is small and averages about 163 km3/year. 90% of it is concentrated in the southeastern part of the sea. The most waters flow into this area large rivers Barents Sea basin. Pechora discharges about 130 km3 of water in an average year, which is approximately 70% of the total coastal runoff into the sea per year. Several small rivers also flow here. The northern coast of Norway and the coast of the Kola Peninsula account for only about 10% of the flow. Here small mountain rivers flow into the sea.

The maximum continental runoff is observed in spring, the minimum in autumn and winter. River flow significantly affects the hydrological conditions only of the southeastern, shallowest part of the sea, which is sometimes called the Pechora Sea (more precisely, the Pechora sea basin).

The determining influence on the nature of the Barents Sea is exerted by water exchange with neighboring seas, and mainly with warm Atlantic waters. The annual inflow of these waters is approximately 74 thousand km3. They bring about 177·1012 kcal of heat to the sea. Of this amount, only 12% is absorbed during the exchange of waters of the Barents Sea with other seas. The rest of the heat is spent in the Barents Sea, so it is one of the warmest seas in the Arctic Ocean. Over large areas of this sea from the European shores to 75° N. latitude. all year round There is a positive water temperature on the surface, and this area does not freeze.

There are four different water masses in the structure of the Barents Sea waters.

1. Atlantic waters (from the surface to the bottom), coming from the southwest, from the north and northeast from the Arctic basin (from 100-150 m to the bottom). These are warm and salty waters.

2. Arctic waters entering in the form of surface currents from the north. They have negative temperatures and low salinity.

3. Coastal waters coming with continental runoff from the White Sea and with the coastal current along the coast of Norway from the Norwegian Sea. In summer these waters are characterized high temperature and low salinity, in winter - low temperature and salinity. The characteristics of winter coastal waters are close to those of the Arctic.

4. The Barents Sea waters are formed in the sea itself as a result of the transformation of Atlantic waters under the influence of local conditions. These waters are characterized by low temperature and high salinity. In winter, the entire northeastern part of the sea from surface to bottom is filled with Barents Sea waters, and the southwestern part is filled with Atlantic waters. Traces of coastal waters are found only in surface horizons. There are no Arctic waters. Thanks to intensive mixing, the waters entering the sea are quite quickly transformed into Barents Sea water.

IN summer time the entire northern part of the Barents Sea is filled with Arctic waters, the central part with Atlantic waters, and the southern part with coastal waters. At the same time, Arctic and coastal waters occupy surface horizons. At depths in the northern part of the sea there are Barents Sea waters, and in the southern part there are Atlantic waters. Surface water temperatures generally decrease from southwest to northeast.

In winter in the south and southwest the temperature on the water surface is 4-5°, in central regions 0-3°, and in the northern and northeastern parts it is close to freezing temperature.

In summer, the temperature on the surface of the water and the air temperature are close. In the south of the sea, the surface temperature is 8-9°, in the central part 3-5°, and in the north it drops to negative values. In transition seasons (especially in spring), the distribution and values ​​of water temperature on the surface differ little from winter, and in autumn - from summer.

The distribution of temperature in the water column largely depends on the distribution of warm Atlantic waters, on winter cooling, which extends to a significant depth, and on the bottom topography. In this regard, the change in water temperature with depth occurs differently in different areas of the sea.

In the southwestern part, the most influenced Atlantic waters, the temperature decreases smoothly and relatively slightly with depth to the bottom.

Atlantic waters spread east along trenches, the water temperature in them decreases from the surface to a horizon of 100-150 m, and then slightly increases towards the bottom. In the northeast of the sea in winter low temperature extends to a horizon of 100-200 m, deeper it increases to 1°. Low in summer surface temperature drops to 25-50 m, where its lowest (–1.5°) winter values ​​remain. Deeper, in the layer of 50-100 m, not affected by winter vertical circulation, the temperature rises slightly and is about –1°. In the underlying horizons there are Atlantic waters, and the temperature here rises to 1°. Thus, between 50-100 m there is a cold intermediate layer. In basins where warm waters do not penetrate, strong cooling occurs, for example in the Novaya Zemlya Trench, Central Basin, etc. The water temperature is quite uniform throughout the entire thickness in winter, and in summer it drops from small positive values ​​on the surface to approximately -1.7 ° at the bottom.

Underwater hills impede the movement of Atlantic waters. In this regard, above the rises in the bottom, low water temperatures are observed at horizons close to the surface. In addition, over the hills and on their slopes, longer and more intense cooling occurs than in deep areas. As a result, “caps” are formed at the bottom of the hill cold water", characteristic of the banks of the Barents Sea. In the Central Highlands region in winter, very low water temperatures can be traced from the surface to the bottom. In summer it decreases with depth and reaches minimum values in the layer 50-100 m, and deeper again it rises slightly. During this season, a cold intermediate layer is observed here, the lower boundary of which is formed not by the warm Atlantic, but by the local Barents Sea waters.

In the shallow south-eastern part of the sea seasonal changes Water temperatures are well defined from surface to bottom. In winter, low water temperatures are observed throughout the entire thickness. Spring heating extends to horizons of 10-12 m, from where the temperature drops sharply towards the bottom. In summer, the thickness of the upper heated layer increases to 15-18 m, and the temperature decreases with depth.

In autumn, the temperature of the upper layer of water begins to level out, and the distribution of temperature with depth follows the pattern of seas of temperate latitudes. In most of the Barents Sea, the vertical distribution of temperature is oceanic in nature.

Due to the good connection with the ocean and the small continental runoff, the salinity of the Barents Sea differs little from the average salinity of the ocean.

The highest salinity on the sea surface (35‰) is observed in the southwestern part, in the area of ​​the North Cape Trench, where salty Atlantic waters flow and there is no ice. To the north and south, salinity drops to 34.5‰ due to melting ice. The waters are even more desalinated (up to 32-33‰) in the southeastern part of the sea, where ice melts and where it flows fresh waters from sushi. Salinity on the sea surface changes from season to season. In winter, throughout the sea, salinity is quite high - about 35‰, and in the southeastern part - 32.5-33‰, since at this time of year the influx of Atlantic waters increases, continental runoff decreases and intensive ice formation occurs.

In spring they persist almost everywhere high values salinity. Only in a narrow coastal strip near the Murmansk coast and in the Kanin-Kolguevsky region, salinity is low.

In summer, the influx of Atlantic waters decreases, ice melts, river water spreads, so salinity decreases everywhere. In the southwestern part the salinity is 34.5‰, in the southeastern part it is 29‰, and sometimes 25‰.

In autumn, at the beginning of the season, salinity remains low throughout the sea, but later, due to a decrease in continental runoff and the onset of ice formation, it increases and reaches winter values.

The change in salinity in the water column is associated with the bottom topography and the influx of Atlantic and river waters. Mostly it increases from 34‰ at the surface to 35.1‰ at the bottom. The vertical salinity changes to a lesser extent over underwater elevations.

Seasonal changes in the vertical distribution of salinity over most of the sea are rather weakly expressed. In summer, the surface layer is desalinated, and from horizons of 25-30 m, a sharp increase in salinity with depth begins. In winter, the jump in salinity at these horizons is somewhat smoothed out. Salinity values ​​change more noticeably with depth in the southeastern part of the sea. The difference in salinity on the surface and at the bottom here can reach several ppm.

In winter, salinity is almost equalized throughout the entire water column, and in spring, river waters desalinate the surface layer. In summer, its freshening is also enhanced by melted ice, so between the horizons of 10 and 25 m a sharp jump in salinity is formed.

In winter, the densest waters on the surface of the Barents Sea are in the northern part. In summer, increased density is observed in the central regions of the sea. In the north, its decrease is associated with the desalination of surface waters due to melting ice, in the south - with their warming.

In winter, in shallow water areas, the density from the surface to the bottom increases slightly. Density increases noticeably with depth in areas of deep Atlantic waters. In spring and especially in summer, under the influence of desalination of surface layers, the vertical density stratification of waters is quite clearly expressed throughout the sea. As a result of autumn cooling, density values ​​equalize with depth.

Relatively weak density stratification with usually strong winds causes intensive development of wind mixing in the Barents Sea. It covers a layer here of up to 15-20 m in the spring-summer time and penetrates to horizons of 25-30 m in the autumn-winter season. Only in the southeastern part of the sea, where the vertical interlayering of waters is pronounced, does the wind mix only the uppermost layers up to horizons of 10-12 m. In autumn and winter, convective mixing is also added to the wind mixing.

In the north of the sea, due to cooling and ice formation, convection penetrates up to 50-75 m. But it rarely extends to the bottom, since the melting of ice, which occurs here in the summer, creates large density gradients, which prevents the development of vertical circulation.

On the bottom elevations located to the south - the Central Upland, Goose Bank, etc. - the winter vertical circulation reaches the bottom, since in these areas the density is quite uniform throughout the entire water column. As a result, very cold and heavy waters. From here they gradually slide down the slopes into the surrounding depressions, in particular in Central Basin, where cold bottom waters are formed.
Bottom relief

The bottom of the Barents Sea is a complexly dissected underwater plain, slightly inclined to the west and northeast. The deepest areas, including maximum depth seas are located in the western part of the sea. The bottom topography as a whole is characterized by the alternation of large structural elements - underwater hills and trenches with different directions, as well as the existence of numerous small (3-5 m) irregularities at depths of less than 200 m and terrace-like ledges on the slopes. The difference in depths in the open part of the sea reaches 400 m. The rugged bottom topography significantly affects the hydrological conditions of the sea.

Bottom topography and currents of the Barents Sea
Currents

The general circulation of waters in the Barents Sea is formed under the influence of the influx of water from neighboring basins, bottom topography and other factors. As in the neighboring seas northern hemisphere, prevails here general movement surface water counterclockwise.

The most powerful and stable flow, which largely determines hydrological conditions sea, forms the warm North Cape Current. It enters the sea from the southwest and moves east in the coastal zone at a speed of about 25 cm/s; further seaward its speed decreases to 5-10 cm/s. Approximately 25°E this current is divided into the Coastal Murmansk and Murmansk currents. The first of them, 40-50 km wide, spreads to the southeast along the coast of the Kola Peninsula, penetrates into the Throat of the White Sea, where it meets the outlet White Sea Current and moves east at a speed of 15-20 cm/s. Kolguev Island divides the Coastal Murmansk Current into the Kanin Current, which goes to the south-eastern part of the sea and further to the Kara Gate and Yugorsky Shar straits, and the Kolguev Current, which goes first to the east and then to the north-east, to the coast of Novaya Zemlya. The Murmansk Current, about 100 km wide, with a speed of about 5 cm/s, extends significantly more seaward than the Coastal Murmansk Current. Near the meridian 40°E, having encountered an increase in the bottom, it turns to the northeast and gives rise to the Western Novaya Zemlya Current, which, together with part of the Kolguev Current and the cold Litke Current entering through the Kara Gates, forms the eastern periphery of the cyclonic circulation common to the Barents Sea . In addition to the branched system of the warm North Cape Current, cold currents are clearly visible in the Barents Sea. Along the Perseus Upland, from northeast to southwest, along the Medvezhinsky shallow waters, the Perseus Current runs. Merging with the cold waters of the island. Hope, it forms the Medvezhinsky Current, the speed of which is approximately 50 cm/s.

Currents in the Barents Sea are significantly influenced by large-scale pressure fields. Thus, with the localization of the Polar Anticyclone off the coast of Alaska and Canada and with relatively western location Of the Icelandic minimum, the West Novaya Zemlya Current penetrates far to the north, and part of its waters flows into the Kara Sea. Another part of this current is diverted to the west and intensified by waters coming from the Arctic basin ( east of Earth Franz Josef). The influx of surface Arctic waters brought by the East Spitsbergen Current is increasing.

With the significant development of the Siberian High and at the same time the more northern location of the Icelandic Low, the outflow of water from the Barents Sea through the straits between Novaya Zemlya and Franz Josef Land, as well as between Franz Josef Land and Spitsbergen, prevails.

The general picture of currents is complicated by local cyclonic and anticyclonic gyres.

Tides in the Barents Sea are caused mainly by the Atlantic tidal wave, which enters the sea from the southwest, between the North Cape and Spitsbergen, and moves east. Near the entrance to Matochkin Shar, it turns partly to the northwest, partly to the southeast.

The northern edges of the sea are influenced by another tidal wave coming from the Arctic Ocean. As a result, interference of the Atlantic and northern waves occurs off the northeastern coast of Spitsbergen and near Franz Josef Land. The tides of the Barents Sea almost everywhere have a regular semidiurnal character, as do the currents they cause, but the change in the directions of tidal currents occurs differently in different areas of the sea.

Along the Murmansk coast, in the Czech Bay, in the west of the Pechora Sea, tidal currents close to reversible. In open parts of the sea, the direction of currents in most cases changes clockwise, and on some banks - counterclockwise. Changes in the directions of tidal currents occur simultaneously throughout the entire layer from the surface to the bottom.

The highest speed of tidal currents (about 150 cm/s) is observed in the surface layer. Tidal currents are characterized by high speeds along the Murmansk coast, at the entrance to the White Sea Funnel, in the Kanin-Kolguevsky region and in the South Spitsbergen shallow waters. In addition to strong currents, tides cause significant changes in the level of the Barents Sea. The height of the tide off the coast of the Kola Peninsula reaches 3 m. In the north and northeast, the magnitude of the tides becomes smaller and off the coast of Spitsbergen it is 1-2 m, and at southern shores Franz Josef Land is only 40-50 cm. This is due to the features of the bottom topography, the configuration of the coast and the interference of tidal waves coming from the Atlantic and Arctic oceans.

In addition to tidal fluctuations, seasonal level changes can also be observed in the Barents Sea, caused mainly by the influence of atmospheric pressure and winds. The difference between the maximum and minimum positions of the average level in Murmansk can reach 40-50 cm.

Strong and prolonged winds cause surge level fluctuations. They are most significant (up to 3 m) off the Kola coast and off Spitsbergen (about 1 m), smaller values ​​(up to 0.5 m) are observed off the coast of Novaya Zemlya and in the southeastern part of the sea.

Large expanses of clear water, frequent and strong stable winds favor the development of waves in the Barents Sea. Especially strong excitement observed in winter, when with long-term (at least 16-18 hours) western and southwestern winds (up to 20-25 m/s) in the central regions of the sea, the most developed waves can reach a height of 10-11 m. In the coastal zone, the waves are smaller. With prolonged northwestern storm winds, the wave height reaches 7-8 m. Starting from April, the intensity of the waves decreases. Waves with a height of 5 m or more are rare. The sea is calmest in the summer months; the frequency of storm waves with a height of 5-6 m does not exceed 1-3%. In autumn, the intensity of waves increases and in November approaches winter levels.
Ice cover

The Barents Sea is classified as an Arctic Sea, but it is the only one arctic seas, which, due to the influx of warm Atlantic waters into its southwestern part, never completely freezes. Due to weak currents from the Kara Sea to the Barents Sea, ice practically does not flow from there.

Thus, ice of local origin is observed in the Barents Sea. In the central and southeastern parts of the sea, this is first-year ice that forms in autumn and winter, and melts in spring and summer. Only in the far north and northeast is old ice found, including sometimes arctic pack.

Ice formation in the sea begins in the north in September, in the central regions in October and in the southeast in November. The sea is dominated floating ice, among which there are icebergs. They are usually concentrated near Novaya Zemlya, Franz Josef Land and Spitsbergen. Icebergs are formed from glaciers descending to the sea from these islands. Occasionally, icebergs are carried by currents far to the south, right up to the coast of the Kola Peninsula. Typically, Barents Sea icebergs do not exceed 25 m in height and 600 m in length.

Fast ice in the Barents Sea is poorly developed. It occupies relatively small areas in the Kaninsko-Pechora region and near Novaya Zemlya, and off the coast of the Kola Peninsula it is found only in the bays.

In the south-eastern part of the sea and near western shores On Novaya Zemlya, french polynyas persist throughout the winter. Sea ice is most widespread in April, when it covers up to 75% of its area. Smooth thickness sea ​​ice of local origin in most areas does not exceed 1 m. The thickest ice (up to 150 cm) is found in the north and northeast.

In spring and summer, first-year ice melts quickly. In May, the southern and southeastern regions are free of ice, and by the end of summer almost the entire sea is cleared of ice (with the exception of areas adjacent to Novaya Zemlya, Franz Josef Land and the southeastern shores of Spitsbergen).

The ice cover of the Barents Sea varies from year to year, which is due to the varying intensity of the North Cape Current, the nature of large-scale atmospheric circulation and the general warming or cooling of the Arctic as a whole.
Economic importance

At the edge of the Arctic Ocean lies the Barents Sea. It is located beyond the Arctic Circle. This sea has for Russia vital importance, since it is a shipping route to European countries. In addition, the Barents Sea is the base of the Russian Navy (Northern Fleet, formed in 1933). Today it is considered the country's most powerful navy.

Development of the sea

People began to explore the Barents Sea, like the White Sea, a very long time ago. The first boats of Russian sailors appeared in its waters in the 9th century. A little later, the Vikings began to sail there. During the period of the Great Geographical Discoveries (15-17 centuries), the first attempts were made to study the Barents Sea. Sailors from Europe were searching for new sea routes and inevitably ended up in the waters of this sea. Barents (a navigator from Holland) was the first to explore Spitsbergen, the Orange Islands and Bear Island. The sea received the name Barents in 1853. Previously it was designated as Murmansk. Currently, Murmansk is the largest Russian port. Ships can reach its shores at any time of the year, since the southwestern coast of the Barents Sea, where Murmansk is located, is not covered with ice even in winter. A map of the Barents Sea will help you understand where this port is located.

Geographical details

The Barents Sea has conditional boundaries, which are held across the archipelagos of Novaya Zemlya and Spitsbergen, as well as along the shores northern countries Europe. The depth of the water in it is no more than 400 m. The maximum depth is 600 m, noted in the north of the sea. In winter, more than 75% of the surface of the Barents Sea is covered with ice. Thus, only the southwestern zone remains navigable. In summer, the water temperature varies from +1 to +10 degrees. in winter average temperature equal to -25 degrees.

Dangers of the Barents Sea

This sea has always been considered impassable. Explorers faced many dangers during their travels. This is especially true in times when people did not have the necessary equipment to work in difficult climatic conditions.

The main problem is that the Barents Sea lies entirely within the Arctic Circle. This ensures the preservation of the ice crust throughout the year. The coast of the Barents Sea is characterized by a special climate. In this area, the weather is influenced by the Arctic cold and Atlantic warm cyclones. Therefore, the probability of storms here is always very high. It's almost always cloudy over the sea. However, the Barents Sea is considered the warmest compared to other seas located beyond the Arctic Circle.

Located on the westernmost part of all Arctic seas. The Barents Sea is located on the North European shelf. The northern and western boundaries of the sea have a conventional line. The western border runs along Cape Yuzhny, Cape Bear, and Cape North Cape. Northern - along the outskirts of the islands of the archipelago, then along a number of other islands. From the southern part, the sea is limited by the mainland and a small strait delimiting the Barents Sea from. Eastern border passes through the Vaigach Islands and some others. The Barents Sea is a continental marginal sea.

The Barents Sea occupies one of the first places among its size. Its area is 1 million 424 thousand km2. The volume of water reaches 316 thousand km3. The average depth is 222 m, the greatest depth is 600 m. In the waters of the Barents Sea there are large number islands (Novaya Zemlya, Medvezhiy and others). Small islands are mainly grouped into archipelagos, which are located next to the mainland or large islands. The sea is quite uneven, complicated by various capes, bays and bays. The shores washed by the Barents Sea have different origins and structures. The coastline is Scandinavian and mostly abruptly ending towards the sea. The western coast of the island of Novaya Zemlya has. And the northern part of the island is in contact with, some of which flow into the sea.

Fishing is widely developed in the Barents Sea. Cod, haddock, sea bass, and herring are obtained from the waters of this sea. There is a power plant near Murmansk that generates energy using. Also in Murmansk there is the only frost-free port our country, which is located in the polar zone. Thus, the Barents Sea is an important sea route connecting Russia with other countries.

The open part of the Barents Sea is not very polluted compared to other Arctic seas. But the area where ships actively move is covered with film. The waters of the bays (Kola, Teribersky, Motovsky) are subject to the greatest pollution, mainly from oil products. About 150 million m3 of polluted water enters the Barents Sea. Toxic substances constantly accumulate in the sea soil and can cause secondary pollution.

Do you know where the Barents Sea is? It is located on the edge of the Arctic Ocean. Until 1853, it had a different name - the Murmansk Sea. It washes the shores of Norway and Russia. Speaking about where the Barents Sea is located, it should be noted that it is limited by the archipelagos of Novaya Zemlya, Franz Josef Land and Spitsbergen, as well as north coast Europe. Its area is 1424 thousand square meters. km. Coordinates: 71° N. latitude, 41° east. d. In some places, the depth of the Barents Sea reaches 600 m.

The reservoir we are interested in is located on southwestern part does not freeze, as the North Atlantic Current prevents it. It is called the Pechora Sea south-eastern part. The Barents Sea is very important for fishing and transport. Here are major ports- Varde (Norway) and Murmansk. Before World War II, Finland also had access to this sea: its only port that did not freeze in winter was Petsamo.

Today, the places where the Barents Sea is located are highly polluted. A serious problem is the radioactive waste entering it. A large role in this is played by the activities of our country’s nuclear fleet, as well as Norwegian plants involved in the processing of radioactive waste in a body of water such as the Barents Sea. The boundaries of his belonging to individual states(sea shelf) in lately are the subject of territorial disputes between Norway and Russia, as well as some other countries.

History of sea exploration

Let us now tell you in more detail about the body of water that interests us. Let's start with historical information about him. Since ancient times, people knew where the Barents Sea was, although its name used to be different. The Sami (Lapps) - Finno-Ugric tribes - lived along its shores. The first visits by Europeans (first the Vikings, and then the Novgorodians) date back to the end of the 11th century. Gradually they became more and more frequent. The map shown in the photo below was drawn in 1614.

In 1853, the Barents Sea received its modern name in honor of the Dutch navigator. The beginning of it scientific study was initiated by the expedition of 1821-24, led by F. P. Litke. And at the beginning of the 20th century, N.M. Knipovich compiled the first reliable and complete hydrological characteristics of it.

Geographical location

Let's tell you in more detail about where the Barents Sea is located on the map. It is located on the border of the Arctic Ocean and the Atlantic. It is the outlying water area of ​​the first. The Barents Sea on the map is located between the islands of Franz Josef Land, Novaya Zemlya and Vaygach in the east, in the south it is limited by the northern coast of Europe, and in the west - Bear Island and Spitsbergen. The body of water we are interested in is bordered in the west by the Norwegian Sea, in the east by the Kara Sea, in the south by the White Sea, and in the north it is limited by the Arctic Ocean. The Pechora Sea is the name of its area located east of the island. Kolguev.

Coastline

Mostly the shores of the Barents Sea are fjords. They are rocky, high and heavily rugged. The most large bays Barents Bay (also known as the Kola Bay, Motovsky Bay, etc. The coastal topography east of the Nose changes sharply. Its shores become low and mostly slightly indented. There are 3 large shallow bays: Khaipudyrskaya, Pechora and Czech Bay. In addition, there are several small bays.

Islands, archipelagos, rivers

The islands of the Barents Sea are few in number. The largest of them is Kolguev. The sea is limited on the east, north and west by the archipelagos of Novaya Zemlya, Franz Josef Land and Spitsbergen. The largest rivers that flow into it are Indiga and Pechora.

Currents

The gyre formed surface currents, is carried out counterclockwise. The Atlantic waters of the North Cape Current move north and east along the eastern and southern periphery. It is warm because it is one of the branches of the Gulf Stream system. Its influence can be traced all the way to Novaya Zemlya and its northern shores. The western and northern parts of the gyre are formed by Arctic and local waters that come from the Arctic Ocean and the Kara Sea. In the central part of the Barents Sea there is a system of intracircular currents. Under the influence of changes in wind directions, as well as water exchange with nearby reservoirs, water circulation changes. Tidal currents are of great importance. It is especially large near the coast. The tides of the Barents Sea are semidiurnal. Their largest value is 6.1 m and is observed off the coast of the Kola Peninsula. As for other places, the tides in them range from 0.6 m to 4.7 m.

Water exchange

Importance in maintaining water balance This sea has water exchange, which is carried out with neighboring seas. About 76 thousand cubic meters enter the reservoir through the straits throughout the year. km of water (the same amount comes out of it). This represents about a quarter of the total water volume. The largest amount of it (approximately 59 thousand cubic km per year) is brought by the North Cape Current. It is warm and greatly influences the hydrometeorological indicators of the Barents Sea. About 200 cu.m. km per year is the total river flow.

Salinity

During the year in the open sea, surface salinity ranges from 34.7 to 35% in the southwest, from 33 to 34% in the east and from 32 to 33% in the north. In summer and spring in the coastal zone it drops to 30-32%. And towards the end of winter, salinity increases to 34-34.5%.

Geological data

The sea we are interested in is located on the Barents Sea Plate. Its age is determined as Proterozoic-Early Cambrian. Syneclises are depressions of the bottom, anteclises are its elevations. As for more small forms relief, at a depth of about 70 and 200 meters there are remains of ancient coastlines. In addition, there are glacial-accumulative and glacial-denudation forms, as well as sand ridges formed by large tidal currents.

Bottom of the Barents Sea

This sea is located within the boundaries of the continental shallows. However, unlike similar reservoirs, in a fairly large part the depth of the Barents Sea is about 300-400 meters. The maximum is 600 meters, and the average is 229. As for the bottom topography, there are hills (Persea with a minimum depth of about 63 meters and Central), plains (Central Plateau), trenches (Western, the greatest depth of which is 600 meters, and Franz Victoria (about 430 meters), etc.), depressions (the maximum depth of the Central Depression is 386 meters). If we talk about the southern part of the bottom, its depth rarely exceeds 200 meters. It has a fairly leveled relief.

Soil composition

In the southern part of the sea of ​​interest to us, the cover of bottom sediments is dominated by sand. Sometimes there is crushed stone and pebbles. At the heights of the northern and central parts- sandy silt, silty sand, and in depressions there is silt. There is coarse clastic admixture everywhere. This is due to the spread of ice, as well as the large distribution of glacial relict deposits. In middle and northern parts The sediment thickness is less than 0.5 m. Because of this, ancient glacial deposits on some hills are located almost on the surface. Sedimentation occurs at a slow pace(less than 30 mm per thousand years). This is explained by the fact that terrigenous material is supplied in small quantities. The fact is that due to the peculiarities of the coastal topography, no large rivers flow into the Barents Sea, with the exception of the Pechora, which leaves almost all alluvium in the Pechora estuary. In addition, the shores of the land consist mainly of crystalline rocks, which are quite durable.

Climate

Let's now talk about the climate of such a body of water as the Barents Sea. The Atlantic (warm) and Arctic (cold) oceans influence its formation. What weather conditions very variable, due to the frequent invasion of Arctic cold air and Atlantic warm cyclones. Over the sea, mainly south-west winds blow in winter, and north-east winds blow in summer and spring. Storms happen here often. In February the air temperature averages from -25 °C (in northern regions) to -4 °C in the southwest. Cloudy weather prevails over the sea throughout the year. The amount of precipitation per year in the northern regions is 250 mm, and in the southwestern regions - up to 500 mm.

Ice cover

In the east and north of the Barents Sea, climatic conditions are quite harsh. This determines its significant ice coverage. Only the southwestern part of the sea of ​​interest to us remains ice-free all year round. Its cover reaches its greatest extent in April. This month, approximately 75% of the entire surface of the Barents Sea is occupied by floating ice. At the end of winter, in particularly unfavorable years, floating ice reaches the shores of the Kola Peninsula. Their smallest number is observed at the end of August. The ice boundary these days is moving beyond 78° northern latitude. In the northeast and northwest of the sea, ice usually remains throughout the year. Nevertheless, sometimes the sea is completely free of them.

Barents Sea temperature

The relatively high salinity and temperature in the southwestern part of this reservoir determines the flow of Atlantic waters here. warm waters. From February to March in these areas the surface water temperature ranges from 3 °C to 5 °C. It can reach up to 7-9 °C in August. During the winter months in the southeastern part, as well as north of 74°N latitude, the surface temperature of the Barents Sea drops below -1°C. In the southeast in summer it is 4-7 °C, and in the north it is about 4 °C. In the coastal zone in the summer months, the surface layer of water can warm up at a depth of 5 to 8 meters to 11-12 °C.

Fauna and flora

The Barents Sea is home to many species of fish (there are 114 species). There is rich animal and plant plankton and benthos. Seaweed is common in south coast. The most important commercial fish species are herring, haddock, cod, catfish, sea bass, halibut, flounder, etc. Mammals here include seal, polar bear, beluga whale, etc. Currently, the fishery is for seal. On the coasts there are many bird colonies (swimming gulls, guillemots, guillemots). In the 20th century, they were brought to these territories. They managed to adapt and begin to actively reproduce. Many sea urchins, various echinoderms, different species of starfish are distributed along the bottom of the water area of ​​the reservoir of interest to us.

Economic importance, industry and shipping

The Barents Sea is very important both for the Russian Federation and for Norway and a number of other countries. Russia is actively using its resources. It is rich in various species of fish, animal and plant plankton, as well as benthos. Thanks to this, Russia is actively extracting hydrocarbons on the Arctic shelf in the Barents Sea. Prirazlomnoye is a unique project in our country. For the first time, hydrocarbon production is being carried out from a stationary platform in this area. The platform (OIRFP Prirazlomnaya) allows all necessary technological operations to be carried out directly on site. This greatly simplifies the mining process.

The sea route connecting European part our country with eastern ports (since the 19th century) and Western countries(from the 16th century), as well as Siberia (from the 15th century). The largest and main port in Russia is Murmansk (pictured below).

Among others, the following stand out: Indiga, Teriberka, Naryan-Mar. Norwegian ports are Kirkenes, Vadso and Varde. In the Barents Sea there is not only the merchant fleet of our country, but also the naval fleet, including nuclear submarines.