ICES Report on Ocean Climate 2021

ICES Report on Ocean Climate (IROC) combines decades of ocean observations across the North Atlantic ICES regions to describe the current status of sea temperature, salinity, and atmospheric conditions, as well as observed trends and recent variability. Regional analyses are prepared by the local experts who are directly involved in the monitoring programmes responsible for collecting the data presented in the report. The report describes in detail the status of 2021 conditions, including how the record-low salinities first observed in the Subpolar Gyre in 2016/2017 have continued to spread along the main circulation pathways both towards the north (into the North Sea, Nordic Seas, Barents Sea, and Fram Strait) and the south (into the Subtropical Gyre). Salinities in the Subpolar Gyre itself and in the immediate downstream pathways (e.g. Atlantic Water in the Faroe Current, Faroe Bank Channel, and deep regions west of Scotland) have increased to near-average. Regional record warming in some regions and minimum sea-ice extents are also discussed.

The 2021 IROC marks the final annual release in this series since the late 1990s. The IROC will subsequently shift to a triennial publication schedule.