NAFO Sci. Coun. Studies, 12:43-55
Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Atlantic Oceanographic Laboratory
Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P. O. Box 1006
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada B2Y 4A2
Environmental conditions in the Northwest Atlantic during 1986 are summarized from time series of oceanographic and meteorological data such as those from fixed stations and the daily and weekly repetitive coverage of surface conditions by satellites and ships of opportunity. For the second consecutive year, sea-surface temperature anomalies north of the Gulf of Maine tended to be positive while those south of the Gulf were negative, a reversal of conditions observed from the mid-1970's to 1984. Subsurface temperatures at Station 27 off St. John's were below normal for the fifth consecutive year but were smaller in magnitude than in previous years. Sea ice in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and off Newfoundland occurred early and lasted longer than normal but was not as severe as last year. The number of icebergs reaching the Grand Bank was the lowest in 4 years.