Penetration of visible solar radiation in waters of the Barents Sea depending on cloudiness and coccolithophore blooms

Abstract

Based on satellite and in situ data, we quantitatively estimated the penetration of PAR (photosynthetically available solar radiation in the visible spectral range of 400–700 nm) into waters of the central Barents Sea in the summer seasons of 2014–2016. The effects of cloudiness and coccolithophore blooms on the incidence and penetration of PAR was examined. These blooms occur in the Barents Sea almost every year. We estimated the impact of visible solar radiation on the SST against a background of incoming warmer waters of the Norwegian Current and established that the PAR impact is the most pronounced under clear sky conditions in July and August.