32 | Cruise Report, RV ATAIR, Cruise 0671013-1, Bremerhaven - Skagen - Aberdeen, 19 Jul - 11 Aug 2022 
Salinty at the bottom 
60°N 
ERT 
56' 
RA 
AD° 
50° + => . 
6WwW 4° » 0 
Salinty at the bottom minus mean (2000-2020) 
—— = 
60°N 
AQ0 
56° 
B4° 
592° 
ZV Atair 
Sruise 0671013-1 
'9 Jul - 12 Aug 2022 
Bremerhaven - Aberdeen 
ZV Atalr 
Truise 0671013-1 
19 Jul - 12 Aug 2022 
Bremerhaven - Aberdeen 
90 
; ; > 50° 
4° 6° 8° 10°E 6°W Ad° 
9° 
0° 
0 
4° 6 8° 10°E 
Figure 6.6. CTD-derived spatial distribution for the salinity near the sea bottom in summer 2022 (left) 
and respective salinity deviations (right) from a long-term mean, 20 years, comprising NSSS cruises the 
years 2000-2020 (except 2019). 
Regarding the bottom layer, as shown in Figure 6.6 (left), salinity greater than 35 is present in 
most of the bottom regions of the North Sea near 58°N and north of this latitude. The highest 
salinities (S > 35.2) are found along 60°N, near the Shetland Islands and to their west and 
along the western edge of the Norwegian Trench. Salinity as high as 34.5, spreading from the 
north, is observed up to 54°N. About north of the River Thames outlet, a local maximum of S 
= 34.6 indicates traces of saline water entering the North Sea via the English Channel. How- 
ever, due to missing data in the English Channel south of 52°N, this signal cannot be investi- 
gated any further. Fresh salinities < 32 stretch along the western German and Danish coasts, 
clearly pointing to the impact of runoff coming from the continental rivers like Elbe or Weser. 
Deviations from the long-term average reveal more saline bottom conditions at the bottom of 
the Norwegian Trench, and fresher bottom conditions directly at the mouth of the River Elbe. 
Figures 6.7 and 6.8 show the temperature and salinity along coast-to-coast sections following 
the latitudes 60°N, 59°N, 58°N, 57°N, 56°N, 55°N and 54°N. Due to the varying water depths 
from the deep northern North Sea to the shallow southern North Sea, the lower part of the 
water column is usually colder in the north. The water column is generally more homogeneous 
in the south, becoming increasingly stratified towards the north, at least in temperature. The 
input of Atlantic Water across the northern boundaries of the North Sea and its subsequent 
propagation within the North Sea is evident in salinities exceeding 35 and in summer 2022 is 
notable as far south as 57°N.