Environmental Thematic Maps and Graphics:
Sea surface salinity departures (2005 to 2017) from the climate normal reference period, by quarter degree and season

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Map: Sea surface salinity departures (2005 to 2017) from the climate normal reference period, by quarter degree and season

Description for Map

The title of this map is “Sea surface salinity departures (2005 to 2017) from the climate normal reference period, by quarter degree and season.” This map provides a detailed visual representation of the average annual and seasonal surface salinity change of Canada’s oceans.

On the page, there are five maps and a legend to the upper left. The first map (top right) displays average annual surface salinity change, the second map (middle left) displays average spring surface salinity change, the third map (middle right) displays average summer surface salinity change, the fourth map (bottom left) displays average fall surface salinity change and the fifth map (bottom right) displays average winter surface salinity change.

The maps show the gridded change in salinity with shades of green, yellow, orange and red using the Practical Salinity Scale (PSS). The legend contains eight categories: ≥1 (forest green), 0.5 to < 1 (deep green), 0.1 to < 0.5 (sage green), 0 to < 0.1 (light green),-0.1 to <0 (yellow), -0.5 to < -0.1 (pale orange), -1 to < -0.5 (orange), < -1 (red). The legend contains two boundary categories: fine dashed lines indicate provincial boundaries and fine black lines indicate marine ecoregion boundaries.

The maps show that, compared to the 1981 to 2010 climate normal reference period, the 2005 to 2017 average annual and seasonal sea salinity generally decreased in the Arctic, West Coast and Gulf of St. Lawrence and increased on the coast of the Northwest Territories, eastern side of Hudson Bay and offshore regions on the East Coast.

Notes: The climate normal is the three-decade average of climatological variables from 1981 to 2010. Winter data are from January to March with other seasons following sequentially. Data are reported using the unitless Practical Salinity Scale (PSS), for more information please see http://salinometry.com/pss-78/. Data for salinity in the Arctic Ocean are sparser than in other regions. In particular, winter salinity data are more scarce and the modelling methods used could result in artificially high salinities for this season in some regions of the Arctic Ocean.

Sources:
Zweng, M. M., et al., 2018. World Ocean Atlas 2018: Volume 2: Salinity. A. Mishonov Technical Ed., NOAA Atlas NESDIS 82, 50 pp., https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/OC5/SELECT/woaselect/woaselect.html (accessed May 31st 2020).


Legend
Sea surface salinity
Table summary
This table displays the results of Sea surface salinity. The information is grouped by Category (appearing as row headers), (appearing as column headers).
Category
Salinity change (practical salinity scale) Colour
≥ 1 Forest green
0.5 to < 1 Deep green
0.1 to < 0.5 Sage green
0 to 0.1 Light green
-0.1 to < 0 Yellow
-0.5 to < -0.1 Pale orange
-1 to < -0.5 Orange
< -1 Red
Boundaries Shape
Province/territory Dashed line
Marine ecoregion Black outline

Data
Annual salinity departures (2005 to 2017) from climate normal reference period, at quarter degree grid
Table summary
This table displays the results of Annual salinity departures (2005 to 2017) from climate normal reference period. The information is grouped by Marine ecoregion and depth class (appearing as row headers), Salinity departure classes, Total area, ≤ -1, -1 to < -0.5, -0.5 to < -0.1, -0.1 to < 0, 0 to < 0.1, 0.1 to < 0.5, 0.5 to < 1 and ≥ 1, calculated using percentage of area and km units of measure (appearing as column headers).
Marine ecoregion and depth class Salinity departure classes Total area
≤ -1 -1 to < -0.5 -0.5 to < -0.1 -0.1 to < 0 0 to < 0.1 0.1 to < 0.5 0.5 to < 1 ≥ 1
percentage of area km2
Strait of Georgia 0.0 66.2 22.8 6.2 1.1 3.8 0.0 0.0 8,970
Southern Shelf 0.0 0.0 29.1 67.2 0.0 3.7 0.0 0.0 28,158
Offshore Pacific 0.0 0.0 0.0 78.7 19.1 2.1 0.0 0.0 315,724
Northern Shelf 0.0 0.7 2.9 65.5 14.3 16.7 0.0 0.0 101,328
Arctic Basin 0.1 5.2 29.6 44.1 18.9 2.0 0.0 0.0 752,053
Western Arctic 0.0 0.6 16.2 28.2 14.9 16.5 12.4 11.2 539,793
Arctic Archipelago 0.0 0.0 9.7 45.8 43.0 1.6 0.0 0.0 268,797
Eastern Arctic 0.0 0.0 19.1 45.6 28.7 6.6 0.0 0.0 782,639
Hudson Bay Complex 0.0 0.0 1.3 51.2 34.9 3.5 5.0 4.1 1,244,644
Newfoundland-Labrador Shelves 0.0 0.0 3.2 42.7 45.1 9.0 0.0 0.0 1,041,656
Scotian Shelf 0.0 0.0 5.6 17.2 16.4 54.8 6.1 0.0 416,485
Gulf of St. Lawrence 0.0 2.3 46.9 22.4 23.2 5.1 0.0 0.0 246,645
Total EEZ 0.0 1.0 12.0 43.6 29.0 9.8 2.7 1.9 5,746,893

Data
Spring salinity departures (2005 to 2017) from climate normal reference period, at quarter degree grid
Table summary
This table displays the results of Spring salinity departures (2005 to 2017) from climate normal reference period. The information is grouped by Marine ecoregion and depth class (appearing as row headers), Salinity departure classes, Total area, ≤ -1, -1 to < -0.5, -0.5 to < -0.1, -0.1 to < 0, 0 to < 0.1, 0.1 to < 0.5, 0.5 to < 1 and ≥ 1, calculated using percentage of area and km units of measure (appearing as column headers).
Marine ecoregion and depth class Salinity departure classes Total area
≤ -1 -1 to < -0.5 -0.5 to < -0.1 -0.1 to < 0 0 to < 0.1 0.1 to < 0.5 0.5 to < 1 ≥ 1
percentage of area km2
Strait of Georgia 0.0 39.6 49.3 0.0 11.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 8,970
Southern Shelf 0.0 0.0 31.6 40.1 28.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 28,158
Offshore Pacific 0.0 0.0 4.7 71.6 19.8 3.8 0.0 0.0 315,724
Northern Shelf 0.0 0.0 22.5 62.9 7.2 7.4 0.0 0.0 101,328
Arctic Basin 7.1 8.1 42.2 22.1 14.7 5.8 0.0 0.0 752,053
Western Arctic 2.1 1.9 12.8 46.4 12.3 5.0 12.2 7.2 539,793
Arctic Archipelago 0.0 0.1 9.5 42.0 35.3 13.0 0.1 0.0 268,797
Eastern Arctic 0.0 0.0 20.7 49.7 22.9 6.5 0.1 0.0 782,639
Hudson Bay Complex 0.0 0.1 1.2 96.1 2.4 0.2 0.0 0.0 1,244,644
Newfoundland-Labrador Shelves 0.0 0.1 31.6 32.8 22.0 13.5 0.0 0.0 1,041,656
Scotian Shelf 0.0 1.3 6.5 6.1 20.8 38.8 26.5 0.0 416,485
Gulf of St. Lawrence 3.3 4.0 38.1 6.0 8.4 31.4 6.5 2.3 246,645
Total EEZ 1.3 1.6 19.0 48.7 15.6 9.7 3.4 0.8 5,746,893

Data
Summer salinity departures (2005 to 2017) from climate normal reference period, at quarter degree grid
Table summary
This table displays the results of Summer salinity departures (2005 to 2017) from climate normal reference period. The information is grouped by Marine ecoregion and depth class (appearing as row headers), Salinity departure classes, Total area, ≤ -1, -1 to < -0.5, -0.5 to < -0.1, -0.1 to < 0, 0 to < 0.1, 0.1 to < 0.5, 0.5 to < 1 and ≥ 1, calculated using percentage of area and km units of measure (appearing as column headers).
Marine ecoregion and depth class Salinity departure classes Total area
≤ -1 -1 to < -0.5 -0.5 to < -0.1 -0.1 to < 0 0 to < 0.1 0.1 to < 0.5 0.5 to < 1 ≥ 1
percentage of area km2
Strait of Georgia 100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 8,970
Southern Shelf 3.7 0.0 88.3 7.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 28,158
Offshore Pacific 0.0 0.0 1.7 58.8 33.5 5.2 0.8 0.0 315,724
Northern Shelf 0.7 0.0 4.0 30.8 29.9 34.5 0.1 0.0 101,328
Arctic Basin 2.0 11.3 23.2 18.6 25.5 13.8 2.7 2.9 752,053
Western Arctic 0.8 4.4 33.0 6.5 6.3 13.2 8.7 27.2 539,793
Arctic Archipelago 0.0 5.2 26.4 40.5 14.5 13.2 0.3 0.0 268,797
Eastern Arctic 0.0 5.3 31.2 18.9 13.8 28.7 1.5 0.5 782,639
Hudson Bay Complex 0.0 0.1 31.5 20.6 19.6 16.3 1.2 10.8 1,244,644
Newfoundland-Labrador Shelves 0.0 0.8 21.2 33.8 23.3 20.9 0.0 0.0 1,041,656
Scotian Shelf 0.0 5.0 14.0 16.2 21.2 41.2 2.4 0.0 416,485
Gulf of St. Lawrence 0.0 2.7 35.1 30.9 13.8 9.4 2.5 5.5 246,645
Total EEZ 0.5 3.5 25.4 24.4 19.4 19.2 2.0 5.6 5,746,893

Data
Fall salinity departures (2005 to 2017) from climate normal reference period, at quarter degree grid
Table summary
This table displays the results of Fall salinity departures (2005 to 2017) from climate normal reference period. The information is grouped by Marine ecoregion and depth class (appearing as row headers), Salinity departure classes, Total area, ≤ -1, -1 to < -0.5, -0.5 to < -0.1, -0.1 to < 0, 0 to < 0.1, 0.1 to < 0.5, 0.5 to < 1 and ≥ 1, calculated using percentage of area and km units of measure (appearing as column headers).
Marine ecoregion and depth class Salinity departure classes1 Total area
≤ -1 -1 to < -0.5 -0.5 to < -0.1 -0.1 to < 0 0 to < 0.1 0.1 to < 0.5 0.5 to < 1 ≥ 1
percentage of area km2
Strait of Georgia 0.0 0.0 66.2 9.6 13.2 11.1 0.0 0.0 8,970
Southern Shelf 0.0 0.0 69.4 26.9 0.0 3.7 0.0 0.0 28,158
Offshore Pacific 0.0 0.0 3.1 87.4 9.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 315,724
Northern Shelf 0.0 0.0 2.9 41.6 42.9 12.5 0.0 0.0 101,328
Arctic Basin 0.5 2.9 24.0 22.1 23.6 22.3 3.8 0.8 752,053
Western Arctic 0.0 0.0 8.4 27.9 26.3 11.6 7.8 18.0 539,793
Arctic Archipelago 0.3 0.4 5.0 52.3 34.6 6.7 0.5 0.2 268,797
Eastern Arctic 0.0 0.0 11.8 34.8 33.5 19.9 0.0 0.0 782,639
Hudson Bay Complex 0.0 0.0 3.8 50.8 43.7 1.7 0.0 0.0 1,244,644
Newfoundland-Labrador Shelves 0.0 0.3 14.6 35.3 27.8 21.9 0.1 0.0 1,041,656
Scotian Shelf 0.0 0.0 21.3 11.2 7.0 37.0 23.6 0.0 416,485
Gulf of St. Lawrence 0.0 7.0 86.2 5.3 0.0 1.6 0.0 0.0 246,645
Total EEZ 0.1 0.8 15.1 36.8 28.0 14.4 3.0 1.8 5,746,893

Data
Winter salinity departures (2005 to 2017) from climate normal reference period, at quarter degree grid
Table summary
This table displays the results of Winter salinity departures (2005 to 2017) from climate normal reference period. The information is grouped by Marine ecoregion and depth class (appearing as row headers), Salinity departure classes, Total area, ≤ -1, -1 to < -0.5, -0.5 to < -0.1, -0.1 to < 0, 0 to < 0.1, 0.1 to < 0.5, 0.5 to < 1 and ≥ 1, calculated using percentage of area and km units of measure (appearing as column headers).
Marine ecoregion and depth class Salinity departure classes Total area
≤ -1 -1 to < -0.5 -0.5 to < -0.1 -0.1 to < 0 0 to < 0.1 0.1 to < 0.5 0.5 to < 1 ≥ 1
percentage of area km2
Strait of Georgia 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 45.7 54.3 0.0 8,970
Southern Shelf 0.0 0.0 0.0 38.5 52.0 5.8 3.7 0.0 28,158
Offshore Pacific 0.0 0.0 0.0 85.5 14.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 315,724
Northern Shelf 0.0 0.0 26.1 37.7 14.1 22.1 0.0 0.0 101,328
Arctic Basin 2.3 9.9 21.6 24.4 34.5 7.3 0.0 0.0 752,053
Western Arctic 0.7 3.3 8.0 45.8 18.8 22.5 0.8 0.0 539,793
Arctic Archipelago 0.0 0.0 3.8 59.9 34.1 2.2 0.0 0.0 268,797
Eastern Arctic 0.0 0.0 20.7 56.3 22.6 0.4 0.0 0.0 782,639
Hudson Bay Complex 0.0 0.0 2.0 74.9 20.6 2.4 0.1 0.0 1,244,644
Newfoundland-Labrador Shelves 0.0 0.0 5.6 28.6 24.8 41.0 0.0 0.0 1,041,656
Scotian Shelf 0.0 0.0 15.7 13.5 9.7 56.3 4.8 0.0 416,485
Gulf of St. Lawrence 2.6 12.7 39.3 21.4 18.2 5.9 0.0 0.0 246,645
Total EEZ 0.5 2.2 11.3 46.8 22.7 16.0 0.6 0.0 5,746,893
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