Norwegian Sea

The Norwegian Sea is a large body of water grouped with either the Atlantic Ocean or the Arctic Ocean. It lies northwest of Norway, between the North Sea and the Greenland Sea, and connects to the Barents Sea to the northeast. In the southwest, a deep underwater ridge separates it from the Atlantic Ocean, running between Iceland and the Faroe Islands.

Most of the Norwegian Sea’s floor is far below the surface, at an average depth of about two kilometers. This deep area holds rich deposits of oil and natural gas, which people are working to use for energy. The coastal zones are important for fish like cod, which come to the Norwegian Sea from the North Atlantic or Barents Sea to lay their eggs.

The warm North Atlantic Current keeps the water in the Norwegian Sea from freezing, so it stays ice-free all year. Scientists have found that the Norwegian Sea’s huge amount of water, which can hold a lot of heat, helps keep Norway’s winters mild. This effect is even more important than the warmth brought by the Gulf Stream.

Extent

The International Hydrographic Organization describes the area of the Norwegian Sea using special lines between certain points.

Starting from the northeast, there is a line from the southernmost point of West Spitzbergen to North Cape of Bear Island. It goes through this island to Cape Bull and then to North Cape, Norway.

On the southeast side, it follows the west coast of Norway from North Cape to Cape Stadt.

On the south side, it begins at a point on the west coast of Norway in Latitude 61°00' North and moves along this line to Longitude 0°53' West. From there, it goes to the northeastern point of Fuglö and then to the eastern point of Gerpir in Iceland.

On the west side, the limit is set by the southeastern edge of the Greenland Sea, which runs from the southernmost point of West Spitzbergen to the northern point of Jan Mayen Island. It follows the west coast of Jan Mayen to its southern end and then to the eastern point of Gerpir in Iceland.

Formation and geography

The Norwegian Sea formed about 250 million years ago when the landmasses of Norway and Greenland began to drift apart. This caused the narrow sea between them to widen and grow deeper. Today, the sea’s edges still show where these lands once met.

During the last ice age, huge glaciers carved deep valleys called fjords along Norway’s coast. The sea floor also has many bumps and valleys, with some areas reaching depths of over 3,500 metres. These deep spots are important for sea life, and the sea holds rich fishing areas and coral reefs.

Hydrology

The Norwegian Sea is where four important water masses from the Atlantic and Arctic oceans meet. These currents play a big role in shaping Earth's climate. A warm, salty current called the North Atlantic Current flows in from the Atlantic Ocean, while a colder current from the North Sea called the Norwegian Current brings in less salty water. There is also a cold current that moves south toward Iceland, and deep water flows in from the Greenland Sea. The tides in the Norwegian Sea rise twice each day, reaching about 3.3 meters high.

The surface currents are mostly influenced by water from the North Atlantic. This water can move very fast and is usually about 500 meters deep, though it can be deeper in some places. Some of this water comes through a channel between the Faroe Islands and Scotland and is quite salty. Another part passes between the Faroe Islands and Iceland. The temperature of this water changes with the seasons, being warmer in winter and cooler in summer. Near the coast, the water from the North Sea has temperatures that change a lot, with the warmest weather happening in September and the coldest in March. Some of the warm surface water flows toward the Arctic Ocean, while other parts move along Norway's coast.

Climate

The climate in the Norwegian Sea is influenced by ocean currents, which keep it warmer than nearby areas. The sea stays free of ice all year because of these warm currents.

The temperature of the water changes with the seasons, being cooler in winter and warmer in summer. The air above the sea can also be quite stormy, but periods of calm weather have been recorded in the past.

Flora and fauna

The Norwegian Sea is a special place where plants and animals from both colder Arctic areas and warmer areas meet. This mix lets many different species live there. Some Arctic animals reach their southernmost points here, while some warmer-water animals reach their northernmost points.

The sea has lots of tiny plants and animals called plankton near the surface. In spring, tiny plants called phytoplankton bloom, making the water look green. Important animals include tiny shrimp-like creatures called copepods and larger shrimp. The sea also has special coral reefs that give shelter to many fish. These corals face danger from fishing activities that can damage them.

The Norwegian Sea is a key place for fish like herring, which lay their eggs along the coast. Young herring spend time in the Barents Sea before returning. Other fish such as blue whiting, cod, and mackerel also live here. The amount of herring changes a lot over the years, affecting other animals that depend on them.

The sea is also home to many whales, including minke and orca whales, and dolphins. Some whales follow the herring schools for food. Seabirds like puffins and guillemots also live here and depend on fish for eating. Changes in fish numbers can affect these bird populations too.

Human activities

Norway, Iceland, and Denmark/Faroe Islands share the waters of the Norwegian Sea, with most belonging to Norway. Norway has claimed a twelve-mile area as its waters since 2004 and a larger area for fishing since 1976. Because of Norway’s islands Svalbard and Jan Mayen, much of the sea’s edges belong to Norway. The southwest edge is shared between Iceland and Denmark/Faroe Islands.

People have lived on islands in the Norwegian Sea since around the 8th century. Fishing has been done near the Lofoten islands for hundreds of years. These waters are very rich, especially in winter when Atlantic cod come to spawn. In the 19th century, dried cod was one of Norway’s main exports and the biggest industry in northern Norway. Strong currents and frequent storms made fishing dangerous. Many people died in accidents, like the “Fatal Monday” in March 1821.

Over the last century, too much fishing has hurt the sea. In 2018, 41% of fish groups had too few fish left. Whaling was also important. In the early 1600s, people began hunting walrus and whales. By the 17th century, many countries hunted whales in these waters. Too much hunting almost removed whales from the area by the early 20th century.

For centuries, people thought the Norwegian Sea was the edge of the known world. Stories of sea monsters, like the kraken, came from ships disappearing in storms or whirlpools. One famous whirlpool is the Moskenstraumen, located between the Lofoten islands. It moves very fast and can be dangerous even today.

The rich fishing waters attracted sailors from Iceland and Greenland. Maps of the area began appearing in the 17th century. Jan Mayen island was found in 1607 and became a base for whalers. Explorers like Willem Barents discovered Bear Island and Svalbard.

Systematic studies of the sea began in the late 19th century when fish numbers dropped. Scientists like Georg Ossian Sars and Henrik Mohn led expeditions and learned about ocean currents. In 2019, valuable minerals were found on the Mohn Ridge.

The Norwegian Sea has been important for shipping, especially for Russia to reach the Atlantic Ocean. During World War II, many supply ships passed through here. After the war, naval activity increased as the Soviet Navy wanted to reach the Atlantic. This led to many naval exercises and tensions between the Soviet Union and NATO countries.

Today, the Norwegian Sea is more important for oil and gas than for fishing. Norway began undersea oil production in 1993. The Ormen Lange gas field, which started production in 2007, is one of the largest. The sea’s deep and harsh conditions make drilling challenging. Other fields, like Kristin, face very high temperatures and pressures. As of 2019, there is an estimated 6.5 hm³ of crude oil in the Norwegian Sea, with plans to increase production until 2025.

In popular culture

In the game Russian Fishing 4, the Norwegian Sea is a favorite map for boat fishing.