Large-Scale Features of Synchronous Variability of the Winter Surface Temperature in the Barents and Black Seas

The conditions for the formation of surface temperature anomalies in the Barents and Black seas in January–March are considered. It was shown that both the interannual and interdecadal variability of the surface temperature anomaly in these seas is determined by the thermal state of the waters of the North Atlantic and occurs synchronously both in the years of negative values and in the years of positive values of the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) index. At the same time, the average surface temperature anomaly of these seas is formed under the influence of atmospheric circulation in the Atlantic–European region, determined by the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index. In the years of NAO ≥ 1, the surface temperature of the Barents Sea is higher, and the Black Sea is lower than the climatic normal. In the years of NAO ≤ –1, the surface temperature of the Barents Sea is lower, and that of the Black Sea is higher than the climatic norm.