NAFO Sci. Coun. Studies, 27: 39–47 Climatic Conditions Around

The annual review of variability of climatic conditions around Greenland was continued based on air temperature data from three sites at West and East Greenland. Mean monthly air temperature data from Nuuk at West Greenland revealed the long-term interannual changes of air temperature anomalies. The spring 1995 air temperature anomalies showed for the first time since June 1994 positive conditions for the area West Greenland–Davis Strait–Baffin Bay. The west coast of Greenland which indicated negative anomalies for several years, experienced a mild early summer. Autumn conditions, except October, indicated positive anomalies in the arctic area. This was favoured by low pressure systems off Newfoundland, which advected the mild air of Atlantic origin to Labrador along the northern rim. Also the föhn, caused by easterly winds at the west coast of Greenland, generated a positive anomaly. The intermediate warming did not, however, indicate a change of the long-term negative trend of the climatic conditions at West Greenland. As a result of mild air temperatures over most of 1995, sea ice conditions were normal around Greenland and off eastern Canada. The haline conditions, as observed at the Standard Stations off West Greenland since the early-1990s, revealed salinities at a high level which did not seem to favour cod recruitment. The hydrographic conditions in the advective layer off West Greenland in general did not appear favourable for cod recruitment in 1996