Surface desalinated layer distribution in the Kara Sea determined by shipboard and satellite data

This study reports the propagation dynamics of the Kara Sea surface desalinated layer (SDL) during the summer and autumn seasons. We analysed shipboard measurements data collected in 2013-2018 and MODIS ocean colour data that correlated with the shipboard ones. We formulated a comparatively strict criterion to determine the SDL border based on satellite data. For that, we analyzed the shipboard flow-through measuring system data obtained while crossing the surface desalinated layer border. Further, we used a regional algorithm to process the satellite data and estimate the coloured dissolved organic matter absorption coefficient for the Kara Sea. The results demonstrate a significant effect of the wind regime on the interseasonal and interannual variability of the transformation of the SDL boundaries. The positions of the surface desalinated layer boundaries at different times during 2013-2018 are given. The obtained results are important for calculating the heat balance and analyzing the Kara Sea bio-productivity.