Faroe-Shetland Channel

Location:  Stations between Faroe and Shetland, north of Scottish mainland

Monitoring Period: 1893 - Present

What is collected?

  • Temperature - 1-5 times/year
  • Salinity - 1 - 5 times/year

 

Background

The data from offshore surveys are used to understand the circulation in Scottish waters. Particularly important are the water masses that pass through the Faroe-Shetland Channel to and from the Arctic, and those that exchange with the Northern North Sea. 

Two lines of stations between Shetland and Faroes are called the Fair Isle - Munken Line (FIM - southernmost line) and the Nolso-Flugga Line (NOL - norternmost line) are regularly monitored for temperature and salinity to classify and characterise the water masses in the Faroe-Shetland Channel. The two main water masses are characterised and shown in the image. 

This information page is part of the theme: 
Faroe Shetland Currents - © Marine Scotland