Stronger currents boosting marine life

Currents around the so-called North Atlantic subpolar gyre are growing stronger, according to the Faroe Marine Research Institute.

The North Atlantic subpolar gyre is an area of cyclonic ocean circulation sitting beneath a persistent region of low atmospheric pressure.

This gyre is believed to play an important part in the marine environment around the Faroe Islands.

Heat loss from the ocean to the atmosphere has in recent years strengthened the currents around the gyre since the winter of 2014-2015.

As early as in 2016, the Faroe Marine Research Institute predicted that this could boost growth and the amount of plankton in the area.

And tangible signs of such improvements are now evident. These include increased amounts of sand eels and demersal fish on the Faroe Shelf and more seabirds on the cliffs.

Translated by prosa.fo