The evolution of the transient tracer distributions in the surface layer of the central Greenland Sea is consistent with the trend in their atmospheric concentrations (increasing CFCs, decreasing tritium, constant ). Due to a lack of seasonally resolved data, possible changes in the surface layer that may trigger or prevent deep convection during winter time can not be addressed by this study. However, since all available observations since 1988 were made in November, the salinities can be compared. The average salinity of the upper layer increased from 34.72 in 1991 to 34.85 in 1994. Since the average salinity of the intermediate water (200m - 2000m) decreased from 34.886 in 1991 to 34.883 in 1994 (see Fig. 6b), the salinity difference between the surface and the intermediate water decreased as well from 0.16 in 1991 to 0.03 in 1994, destratifying the water column and making convection more likely.