Circulation on the central Bering Sea shelf, July 2008 to July 2010

Abstract

We examine the July 2008 to July 2010 circulation over the central Bering Sea shelf using measurements at eight instrumented moorings, hindcast winds and numerical model results. At sub-tidal time scales, the vertically integrated equations of motion show that the cross-shelf balance is primarily geostrophic. The along-shelf balance is also mainly geostrophic, but local accelerations, wind stress and bottom friction account for 10-40% of the momentum balance, depending on season and water depth. The shelf exhibits highly variable flow with small water column average vector mean speeds (<5 cm s-1). Mean/peak speeds in summer (3-6 cm s-1/10-30 cm s-1) are smaller than in winter and fall (6-12 cm s-1/30-70 cm s -1). Low frequency flows (<1/4 cpd) are horizontally coherent over distances exceeding 200 km. Vertical coherence varies seasonally, degrading with the onset of summer stratification. Because effects of heating and freezing are enhanced in shallow waters, warm summers increase the cross-shelf density gradient and thus enhance northward transport; cold winters with increased ice production and brine rejection increase the (now reversed) cross-shelf density gradient and enhance southward transport. Although the baroclinic velocity is large enough to influence seasonal transports, wind-forced Ekman dynamics are primarily responsible for flow variations. The system changes from strong northward flow (with coastal convergence) to strong southward flow (with coastal divergence) for northerly and easterly winds, respectively. Under northerly and northwesterly winds, nutrient-rich waters flow toward the central shelf from the north and northwest, replacing dilute coastal waters that are carried south and west. © 2012. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.