FY 1989

Transports through Bering Strait: Annual and interannual variability

Coachman, L.K., and K. Aagaard

J. Geophys. Res., 93(C12), doi: 10.1029/JC093iC12p15535, 15,535–15,539 (1988)

Reanalysis of the 1976–1977 mean monthly transport estimates for Bering Strait of Coachman and Aagaard (1981) shows a considerably stronger wind dependence than was calculated by Aagaard et al. (1985). We find (1) a long-term mean transport of 0.8 Sv, (2) an annual transport cycle of amplitude 0.6 Sv, with the maximum in June, the minimum in February, and a secondary maximum in January probably associated with North Pacific blocking-ridge activity, and (3) an interannual variability marked by a number of low-flow years in the past two decades, including three of the four lowest-transport winter periods during this century. In a new current time series from 1984 to 1985 we find anomalously strong and persistent northerly flow during a 2-month period in which the current/wind correlation breaks down. This occurred during a prolonged period with southerly winds, and we believe the data point to an asymmetry in the dynamical response of the Bering Strait flow to major changes in wind direction.