FY 1994

Ubiquitous eddies in the eastern Bering Sea and their coincidence with concentrations in larval pollock

Schumacher, J.D., and P.J. Stabeno

Fish. Oceanogr., 3(3), doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2419.1994.tb00095.x, 182–190 (1994)

Between 1988 and 1993, 12 satellite-tracked buoys were deployed in four eddies in the south-eastern Bering Sea. Our success in finding eddies resulted from placing buoys in high concentrations of pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) larvae. We utilize data from hydrographic surveys, satellite-tracked buoys and moored current meters to describe the eddies. Small (<25 km diameter) eddies likely transit along the slope of the eastern Bering Sea every 45-60 days. In previous studies such small features were not observed because their size fell within typical separation of hydrographic stations and the weak sea surface temperature gradients are not resolved by satellite-borne infrared imagery.