FY 1979

Circulation and hydrography near Kodiak Island, September to November 1977

Schumacher, J.D., R.K. Reed, M. Grigsby, and D. Dreves

NOAA Tech. Memo. ERL PMEL-13, NTIS: PB-297421/AS, 49 pp (1979)

Conductivity/temperature/depth observations during early September 1977 and from mid-October to early November 1977 near Kodiak Island are presented and discussed. During both periods there was weak, southwestward flow along the outer continental shelf and gyre-like features in the troughs separating the shoal banks. On the inner shelf near the Kenai Peninsula, a well-developed westward flow was present; transport of this flow increased from 0.4 × 10⁶ m³ s⁻¹ in September to 1.0 × 10⁶ m³ s⁻¹ in October. The horizontal and vertical distribution of properties are influenced by both the circulation and the sharply varying bank-trough topography. Tidal mixing over the banks appears to be an important factor, and local upwelling induced by wind events also exerts influence on water structure. The westward-flowing band of low-salinity water off the Kenai Peninsula appears to be strongly affected by freshwater drainage from land.