DBO 3 :SE Chukchi Sea Sir Wilfrid Laurier (July) vs RV Mirai (Sept) (above). Over the season the Alaska Coastal Current (ACC) bringing warmer water to the system in the east. In the west warming Anadyr water results in warm Chukchi Sea summer water. Within the lower panels we see the average stratification at about 20 m along the transect from west (left side of left panel) to the eastern coastal stations. By comparison, the Sept. station is nearly vertical, indicating fall mixing, resulting in an average 3 deg C temperature throughout the water column, and much more saline water with the input of more saline Anadyr water northward in the SE Chukchi Sea. Note that two other cruises occupied this line (ICESCAPE and RUSALCA) and those data sets will be updated on this figure.

 

Potential Temperature (C) in 2010 in Barrow Canyon (above).  The Alaska Coastal Current is warmest along the Alaska coast in early September.

 

Nitrate in 2010 in Barrow Canyon (above).   Bering Shelf water is highest in nitrate late in the season in bottom waters, with the surface waters having been stripped by primary producers earlier in the season [note other time series nutrients, chlorophyll, prey and predator data coming soon]