Numerical Simulation of Wind-Driven Flow through the Bering Strait

Spaulding, Malcolm L.; Isaji, T.; Mendelsohn, Daniel; Turner, Arpril

doi:10.1175/1520-0485(1987)017<1799:nsowdf>2.0.co;2

Cited by 42 publications

(25 citation statements)

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“…Overland and Roach, 1987;Spaulding et al, 1987;Shuert and Walsh, 1992;Nihoul et al, 1993). A suite of tidal models were developed as part of the OCSEAP program (e.g.…”

Section: Required Model Physicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A regional tidal/subtidal circulation model of the southeastern Bering Sea: development, sensitivity analyses and hindcasting

Hermann

Stabeno

Haidvogel

et al. 2002

Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography

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A regional eddy-resolving primitive equation circulation model was used to simulate circulation on the southeastern Bering Sea (SEBS) shelf and basin. This model resolves the dominant observed mean currents, eddies and meanders in the region, and simultaneously includes both tidal and subtidal dynamics. Circulation, temperature and salinity fields for years 1995 and 1997 were hindcast, using daily wind and buoyancy flux estimates, and tidal forcing derived from a global model. This paper describes the development of the regional model, a comparison of model results with available Eulerian and Lagrangian data, a comparison of results between the two hindcast years, and a sensitivity analysis. Based on these hindcasts and sensitivity analyses, we suggest the following: 1) The Bering Slope Current (BSC) is a primary source of large (~100 km diameter) eddies in the SEBS basin. Smaller meanders are also formed along the 100 m isobath on the southeastern shelf, and along the 200 m isobath near the shelf break. 2) There is substantial interannual variability in the statistics of eddies within the basin, driven by variability in the strength of the ANSC. 3) The mean flow on the shelf is not strongly sensitive to changes in the imposed strength of the ANSC; rather, it is strongly sensitive to the local wind forcing. 4) Vertical mixing in the SEBS is strongly affected by both tidal and subtidal dynamics. Strongest mixing in the SEBS may in fact occur between the 100 and 400 m isobaths, near the Pribilof Islands, and in Unimak Pass.

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“…Overland and Roach, 1987;Spaulding et al, 1987;Shuert and Walsh, 1992;Nihoul et al, 1993). A suite of tidal models were developed as part of the OCSEAP program (e.g.…”

Section: Required Model Physicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A regional tidal/subtidal circulation model of the southeastern Bering Sea: development, sensitivity analyses and hindcasting

Hermann

Stabeno

Haidvogel

et al. 2002

Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography

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“…As discussed below, we attribute the regional biomass differences to a relatively larger supply and deposition of POC in the region north of the frontal system. A portion of BSW, entrained with high levels of POC, having a primary source in the northern Bering and southeastern Chukchi Seas (Whitledge et al 1986, Walsh et al 1989a, b, Korsak 1992, Robie et al 1992, Zeeman 1992, extends to the region adjacent to Point Franklin within the northeastern Chukchi Sea (Spaulding et al 1987, Johnson 1989, Walsh et al 1989a. The BSW that flows northward along the eastern flank of Herald Shoal (Fig.…”

Section: Factors Affecting Benthic Biomassmentioning

confidence: 99%

The northeastern Chukchi Sea: benthos-environmental interactions

Feder¹,

Naidu²,

Jewett³

et al. 1994

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

130

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Benthic faunal abundance, diversity, and biomass were examined in the northeastern Chukchi Sea to determine factors influencing faunal distribution. Four taxon-abundance-based benthic station groups were identified by cluster analysis and ordination techniques. These groups are explained, using stepwise multiple discriminant analysis, by the gravel-sand-mud and water content of bottom sediments, and the organic carbon/nitrogen (OC/N) ratio. In contrast to previous benthic investigations in the northeastern Bering and southeastern Chukchi Seas, faunal diversity between inshore and offshore regions in our study area were not related to differences in sediment sorting. Instead, regional diversity differences in the northeastern Chukchi Sea were related to greater environmental stresses (e.g. ice gouging, wave-current action, marine-mammal feeding activities) inshore than offshore. The presence of a high benthic biomass north of Icy Cape in the vicinity of Point Franklin and seaward of a hydrographic front is presumably related to an enhanced local depositional flux of particulate organic carbon (POC) in the area. We postulate that POC-rich waters derived from the northern Bering and northwestern Chukchi Seas extend to our study area and the flux of the entrained POC provides a persistent source of carbon to sustain the high benthic biomass. Annual POC enrichment of the coastal region north of Icy Cape is reflected by the great abundance of amphipods and other invertebrates present there and the concentration in summer of walrus Odobenus rosmarus djvergens and gray whales Eschrichtius robustus that feed on these invertebrates. This study demonstrates that there can be high standing stocks of benthos in arctic regions with relatively low annual primary production if local carbon is augmented by POC advected from highly productive areas.

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“…Wind significantly modifies the Bering Strait inflow at time scales from synoptic to interannual, sometimes blocking it completely or even reversing it [see Proshutinsky , 1986; Aagaard et al , 1985; Roach et al , 1995; Woodgate et al , 2005a, and discussion therein]. This basic understanding of the CS circulation dynamics has been improved since earlier studies of the 1950s and 1970s [ Shtokman , 1957; Gudkovich , 1961, 1962; Coachman et al , 1975] by both observational [ Weingartner et al , 2005; Aagaard et al , 1985; Woodgate et al , 2005a] and modeling studies [ Proshutinsky , 1986; Overland and Roach , 1987; Spaulding et al , 1987; Nihoul et al , 1993; Proshutinsky et al , 1995; Winsor and Chapman , 2004; Spall , 2007]. There are also other physical factors that influence the CS circulation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reconstruction and analysis of the Chukchi Sea circulation in 1990–1991

Panteleev¹,

Nechaev²,

Proshutinsky³

et al. 2010

J. Geophys. Res.

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[1] The Chukchi Sea (CS) circulation reconstructed for September 1990 to October 1991 from sea ice and ocean data is presented and analyzed. The core of the observational data used in this study comprises the records from 12 moorings deployed in 1990 and 1991 in U.S. and Russian waters and two hydrographic surveys conducted in the region in the fall of 1990 and 1991. The observations are processed by a two-step data assimilation procedure involving the Pan-Arctic Ice-Ocean Modeling and Assimilation System (employing a nudging algorithm for sea ice data assimilation) and the Semiimplicit Ocean Model [utilizing a conventional four-dimensional variational (4D-var) assimilation technique]. The reconstructed CS circulation is studied to identify pathways and assess residence times of Pacific water in the region; quantify the balances of volume, freshwater, and heat content; and determine the leading dynamical factors configuring the CS circulation. It is found that in 1990-1991 (high AO index and a cyclonic circulation regime) Pacific water transiting the CS toward the Canada basin followed two major pathways, namely via Herald Canyon (Herald branch of circulation, 0.23 Sv) and between Herald Shoal and Cape Lisburne (central branch of circulation and Alaskan Coastal Current, 0.32 Sv). The annual mean flow through Long Strait was negligible (0.01 Sv). Typical residence time of Pacific water in the region varied between 150 days for waters entering the CS in September and 270 days for waters entering in February/March. Momentum balance analysis reveals that geostrophic balance between barotropic pressure gradient and Coriolis force dominated for most of the year. Baroclinic effects were important for circulation only in the regions with large horizontal salinity gradients associated with the fresh Alaskan and Siberian coastal currents and the Cape Lisburne and Great Siberian polynyas. In the polynyas, the baroclinic effects were due to strong salinification and convection processes associated with sea ice formation.

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Numerical Simulation of Wind-Driven Flow through the Bering Strait

Cited by 42 publications

References 0 publications

A regional tidal/subtidal circulation model of the southeastern Bering Sea: development, sensitivity analyses and hindcasting

A regional tidal/subtidal circulation model of the southeastern Bering Sea: development, sensitivity analyses and hindcasting

The northeastern Chukchi Sea: benthos-environmental interactions

Reconstruction and analysis of the Chukchi Sea circulation in 1990–1991

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