Determination of the interannual variability of the Bering Strait transport from satellite data

Abstract

For the years 1980–88, we use satellite and meteorological data from the Chukchi and Laptev Seas to estimate the volume flux into the Chukchi Sea through the Bering Strait. We assume that the two seas have approximately the same amount of stored heat at the onset of freezing, then calculate the heat loss from both seas during the period from the onset of freezing to the formation of a solid ice cover. Because the Chukchi Sea generally takes 4–6 weeks longer to freeze over than the Laptev Sea, more heat is lost to the atmosphere from the Chukchi Sea than from the Laptev. On the assumption that the only source of this additional heat from the Chukchi is the Bering Strait inflow, and using published values for the mean temperature of the Bering Strait water, we calculate that the flow through the Bering Strait lies in the range of 0.5–1.5 Sverdrups, which is comparable to values cited in the literature. This procedure suggests a technique for determination of the interannual variability of the Bering Strait inflow.