Impact of mesoscale eddies on surface flow between the Pacific Ocean and the Bering Sea across the Near Strait

Abstract

The Lagrangian technique is applied to model the eddy dynamics and the flow across the Near Strait (NS) based on satellite derived SSH anomalies. Daily Lagrangian latitudinal maps, computed with the AVISO surface velocity field, and calculation of the flow across the strait, connecting the Pacific Ocean with the Bering Sea, show that the water flux is highly variable and controlled by mesoscale and submesoscale eddies. On the seasonal scale, the flux through the western part of the NR is negatively correlated with the flux through its eastern part (r=-0.93). On the interannual time scale, a significant positive correlation (r=0.72) is diagnosed between the NS flow and the wind stress in winter. Increased southward component of the wind stress decreases the northward water flow through the strait. Positive wind stress curl over the strait area in winter–spring generates a cyclonic circulation and thereby enhances the southward flow in the western part (r=-0.68) and northward flow in the eastern part (r=0.61). In fall, the water flow in different parts of the NS is determined by the strength of the anticyclonic mesoscale eddy located in the Alaskan Stream area.