FY 1999

Bering Sea deep circulation: Water properties and geopotential

Reed, R.K., and C.W. Mordy

J. Mar. Res., 57(5), 763–773, doi: 10.1357/002224099321560564 (1999)

Deep temperature and silicate data from the Bering Sea demonstrate patterns that are consistent and allow inference of near-bottom circulation. The cold source water enters Kamchatka Strait and mainly moves toward the southeast through a narrow topographic gap and into Bowers Basin. There is also a narrow, coherent flow eastward, and eventually southeastward, near the steep flank of Bowers Ridge. At levels ~100-300 m above the bottom, there is a suggestion of upward motion near the margins of much of the deep Bering Sea. Near-bottom geopotential gradients, referred to 3000 db, are in agreement with flow inferred from water properties.