ON THE CLIMATOLOGICAL MEAN CIRCULATION OVER THE EASTERN BERING-SEA SHELF

We derive climatological mean summer circulation over the eastern Beri ng Sea shelf. Geostrophic flow (from CTD data, 1975-1989) and drifter velocities (from satellite-tracked buoys, 1986-1994) were used. The fo llowing features are shown: (1) in depths >100 m, a northwestward Row of similar to 4 cm s(-1), which is largely baroclinic; (2) near the 50 m isobath, a flow of similar to 2 cm s(-1), which is only partially b aroclinic; and (3) a semi-permanent, convoluted flow of 1-2 cm s(-1), between the 100 and 50 m isobaths, that was not recognized in earlier analyses. Data from current moorings indicate that there is no signifi cant tidal enhancement of net how on the shelf as earlier suggested. T his new climatology also shows clearly a divergence of the inflow thro ugh Unimak Pass, and it suggests that the shelf salinity distribution is influenced by advection as well as diffusion. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd