A CENSUS OF MESOSCALE EDDIES IN SHELIKOF STRAIT, ALASKA, DURING 1989

Over a 5-month period in the spring and summer of 1989, 12 mesoscale e ddies were identified crossing a section of moored current meters in t he Shelikof sea valley. This represents the first census of mesoscale eddies on the northwestern Gulf of Alaska continental shelf. The major ity of eddies (7) were observed in May and June. Anticyclonic eddies o utnumbered cyclonic eddies two to one, but all had characteristics sim ilar to eddies previously observed in the region. Analysis of the curr ent meter time series revealed that the mean speeds, volume transport, and the structure of the flow at the present location were similar to current meter and hydrographic measurements during other years in the sea valley. We suggest that 1989 and was a typical year in terms of e ddy fomation as well. The proliferation of mesoscale eddies in this re gion in spring has an impact on the larval dispersal and eventual recr uitment of walleye pollock.