Cp. Rice et Vv. Shigaev, SPATIAL-DISTRIBUTION OF HEXACHLOROCYCLOHEXANE ISOMERS IN THE BERING AND CHUKCHI SEA SHELF ECOSYSTEM, Environmental science & technology, 31(7), 1997, pp. 2092-2097
The spatial distribution of fields for alpha and gamma hexachlorocyclo
hexanes are described for the Bering/Chukchi Shelf ecosystem. Fields f
or the surface concentration of these isomers are defined that closely
match the water mass structure of this region. The relative abundance
s for the alpha and gamma isomers were also excellent markers for the
prevailing currents here. Water type groupings based on the percentage
differences from respective mean values for the alpha and gamma conce
ntrations represented water zones that accurately depicted the Anadyr
Current and a Siberian Coastal Front, which originates along the upper
Chukchi Peninsula. Values for the alpha/gamma ratios ranged from a lo
w of 2.52 for the Pacific Water inputs for this region to a high of 9.
36 for the Siberian coastal current water. This study demonstrates the
importance of using marker chemicals like HCHs to identify ocean curr
ents.