Warm water advection in the Southern Beaufort Sea August-September 1971

Oceanographic features of the southern Beaufort Sea were studied during August-September 1971. The data indicate the presence of a relatively warm (0.1°–5.0°C) layer in the continental shelf waters. This situation has only been reported once previously. The layer, averaging 25 meters in thickness, was traced from 154°30′W, where the warmest temperature (5.0°C) was recorded, to 143°42′W. The layer decreased in temperature toward the east, but the salinity (30.0–32.0‰) remained relatively constant. The core of the warm layer was found to parallel the continental shelf edge. Some spatial fluctuations were observed in the heat content along the core of the warm layer. Direct current measurements in the warm water layer indicate an eastward flow, suggesting a Bering Sea-Chukchi Sea origin. This hypothesis is supported by a water mass analysis. An eastward flowing current along the Beaufort Sea coast has not been previously described in the literature. Investigation of all available data indicated the presence of the warm water layer in the southern Beaufort Sea during the summer in 10 of the 16 years examined.