Oceanography of the Subarctic Pacific Ocean

Abstract

All available oceanographic data observed from 1951 through 1958, north of Lat. 35° N in the Pacific Ocean, the Sea of Okhotsk, and the Bering Sea, together with the relevant literature, were examined. There were sufficient data from 1955 through 1958 to prepare composite charts of salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen and transparency of the near-surface waters in the Subarctic Region from Asia to America.The Subarctic Pacific is defined as the region in which there is a marked halocline separating a low salinity upper zone from a more saline lower zone. It includes all areas having dichothermal temperature structure. Definite boundaries for the region are established. The Subarctic characteristics are limited to the upper zone and halocline. The lower zone characteristics are continuous from the Subtropic into the Subarctic.From the data the principal features of structure of the properties have been shown, as well as the differences from one locality to another. The seasonal variations and also some non–seasonal variations have been discussed. The persistent current systems have been traced and their components named.The processes for the maintenance of the structure by precipitation, evaporation, dissipation of upper zone water, and entrainment from the deep zone are discussed. A relation between the barometric pressure distribution and the transport in the non–persistent current systems is proposed.