A preliminary study of the influence of regional winds on Bering Strait transport

The goal of this study is to determine the role of the wind in the Chukchi and Bering Sea in the controlling transport through the Bering Strait. Wind data from 1990-1991 (6 hourly, 2.5×2.5 degree resolution) is analyzed using EOF (Empirical Orthogonal Functions) method. Hourly velocity measurements taken from a mooring station are used as representative average current velocity in the Bering Strait. Correlations between the wind EOFs and the Bering Strait current velocity are calculated. Together with spectrum analysis, principal component analysis and correlation analysis, the extent of the region where winds affect the transport using wind fields from different areas is determined. The correlations between 1st wind EOF and the current velocity are larger than the correlation with the local winds, which indicates that 1th wind EOF may play more important role for the transport in the region.