Northwest and Alaska Fisheries Center (U.S.)

The effects of extreme interannual temperature fluctuations (i.e., a very cold or warm year) on the Bering Sea ecosystem were examined using the Dynamical Numerical Marine Ecosystem Simulation (DYNUMES) model, originally developed at the Northwest and Alaska Fisheries Center (NWAFC) by Dr. Taivo Laevastu. The model was run using long-term monthly mean temperature fields to establish mean monthly temperature-induced migration patterns. Changes in these patterns caused by extreme temperatures were simulated by replacing the mean input temperature fields with temperature fields representative of, first, an extremely cold year, and, second, an extremely warm year.

Technical Memorandum