Nitrate distribution of Pacific Winter Water along the northern edge of the Chukchi Sea

Wang, Yanxin; Lin, Peigen; Pickart, Robert S.

doi:10.1029/2025GL120015

i

Nitrate distribution of Pacific Winter Water along the northern edge of the Chukchi Sea

Supporting Files

2026
By Wang, Yanxin ; Lin, Peigen ; Pickart, Robert S.
Source Geophysical Research Letters, 53, e2025GL120015

Details

Journal Title:

Journal of Geophysical Research
Personal Author:

Wang, Yanxin ; Lin, Peigen ; Pickart, Robert S.
NOAA Program & Office:

OAR (Oceanic and Atmospheric Research)
Description:

Nutrient-rich, Pacific-origin winter water (PWW) is a primary source of nitrate for the western Arctic Ocean, spurring primary production at the base of the food web. This cold water exits the Chukchi Sea shelf via Herald Canyon and Barrow Canyon, which feed the eastward-flowing Chukchi Shelfbreak Jet (CSJ) and the westward-flowing Chukchi Slope Current, respectively. Using historical measurements of nitrate, hydrography, and velocity between 2002 and 2023, we characterize the spatial distribution of nitrate along the northern edge of the Chukchi shelf. Our analysis reveals that the nitrate concentration of PWW increases significantly to the west. Documenting the sources of nitrate in Herald Canyon and Barrow Canyon, and following its downstream evolution in the two currents, we demonstrate that the westward increase in nitrate is primarily associated with the CSJ. Our results shed light on the physical basis for seasonal phytoplankton growth and carbon sequestration in the region.
Keywords:
Source:

Geophysical Research Letters, 53, e2025GL120015
DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GL120015
Format:

PDF
Document Type:

Journal Article
Funding:

Grant no. NA19OAR4320074
Place as Subject:

Chukchi Sea ; Barrow Canyon
License:

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Rights Information:

CC BY
Compliance:

Submitted
Download URL:

https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/74384/noaa_74384_DS1.pdf
File Type:

[PDF - 1.24 MB]
Collection(s):

Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR)
Main Document Checksum:

urn:sha-512:7e29bb3c64ed0b86a3e928e5d8d289097915b7e9281cab0a73c0ca8e50d00c2b26a999e6b9d56012acdbd3f8d533cba78a66468a7cd8b767f5343d5c3f37006e

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