Physical Oceanography and Submarine Geology of the Seas to the West and North of Alaska

LASKA, with the north Pacific Ocean to the south, a transition zone through the Bering and Chukchi seas to the west, and the Arctic Ocean to the north, is exceptionally well situated for studies in oceanography. These diverse water masses contain a variety of ecological environments, and different physical and geological conditions. However, owing to problems of trans- portation and lack of facilities, relatively little oceanographic work has been done in the seas around Alaska. Most information on soundings, currents, and ice conditions in the area has come from commercial ships engaged in whaling and shipping. Even much of the information on physical oceanography and marine geology has been obtained incidental to other operations. The main studies of the physical and chemical structure of the water were made by U.S. Coast Guard vessels staffed with University of Washington oceanographers during the summers of 1933, 1934, 1937, and 1938. On these cruises serial stations, making oceanographic sections, were occupied throughout the eastern Bering Sea and Bering Strait, and along one line to Point Barrow. Another prewar cruise was made by the Mad which obtained considerable data between Herald Shoal and Ostrov Vrangelya (Wrangel Island) (Sverdrup, 1929). During the war the principal oceanographic work carried out consisted of bathythermograph observations in the southern part of the Bering Sea. Postwar investigations consisted of scattered bathythermograph observations and oceanographic stations from icebreakers running through the Bering and Chukchi seas to Point Barrow in 1946, 1948, and 1950. These investigations were made by personnel of the U.S. Coast Guard, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of Washington, and U.S. Hydrographic Office. (n 1947 a U.S. naval ship staffed with U.S. Navy Electronics Laboratory and Scripps observers occupied stations through the Bering and central Chukchi seas to a latitude of 72"N. In 1919 both Canadian and United States naval ships investigated the southern and eastern Bering Sea and the eastern Chukchi Sea to a latitude of 73"N. Although the number of cruises in this area appears impressive, it must be remembered that all the data were taken in midsummer. During this season significant week-to-week changes take place in the physical properties of the water. Furthermore, additional duties or programs of the ships made it impossible to locate or time stations to the best advantage for adequate coverage.