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Seasonal variability of near‐surface hydrography and frontal features in the northern Gulf of Alaska and Prince William Sound
Author(s) -
Okkonen Stephen R.,
Cutchin David L.,
Royer Thomas C.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2005gl023195
Subject(s) - hydrography , sound (geography) , oceanography , geology , structural basin , current (fluid) , seasonality , salinity , gulf stream , glacier , temperature salinity diagrams , estuary , climatology , geomorphology , statistics , mathematics
The meridional structure and seasonal cycles of near‐surface hydrography and frontal features in the northern Gulf of Alaska and Prince William Sound are described from high‐resolution measurements of near‐surface temperature and salinity acquired by a vessel‐mounted thermosalinograph. Near‐surface temperature exhibits a well‐defined seasonal cycle with little variation between basin and shelf waters. Near‐surface salinity exhibits a well‐defined seasonal cycle that is confined largely to the shelf waters reflecting the influence of coastal freshwater inputs. Prominent near‐surface fronts at the shelf break, at the entrance to Prince William Sound, and in northern Prince William Sound intensify and weaken following the seasonal cycles of freshwater discharges into the northern Gulf of Alaska. These respective fronts are maintained by freshwater from the Alaska Coastal Current, the Copper River, and the snowfields and glaciers of northern Prince William Sound.