A schematic of the circulation over the
Chukchi Sea and Beaufort/Chukchi slope is presented above, showing the
three branches of the inflowing Pacific water. These branches are
color-coded with navy blue being the most nutrient-rich waters and
light blue being the least nutrient-rich. The Siberian Coastal Current
(green) is present in summer and fall, but absent or weak in winter
and spring. On the continental slope, the Pacific-origin water
encounters Atlantic-origin Water (red) which is flowing
counter-clockwise around the Arctic basin. Offshore of the slope, in
the interior of the Canada Basin, is the clockwise wind-driven flow of
the Beaufort Gyre (purple). Image courtesy Seth Danielson, UAF.
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