Richard Rowlett wrote -

-------------------
Well, the analysis has happened it' has been sorted out. Turns out this is
a _Coceolithophores_ phytoplankton bloom, apparently quite rare in the
Bering, as I've been told, and more the result of localized solar heating of the
sea surface water due to persistent High Pressure locked over the area in July,
rather than just flat out ENSO (El Nino). This does not necessarily
dismiss ENSO completely from perhaps being a contributing factor in the High
Pressure anomaly from developing in the first place.
----------------------

This ENSO was just getting tuned up in July so it didn't have much of an effect on boreal latitudes yet. The ridge was the result of a "blocking" pattern of long wavelength high and low pressure systems (wave number 4 which tends not to propogate, i.e., there were four main troughs and ridges around the northern hemisphere). While the Bering enjoyed the ridge, we here on the "wet" coast suffered through another "cold low" month. Typical summer weather for the coasties, but atypical for the Bering in that the centre of the high pressure aree was displaced northward from its usual summer position.

Interesting findings, Richard. I would assume that the color of the water was affected by the body coloration of the plankton?

- Jack Bowling
jcbowling at mindlink.bc.ca
... back in Fort Nelson for another 2 weeks



Richard Rowlett (Pagodroma at aol.com)
~47:34'N, 122:08'W