Investigation of the Volume Transport Variability through the Near Strait (Aleutian Islands) Based on Global Ocean Reanalyses

S. P. Khudyakova1, 2, ✉, T. V. Belonenko1, M. V. Budyansky1, 2, M. Yu. Uleysky2

1 St. Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation

2 V. I. Il’ichev Pacific Oceanological Institute, Far Eastern Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok, Russian Federation

✉ e-mail: khydyakova.s@gmail.com

Abstract

Purpose. The aim of the study is to specify the quantitative characteristics of water exchange through the Near Strait (Aleutian Islands) using contemporary oceanographic reanalysis data, to evaluate the seasonal and interannual variability of volume transport, and to identify the key factors influencing water dynamics in the strait.

Methods and Results. The following methods were employed to quantify water exchange through the Near Strait: 1) analysis of CMEMS data (1993–2021) to calculate daily mean volume transport and assess its seasonal variability; 2) comparison of two CMEMS products for the study region: GLORYS12V1 (DT) ocean reanalysis and _GLOBALANALYSISFORECAST (NRT) operational forecast; 3) comparison of the CMEMS-based estimates with those from the Japanese JCOPE2M and American GOFS 3.1 reanalyses for the same area. The analysis revealed that, in certain years, the mean daily volume transport from the Pacific Ocean into the Bering Sea exceeded 15 Sv (1 Sv = 106 m3/s), while in other periods, a reverse flow of up to 5 Sv was observed. A pronounced seasonal cycle in daily volume transport was identified, with maximum values occurring in winter and minimum values in summer. Significant discrepancies were found among estimates from the different reanalysis products (CMEMS, JCOPE2M, and GOFS 3.1).

Conclusions. The estimates of volume transport and water exchange through the Near Strait, derived from four different datasets, show substantial variations, indicating the complex nature of local circulation. Consequently, different reanalyses reproduce its features in varying ways. The results underscore the need for further research using field observations.

Keywords

Near Strait, Aleutian Islands, Bering Sea, Pacific Ocean, volume transport, circulation, seasonal variability, oceanic reanalysis

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by St. Petersburg State University grant No. 129659573 and Russian Science Foundation grant No. 25-17-00021. The calculations were performed using the high-performance computing cluster of V. I. Il’ichev Pacific Oceanological Institute, Far Eastern Branch of RAS (state assignment No. 124022100072-5), within the framework of the research program “Fundamental principles of adaptation strategies for the development of Russian Far East in the context of global climate change” (POI FEB RAS).

Original russian text

Original Russian Text © The Authors, 2025, published in MORSKOY GIDROFIZICHESKIY ZHURNAL, Vol. 41, Iss. 6, pp. 749-766 (2025)

For citation

Khudyakova, S.P., Belonenko, T.V., Budyansky, M.V. and Uleysky, M.Yu., 2025. Investigation of the Volume Transport Variability through the Near Strait (Aleutian Islands) Based on Global Ocean Reanalyses. Physical Oceanography, 32(6), pp. 771-787.

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