Evidence of a Westward-Flowing "Subarctic Countercurrent" in the North Pacific Ocean

• Published in: Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada
• Main Author: Tabata, S.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1976
• Subjects: General Medicine; Pacific; Subarctic
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f76-267; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/f76-267

An examination of surface current velocity data obtained from two independent ship sources suggests the presence of a narrow, weak, westward-flowing countercurrent at a latitude of approximately 50°N in the subarctic Pacific region. Oceanographic survey data collected in the region from the summers of 1958 and 1959 also indicate such a countercurrent extending zonally for more than 1000 km. The countercurrent can be explained by consideration of the wind-stress vorticity field over the region.