Interannual variability of ice production in the Bering Sea

The interannual and seasonal variability in freshwater and brine flux from the growth, transport and melting of sea ice in the Bering Sea is examined. An ice model which incorporates the growth of frazil and pancake ice is discussed, and used in the calculations. Data from Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) radiometers is used over the time period of 1987/8-2001/2, as well as daily wind data from the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis. Large variations in the timing and magnitude of freshwater/salt flux to the upper ocean are seen for different geographic regions, however the areally-integrated ice growth (melt) during winter in the Bering Sea appears to exhibit much less variability over the study period.