The significance of the Chukchi Sea. Chukchi Sea: salinity and temperature
Of all the seas surrounding Russia, the Chukchi Sea was one of the last to be explored. The exploration of this very northeastern sea of the country began with the explorer Semyon Dezhnev, who sailed from Kolyma to
The area of the sea is five hundred and ninety thousand square kilometers. More than half the area of the Chukchi Sea lies within the continental shelf, so the depths are no more than fifty meters, and in some places there are shallows up to thirteen meters. This is less than the height of a standard five-story building. According to geologists, ten to twelve thousand years ago there was land in this place, along which people settled the American continent. This fairly extensive landmass that existed in the past received scientific literature called Beringia. The maximum depth of the sea is 1256 meters.
The climate here is extremely harsh. The Chukchi Sea freezes in October, and the ice cover begins to disappear only in May. For more than six months the sea is unsuitable for navigation. In winter, the water temperature is negative, as due to the high salinity it freezes at a temperature slightly below zero degrees.
The sea coast in the west is the Chukotka Peninsula, and in the east is Alaska. The Chukchi, who are genetically closely related to the indigenous inhabitants of Alaska, have lived on the Chukchi Peninsula for a long time, at least five thousand years. Now the aborigines are the characters of numerous jokes, and yet these people, until the beginning of the twentieth century, were very warlike and repeatedly defeated the Russians who were actively developing Chukotka.
It is interesting that, recognizing the strength of the Russians, the Chukchi called people other than themselves, only them. All other nations did not receive such an honor from them. Bloody clashes between Russians and Chukchi continued from their first acquaintance in 1644 until the end of the eighteenth century, when a fortress was built on one of the tributaries of the Bolshoi Anyui, in which from now on military contacts were replaced by trade ones. However, minor military “misunderstandings” continued throughout the nineteenth century.
The life of the Chukchi is inseparable from the sea, to which they gave their name. Although, in fairness, it must be clarified that the way of life and even the self-name of the Chukchi living in the interior of the peninsula and on the coast are very different. The name “Chukchi” itself is a derivative of the Chukchi word meaning “rich in deer.” The coastal Chukchi, whose economy is based on fishing and hunting sea animals, are called differently - “ankalyn”, which means “dog breeders”.
Fishing in Chukotka, according to those who have visited this remote corner of Russia, is excellent. concerns mainly the rivers and lakes of the peninsula. Visiting fishermen rarely pay attention to the Chukchi Sea. This rich but harsh northern region, alas, cannot boast of an abundance of fish caught. Although... who knows, maybe due to global warming northern ice will retreat, and the local wealth, including the sea, will become more accessible.
This sea washes the shores of two continents - Eurasia and North America. Through its waters there is also a connection between the Arctic and Pacific oceans through the Bering Strait. In the north, the Chukchi Sea borders on the Arctic Basin, in the west on the East Siberian Sea, and on the east on the Beaufort Sea.
The sea area is 582 thousand sq. km, the average depth is 77 m, maximum depth- 1256 meters.
On the map of Severny Arctic Ocean you can see the Chukchi Sea.
The seashores are slightly indented, mostly mountainous, with many lagoons, spits, and bays. Large rivers do not flow into the Chukchi Sea, the most significant being the Kobuk, Noatak, and Amguema. 
The sea tides are low (on average 15 cm), but wind surges can raise the water level in bays and lagoons up to 3 meters. It breaks through the Bering Strait here warm current, which spreads to the north and gradually deviates towards Alaska. A small branch is directed west, towards the East Siberian Sea. A more influential current comes from the East Siberian Sea, which supplies cold water.
The surface of the Chukchi Sea is covered with ice almost the entire year, with the exception of the southern regions off the coast of Alaska. the northern part of the sea is constantly covered with a powerful shell of drifting ice. The water temperature in the sea rarely rises above zero, only in its eastern part, and in the Bering Strait area the water gets warmer in summer. In other areas of the sea, the water temperature is close to the freezing point.
The bottom of the Chukchi Sea is more relief than the Laptev and East Siberian seas. Here the shelf is crossed by several canyons and hills. The bottom soil is represented by silt, sand and gravel.
The severity of the local climate and cold waters do not allow flora and fauna to fully conquer the expanses of the Chukchi Sea. The flora and fauna here is typical of the neighboring seas to the west, although the connection with the Pacific Ocean adds some variety.
IN coastal zone continental shallows can be found different kinds mollusks - cephalopods, gastropods, echinoderms, small crustaceans, coelenterates and sparse aquatic vegetation. There are many planktonic organisms that serve as food for the cetaceans living here - minke whales (fin whale, sei whale, blue whale, humpback whale, minke whale), several species of seals, walruses and some other pinnipeds.
On the shores of continents and islands you can often find loud bird colonies, where in the summer there are, in addition to the usual seabirds (gulls, terns, cormorants, etc.), geese and ducks.
The fish world of the Chukchi Sea is a little more diverse than that of its western neighbor. Here you can find 43 species of fish; residents of rivers flowing into the sea - whitefish and salmon (grayling, char, etc.) often visit. Among the indigenous fish, one can note several species of herring and cod, coastal bottom fish, smelt, capelin and others.
The harsh climate of these places is complemented by remoteness settlements, desolation, off-road. All this makes sport and recreational fishing in the Chukchi Sea, at least at the present time, almost impossible.
Commercial fishing for fish and animals is also extremely poorly developed.
Sharks in the waters of the Chukchi Sea- very rare. Only the ubiquitous katrans can come into the field of view of a random fisherman, and then only coastal zone Chukotka and Alaska near the Bering Strait. It is theoretically possible for a Pacific salmon shark to appear in the same area of the Chukchi Sea. Both of these shark species pose no danger to humans. And people are not found in the water in these places.
The salinity of the water of the Chukchi Sea has been of interest to sailors and travelers since ancient times. What is it like, this body of water located on the very outskirts of the Arctic Ocean? What is the history of its development? Animal and vegetable world? Relief and physical-geographical position? Let's find out.
Unique location
The Chukchi Sea, the salinity, depth and temperature of which will be described in detail in this article, is located between and the state of Alaska. It is a conditional border not only between two states, but also between two continents and two continents.
On the western side, the reservoir connects with the East Siberian Sea through in the south - with the Bering Sea through the Bering Strait. The eastern part of the Chukchi Sea washes Cape Barrow, thereby coming into contact with As we see, the Chukchi Sea, thanks to its geographical location location, is a connecting link between vast territories and bodies of water.
Moreover, along its water area there runs a conventional line, on opposite sides of which the local time differs from each other by twenty-four hours (a whole day). This conventional line, generally accepted in the international community, is called the International Date Line.
When was the Chukchi Sea discovered (salinity and other indicators of the reservoir will be described below)?
History of discovery
It is noteworthy that in ancient times the Chukchi Sea was developed three times, and each time by different people.
This reservoir was first mentioned back in 1648, when the Russian Semyon Dezhnev walked along it from the Kolyma River to the Andadyr River. Who was this man and what contribution did he make to the development of the land?
Semyon Ivanovich was born in 1605 in the small town of Veliky Ustyug. Nothing is known about the childhood and youth of this sailor and traveler. In his mature years, Dezhnev entered the royal service and moved to Siberia, where he initially served as an ordinary Cossack. Later he became an ataman and was appointed yasak collector. While performing his official duties, Semyon Ivanovich organized the Chukotka expedition, which he went on with his comrades on several kochas - fishing sailing ships.
During the journey, Dezhnev showed himself to be a strong and wise sailor. Having survived several forced winters, shipwrecks and snow drifts, the sailor explored the Chukchi Sea and the peninsula of the same name, the Bering Strait and the outskirts of North America. Semyon Ivanovich kept notes in which he entered his observations, notes and diagrams.
History of the study
Who became Dezhnev's successor in this complex and dangerous matter of developing the Chukchi Sea? In 1728, a Russian expedition was sent to the shores of this reservoir, headed by the captain-commander, a Dane by birth, Vitus Jonassen Bering. This fearless navigator entered the Chukchi Sea through the strait, later named after him, where he was able to conduct instrumental surveys of the western coast.
Fifty-one years later, the heroic deed of Russian sailors was repeated by James Cook, an English naval sailor and famous traveler.
He also crossed the Chukchi Sea, carefully studying its coastline and surrounding area. This happened in 1978, at the end of the third circumnavigation of the world by the brave sailor and his crew. They crossed the Arctic Circle, entered the Chukchi Sea and headed for the Aleutian Islands. During his journey across the ice field, Cook was able to study the area in detail, familiarize himself with Bering's drawn maps and create his own plan of the northern land.
History of the name
What was the name of the Chukchi Sea in those days (the salinity, depth and relief of which will be described below)? The fact is that until the mid-twentieth century, this body of water was considered part of the East Siberian Sea, and only in 1935 was it officially given a name in honor of the inhabitants inhabiting the peninsula of the same name.
This decision was made after the Norwegian polar oceanographer and meteorologist Harald Sverdrup, in the course of his hydrographic research, discovered that the body of water located between Wrangel Island and Cape Barrow was very different from the surrounding sea area.
Having made a short excursion into the history of navigation, let's now take a closer look at the Chukchi Sea itself and its features.
Common parameters. Depth
The northern reservoir occupies a relatively small area - five hundred eighty-nine thousand six hundred square kilometers. How deep is this vast expanse of water?
More than half of the entire area is occupied by depths with a minimum indicator of no more than fifty meters. The maximum depth reaches one kilometer, two hundred and fifty-six meters.
Salinity and depth of the Chukchi Sea are closely related. The following principle can be traced: the higher the depth, the stronger the salinity.
Common parameters. Relief
According to research, the reservoir is located on the shelf - a flattened area of the underwater edge of the continent adjacent to the land. Here the depth of the water varies between forty and sixty meters. There may also be shallows with depths of ten to thirteen meters. Therefore, it becomes clear that along the coastline there is a relatively low salinity of the Chukchi Sea (in ppm it is approximately equal to twenty-eight units).
The seabed of the reservoir is varied and beautiful, cut by two long depressions (or canyons), the depth of which reaches ninety meters (Herald Canyon) and one hundred and sixty meters (Barrow Canyon).
The bottom surface is also heterogeneous. Loose silt mixed with sand and gravel is found here).
Common parameters. Temperature
As many scientists note, the salinity of the Chukchi Sea and the temperature of its waters are also closely interrelated. How? The lower the temperature, the saltier the water.
For example, in winter time, at a water temperature of about two degrees minus, it can reach thirty-three ppm. During this period, the highest salinity of the Chukchi Sea is observed (this ratio is quite easy to convert into percentages, since ppm is one thousandth, or one tenth of a percent). That is, an indicator of thirty-three ppm is equal to 3.3 percent.
In summer, water salinity fluctuates between twenty-eight and thirty-two ppm, and temperature regime seas vary from four to twelve degrees above zero.
Currents
At the mouths of rivers, the minimum salinity is observed (from three to five ppm).
As you can see, this parameter is influenced not only by depth and temperature, but also by currents. How?
For example, in the summer, warm waters from fresh rivers enter the sea through the Bering Strait, which significantly reduces the salinity of the water in the entire reservoir. Most often these are Siberian rivers flowing to the southeast.
Tides also occur in the Chukchi Sea, but they are considered insignificant due to the Bering Strait, which prevents the significant influence of the Arctic Ocean on the Chukchi Sea. The average height of tides usually does not exceed fifteen centimeters.
As for the water disturbances, they are also small. In autumn, decent waves with a height of about six to seven centimeters are observed, but soon the disturbance of the waters subsides, as they freeze.
For more than six months, the Chukchi Sea is covered with ice. Typically, the freezing process begins at the end of October, and the melting of ice occurs at the beginning of June.
Along the coast
On the territory of the Chukchi Sea there are two major ports- Whalen (from the Russian Federation) and Barrow (from the United States of America).
On the Arctic coast of the reservoir there are many beautiful shallow lagoons, the largest of which are Kanygtokynmanky, Eryokynmanky, Tenkergykynmanky and others.
Industry
According to some estimates, the underwater part of the Chukchi Sea contains twenty-five to thirty billion barrels of oil. Also at the bottom there is a large accumulation of placer gold for industrial mining.
Fauna of the reservoir
On the ice of the Chukchi Sea you can find polar bear- large carnivorous mammal, the length of which can reach three meters and body weight - half a ton.
Polar bears differ from their brown counterparts long neck and a flat head. In summer, under the influence of direct sun rays their fur may turn yellow and turn white again in winter.
Most often, animals live on drifting ice floes, where they hunt for seals, sea hares and walruses. IN hibernation Pregnant females lie down, while healthy males sleep irregularly and very little in winter (about two months).
Also in the Chukchi Sea, seals, huge mammals from the walrus family, find refuge.
Their body length varies between two and three meters, and their weight usually reaches nine hundred kilograms. They feed on squid, crustaceans and other marine life.
In the waters of the sea you can often find valuable fish, such as grayling, Far Eastern navaga. In summer, geese, ducks, and seagulls nest along the shores, which organize real bird markets.
Finally
As you can see, the Chukchi Sea is a large Arctic body of water connecting Russia and America. Its beautiful relief bottom is decorated with canyons and numerous algae. In the waters of the sea, dozens of representatives of wildlife find refuge - all kinds of fish, crustaceans, and mammals.
The average salinity of the Chukchi Sea can reach thirty ppm (that's about three percent). As mentioned above, the salinity of water is influenced by several factors - water temperature, depth of the reservoir and all kinds of currents.
On the islands located near the Chukchi Sea, there is a state nature reserve“Wrangel Island”, protecting endangered species of polar bears and walruses.
Between West and East, dividing Old and New World, lies the Chukchi Sea, washing the shores of two great powers - the United States of America and the Russian Federation.
Geographical position
The Chukchi Sea separates Alaska and Chukotka and is a border sea between the United States and the Russian Federation.
When you begin to study information about this sea, the question arises: which ocean does the Chukchi Sea belong to? It belongs to the Arctic Ocean, being its eastern border. On the western side, the borders of the Chukchi Sea pass along Wrangel Island and the Long Strait, separating it from the East Siberian Sea. In the east, it is connected to the Beaufort Sea through the strait, and in the south, the sea’s border runs along the Bering Strait, which separates it from the Pacific waters. The northern border runs along the Chukchi Sea-Ocean line, very conditionally separating them.
Taking into account what was written above, we can answer one more question describing the Chukchi Sea. Which ocean exchanges water with it? This is mainly the Arctic Ocean, but the Pacific Ocean along the Bering Strait also participates in the water exchange of the sea.
The Chukchi Sea has one of the smallest areas among northern seas: Its area is 589.6 square kilometers. This sea can be called an example of ideal marginal seas, because Almost the entire sea area lies on the continental shelf, while the northern part remains open to the ocean. The average depth is 40-50 meters, the most deep place(about 1256 meters) is located outside the continental slope. The shores are mountainous, plunging steeply into the sea. On the Russian coast, sand spits separate lagoons from the sea. The coastline is slightly indented; there are only three large bays: Kotzebue, Shishmareva Bay and Kolyuchinskaya Bay. The rivers flowing into the sea are shallow and few in number, the largest being Amguema (Chukotka) and Noatak (Alaska). Part of the Northern Sea Route passes through the Chukchi Sea.
Bottom relief
The seabed is mostly flat, devoid of sharp elevations and depressions. This is due to the fact that the Chukchi Sea lies on a continental slope. The bottom is like a bowl, going deeper in the middle. The average depth is about 50 meters, sometimes there are shallows with a depth of 13-16 meters.
The bottom of the Chukchi Sea is cut through by two canyons: Geralda, greatest depth which is 90 meters, and Barrow, whose maximum depth reaches 160 meters. The bottom is mostly covered with a thin layer of silt, gravel and sand, the layers are not separated due to constant mixing by moving ice and currents. The heaviest sediment is found in Kotzebue Sound, which scientists believe is a flooded river system.
Coast
Approximately half of the Russian coast of the Chukchi Sea stretches a series of lagoons, separated by sand spits, which go to the mountains and are visible far from the mainland shores. The lagoons start from Cape Yakan and reach Kolyuchinskaya Bay, located on the southeastern coast of the country.
Hydrological regime
The hydrological regime of the Chukchi Sea is determined by the confluence of the cold Arctic waters of the Arctic Ocean with warm waters through the Bering Strait Pacific Ocean. In addition, the regime is influenced by severe polar climatic conditions And floating ice, regularly swimming from the north.
The main current of the Chukchi Sea is the Alaskan current, which carries warm waters from the Pacific Ocean into it. In the middle of the sea, the current turns towards the American coast of the sea; a secondary stream separates in the area of Lisborne Island and carries water to the west.
In addition to the Alaskan one, there is another current in the Chukchi Sea, which runs along the Russian coast of the Chukchi Peninsula. Its origin lies in the East Siberian Sea, from where it carries ice arctic waters to the Bering Strait.
In winter, the Chukchi Sea is under the influence of the Polar and Siberian anticyclones. At this time, the temperature drops to a minimum (on average -25-28 ° C), gentle winds (6-8 m/s) blow in different directions. By the end of winter, southern winds become predominant, the speed of which weakens.
In summer, these anticyclones collapse, in the northern part of the sea the winds acquire a predominantly westerly direction, the air temperature warms up to +2-8 degrees, and precipitation often occurs in the form of rain and sleet.
Almost the entire year, the waters of the Chukchi Sea are covered with ice over two meters thick. In summer for 2-2.5 months South part The Chukchi Sea is freed from its icy shackles thanks to warm waters brought by the Alaska Current.
Water temperature
IN summer months on the southern shores of the Chukchi Sea, thanks to the warm Alaskan current, the water warms up to +12 degrees, but as you move north, the temperature drops, and on the extreme northern outskirts, lying within the eternal ice, it does not rise above -1.7 degrees even in the most warm days. average temperature sea in summer period varies in the range of +4 - +12 degrees, and in winter it drops to -2 °C on the surface. From the end of October to the beginning of June, the Chukchi Sea is covered with ice.
The average water salinity is about 32 ppm, at great depths it may increase. The waters of the eastern part of the sea are saltier than the western ones (salinity gradually increases from 28 to 33 ppm), and the mouths of the inflowing rivers are greatly diluted with fresh water. The salinity of sea water in these areas is in the range of 3-5 ppm.
Fauna
Polar bears, which belong to one of the 5 populations of this species, live on the ice floes of the Chukchi Sea. There are also large rookeries for seals and walruses on the coast and islands. The waters are home to whales, Far Eastern saffron cod, Arctic char, grayling and polar cod. In summer, the islands are covered with numerous bird colonies, the most common being geese, ducks and seagulls.
Minerals
On continental shelf, where the Chukchi Sea is located, oil reserves were discovered. The size of natural oil storage is estimated at approximately 30 billion barrels. Oil and gas production is underway on the American coast, while exploration of deposits is still underway on the Russian coast. In addition to oil and gas, there are industrial reserves of placer gold and tin, small volumes of polymetallic ores, mercury, marble and coal, but difficult climatic conditions and the lack of transport infrastructure make the extraction of these minerals economically unfeasible.
Islands of the Chukchi Sea
The largest islands of the Chukchi Sea are Wrangel, Kolyuchin and Herald. All three islands belong to the Russian Federation.
Wrangel Island is located about 200 kilometers from the mainland coast, but on some particularly clear days its high mountain peaks covered with airy haze are visible from the mainland. Previously, the island was ruled with impunity by poachers who hunted walruses and whales, but now the island has become a state reserve. This is where the breeding sites are located. large quantity species of birds, many of which are listed in the Red Book of the World. Also on the island is the largest walrus rookery in Russia.
East of Wrangel Island is Kolyuchin Island. There are no places suitable for landing on this rocky island. Its only inhabitants are birds, the number of which reaches several tens of thousands.
Herald Island is located 70 kilometers east of the island. Wrangel. This rocky island is an arctic desert. Breeding grounds for polar bears and some bird species are located here. Herald is part of the Wrangel Island nature reserve.
Attractions
Natural attractions of Alaska (USA): Cape Barrow - one of the extreme points of the country's territory, Arctic Bay, Lake Clark, Glacier Bay, Katmai, Dinari, Kenai Fjords.
Natural attractions of Chukotka ( Russian Federation): Wrangel Island ( state reserve); “Beringia” is a natural-ethnic park, the territory of which covers almost the entire area of the Chukchi Sea; Lake Elgygytgyn; reserves “Swan”, “Chaunskaya Guba”, “Tumansky”, “Avtotkuul”, “Tundrovy”, “Omolonsky” and “Teyukul”, created to preserve local flora and fauna, as well as to maintain biological diversity of this region.
The cultural and historical attractions of the Chukchi Sea include American city Barrow and the Russian village of Uelen.
Tourism
Few dare to go on an excursion to the Chukchi Sea; the climate and difficulties with obtaining a special permit (since the border of two states runs along the Chukchi Sea) stop many travelers from traveling to this region. However, those who decide to come here can be sure that they will receive a lot of unforgettable experiences.
Extreme tours to this region include a boat trip, sightseeing, and acquaintance with the life and culture of local residents. If you're lucky, you can take part in a whale or stingray festival, try a snack made from whale meat (the main source of protein and vitamins this region), jump on a nalukatak - a trampoline made from seal skins. In general, there will be more than enough impressions and emotions.
Curious facts
The American city of Barrow (Alaska) is located in a permafrost zone. In some places, the soil here freezes to a depth of about 400 meters. This city was built on the site of the Eskimo village of Ukleagvik, which has a history of more than a thousand years. The name of this village translates as “the place where the polar owl is hunted.”
In 2012, American scientists discovered a huge “blob” of phytoplankton in the Chukchi Sea. It is noteworthy that it was previously believed that the formation of such an accumulation of this type of algae was possible only as a result of the melting of the glacier, but the “Chukchi blot” was discovered at a depth of several meters below the ice crust.
Chukotka Lake Elgygytgyn has an almost perfect round shape. Its age is about 3-4.5 million years, its diameter is about 14 km, and its depth reaches 175 meters (much deeper than most of the Chukchi Sea). Presumably the lake is a crater of an ancient volcano or a crater formed as a result of the fall of a large meteorite.
The easternmost and shallowest of the northern seas, covered eternal ice and shrouded in the harsh arctic cold, this is the Chukchi Sea, beautiful in its originality and uniqueness.
The Chukchi Sea is a relatively recently studied body of water. It first became known in the 17th century, but only in 1935 its current name was assigned to the sea. Due to its location, the Chukchi Sea can be considered special, because it separates the New and Old Worlds.
Boundaries of the Chukchi Sea
This body of water can be considered a maritime border, because it divides Russia and America, or rather, Chukotka and Alaska. The waters of the Chukchi Sea are part of the Arctic Ocean, but they also border on the south with the territory of the Pacific Ocean. The western part of the reservoir abuts one of the islands, and the eastern part merges with the Beaufort Sea.
This body of water can be called one of the compact ones in the category of northern seas - only 590 km 2. The depth here is not very great (the average is only 50-70 m), since scientists believe that there used to be a piece of land in place of the sea. The highest depth mark is a little more than 1250 meters. The seashores are steep and represent mountainous terrain.
For most of the year, the waters are covered with a layer of ice. Two rivers flow into this body of water. large rivers- Amguema and Noatak, while the main current remains the Alaskan. There are a couple of canyons running along the bottom here - Barrow and Herald Canyon.
Fisheries of the Chukchi Sea
In the water area of the reservoir there are three Russian islands - Kolyuchin, Herald and Wrangel. Most of the territory is recognized as a protected area, therefore some fishing activities are prohibited. However, the indigenous people of this region - the Chukchi - are still engaged in fishing (grayling, char, navaga, cod breed here), whaling, and walrus hunting.
It is important to note that the sea shelf here is rich in oil reserves - about 30 billion barrels. The development of gas and oil products takes place in this moment only on the American side. Also in the vicinity of the reservoir, gold and marble deposits, fragments of tin, ore and mercury were discovered. Unstable climatic features However, they do not allow frequent operations to explore the territory and extract these minerals.
