thereby would impact on ecosystems and fish stocks,
especially the pollock stock. Waters of the OS are characterized by negative
temperatures in a subsurface layer (a dichothermal layer). The AS,
carrying warm subsurface waters into the Bering Sea and the western
subarctic Pacific, are characterized by increased temperatures (N4 °C)
in the subsurface layer. The effect of continued disruption of an AS in-
flow to the Bering Sea would be an appreciable cooling (0.5 °C) of subsurface
waters. These substantial changes would affect the ecosystem,
especially the valuable pollock fish stock (Stabeno et al., 1999). It is
not known how changes in the AS flux affect the ecosystem in the OS.
In this study, we investigate the impact of interannual variations in
the AS surface flux on flows, temperature, ice coverage, plankton
biomass, and walleye pollock stock in the eastern OS. We demonstrate
a correlation between the interannual changes of the AS flow and the
surface fluxes in the eastern OS. Our results indicate that changes in
the AS flow may be responsible for the interannual variations of
temperature, ice extent, and zooplankton biomass in the eastern OS.