| Term: | Anadyr current |
| Definition: | A current through the Bering Strait that carries low-salinity water of Pacific origin into the Arctic Ocean. It is concentrated on the Siberian side with speeds near 0.3 m/s and varies little with season. During winter it is augmented by additional flow from the Sphanberg Strait. With a total transport of less than 0.5 Sv (0.5 x 10^6 m^3/s), the Anadyr Current contributes little to the mass balance of the World Ocean but is essential to its freshwater budget since the salinity of the North Pacific is so much lower than that of the North Atlantic. In terms of freshwater transport the modest Anadyr Current is equivalent to several Amazon Rivers. |