Revising the Bering Strait freshwater flux into the Arctic Ocean

The freshwater flux through the Bering Strait into the Arctic Ocean is important regionally and globally, e. g. for Chukchi Sea hydrography, Arctic Ocean stratification, the global freshwater cycle, and the stability of the Atlantic overturning circulation. Aagaard and Carmack [ 1989] estimated the Bering Strait freshwater flux as 1670 km(3)/yr ( relative to 34.8 psu), assuming an annual mean transport (0.8 Sv) and salinity (32.5 psu). This is similar to 1/3rd of the total freshwater input to the Arctic. Using long-term moored measurements and ship-based observations, we show that this is a substantial underestimate of the freshwater flux. Specifically, the warm, fresh Alaskan Coastal Current in the eastern Bering Strait may add similar to 400 km(3)/yr. Seasonal stratification and ice transport may add another similar to 400 km(3)/yr. Combined, these corrections are larger than the interannual variability observed by near-bottom measurements and near-surface measurements will be necessary to quantify this flux and its interannual variability.