CCCC - Table 1

Table 1. Hypothesized physical changes in the Subarctic Pacific under a global warming scenario.

Physical Process | Hypothesized Change
--- | ---
Wind Stress Curl | Decreases, northward shift
Poleward Transport | Position of subarctic bifurcation moves north; changes in transport unknown
Coastal wind stress | Decreases, esp. winter
Coastal downwelling | Decreases, esp. winter
Coastal precipitation | Increases
Freshwater input | Increases; maximum shifts toward winter
Coastal current transport (ACC) | Decreases
Stratification | Increases in central gulf and in coastal region
Upwelling, central Gulf of AK | Decreases
SST | Increases
Eddies and meanders | Unknown
Mixed layer depth | Decreases
Cross shelf transport | Decreases
Winter storms intensity | Decreases
Winter storm frequency | Unknown
Timing of spring bloom | Unknown; may be later due to lower temperatures, or earlier due to decreased cloudiness affecting solar timing.