SAR manifestations of sea fronts and vortex streets in the Bering Strait

The analysis of ERS-1/2 SAR data of the Bering Strait, obtained in summer 1995, 1998 and 2000 has allowed us to observe many important oceanic processes. These include meandering fronts and vortex activity (well pronounced in the eastern part of the Strait), a strong jet current at the Prince Wales Cape, and intrusions of the cold Chukchi Sea water (extensions of the Siberian Coastal Current) in the western part of the Strait. These images demonstrate some interesting diversions from the northward current typical for the Bering Strait. The flow direction in the central part of the Bering Strait can be revealed from prominent wake features. Also, generation of internal waves on fronts can be detected in some images. Especially impressive is the large variety of surface manifestations of vortex streets north of the Fairway Rock due to high variability of the incident flow. The asymmetry of the Rock causes a special form of the Ka´rma´n vortex street consisting of a row of single vortices.