Evidence of episodic on-shelf flow in the southeastern Bering Sea

Trajectories from satellite‐tracked drifters released over the continental slope (depth 250–500 m) in the southeastern Bering Sea revealed an episodic event of on‐shelf flow. The first set of seven drifters followed the isobaths northwestward at speeds of 20–40 cm s−1; the second set, released 12 days later, moved 60 km onto the shelf at speeds of 10–15 cm s−1. Meanders or eddies were evident in the trajectories as the drifters were advected onto the shelf. An anticyclonic eddy formed at the shoreward termination of on‐shelf flow (120 m isobath). The eddy dissipated in 8–10 days. Such events can be important mechanisms in replenishing nutrients and introducing oceanic plankton and larvae onto the shelf.