Atlas of the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas (Draft)

A multi-layered look at America's Arctic Ocean

Sea Surface Temperature, Map 7. | 1 of 3

Bowhead Whale, Map 39. | 2 of 3

Human Impacts, Map 43. | 3 of 3

In August Audubon Alaska completed a draft Atlas of the Chukchi and Beaufort seas. The project area includes the southern Beaufort, southern Chukchi, and northern Bering seas.

Audubon, in cooperation with Oceana, compiled an extensive database of Arctic marine data using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). GIS enables us to ask questions and analyze information in new ways. The atlas provides a holistic look at the dynamic Arctic Ocean ecosystem, and will be an important tool for scientists and policymakers in setting conservation priorities and designing balanced management plans in this sensitive Arctic region.

The collection of 44 maps contains information on the physical environment, such as sea ice formation, the distribution of ice-dependent species including polar bears, and energy development.

INTRODUCTION
Atlas Cover
Atlas Title Page
Atlas Introduction

PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHY
1. Project Area
2. Bathymetry
3. Marine Ecoregions
4. Ocean Circulation
5. Sea Ice Dynamics
6. Sea Floor Substrate
7. Sea Surface Temperature
8. Observed Climate Change

WATER COLUMN AND BENTHIC LIFE
9. Chlorophyll-a
10. Net Primary Productivity
11. Zooplankton
12. Benthic Biomass
13. Opilio Crab

FISH
Oceanodromous
14. Capelin
15. Pacific Herring
16. Saffron Cod

Anadromous
17. Pink Salmon
18. Chum Salmon

BIRDS
Endangered Species Act
19. Spectacled Eider (Threatened)
20. Steller’s Eider (Threatened)
21. Yellow-billed Loon (Warranted but Precluded)
22. Kittlitz’s Murrelet (Candidate)

Audubon Alaska WatchList
23. King Eider
24. Common Eider
25. Long-tailed Duck
26. Red-throated Loon
27. Ivory Gull

Highly Concentrated Groups
28. Northern Fulmar
29. Short-tailed Shearwater

Concentration Areas
30. Seabird Colonies
31. Important Bird Areas

MAMMALS
Terrestrial/Marine
32. Polar Bear
33. Arctic Fox

Pinnepeds
34. Pacific Walrus
35. Ribbon Seal
36. Spotted Seal
37. Ringed Seal
38. Bearded Seal

Cetaceans
39. Bowhead Whale
40. Beluga Whale
41. Gray Whale

PEOPLE
42. Infrastructure
43. Human Impact
44. Predicted Climate Change