Laptev Sea 

 Severnaya Zemlya coastal flow, Lena River outflov 



The currents in the Laptev Sea, as with those In the Barents and 

 Kara Seas, are practically unknown. There are no well-known or named 

 currents, and the flows are identified geographically as shown in 

 Figure 1. 



Approximately I.9 X 10-^3 cubic feet of river water flow into the 

 laptev Sea during the summer and occupy the southern and eastern 

 parts of the sea. 



Along the east coasts of Severnaya Zemlya there is a slow 

 movement of arctic water southeastward into the western part of the 

 sea (80°W., 101°E.) ; speeds are low, averaging about 0.2 knot. The 

 current merges with the flows from Shokalski and Boris Vilkitski 

 Straits and continues at the same speed toward 75°N., 120°E., where it 

 turns eastward at diminishing speed and joins the stronger north-setting 

 Lena River outflow. 



In the eastern part of the sea the main flow sets north along 

 130 °E. and is mainly the result of fresh water discharging from the 

 Lena River, the seventh largest river in the world, at the average rate 

 of 5^1-7,000 cubic feet per second. Maximum river discharge occurs from 

 ice melt in the spring, and highest speeds in the Lena outflow occur 

 during the second half of July and in August; average speed is about 

 0.5 knot, and speeds seldom exceed 1 knot. 



In the region east of 135°E. the currents are easily affected by 

 winds, and tidal currents and change direction frequently; the results 

 of limited investigations in this region do not show any constant 

 direction of flow. Rapid changes in wind have caused east- or west- 



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