Study on the current structure of the thermohaline front in the southeastern entrance of the Yellow Sea during winter

OH Kyung-Hee; LEE Seok; LIE Heung-Jae; JUNG Kyung Tae; QIAO Fangli

doi:10.1007/s13131-015-0763-z

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Article Navigation > Acta Oceanologica Sinica > 2015 > 34(12): 29-36

OH Kyung-Hee, LEE Seok, LIE Heung-Jae, JUNG Kyung Tae, QIAO Fangli. Study on the current structure of the thermohaline front in the southeastern entrance of the Yellow Sea during winter[J]. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 2015, 34(12): 29-36. doi: 10.1007/s13131-015-0763-z

Citation:

OH Kyung-Hee, LEE Seok, LIE Heung-Jae, JUNG Kyung Tae, QIAO Fangli. Study on the current structure of the thermohaline front in the southeastern entrance of the Yellow Sea during winter[J]. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 2015, 34(12): 29-36. doi: 10.1007/s13131-015-0763-z

Citation:

OH Kyung-Hee, LEE Seok, LIE Heung-Jae, JUNG Kyung Tae, QIAO Fangli. Study on the current structure of the thermohaline front in the southeastern entrance of the Yellow Sea during winter[J]. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 2015, 34(12): 29-36. doi: 10.1007/s13131-015-0763-z

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Study on the current structure of the thermohaline front in the southeastern entrance of the Yellow Sea during winter

doi: 10.1007/s13131-015-0763-z

1.
Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Ansan 426-744, Republic of Korea
2.
First Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Qingdao 266061, China

Received Date: 2015-07-20
Rev Recd Date: 2015-09-21

Abstract

Abstract

A thermohaline front is located at the southeastern entrance of the Yellow Sea in winter, and it is generated by the intrusion of warm saline water into the Yellow Sea caused by a strong northerly wind. Recently, a westward transversal current traveling away from the west coast of Korea toward the open sea area along the front was reported. The westward transversal current is dominant in the surface layer during the temperature inversion period. The formation and structure of this current are examined using a numerical vertical ocean-slice model. When two different water masses meet, a front is formed and adjusted geostrophically. In this frontal zone, a horizontal pressure gradient flow by the vertically inclined isopycnal occurs under the thermal wind process in a baroclinic effect, and the cold fresh coastal water moves westward along the front in the upper layer. The barotropic effect across the front and the bottom friction effect strengthen the westward component of the velocity. The velocity of the bottom layer decreases remarkably in the increase of the bottom drag coefficient. This means that the bottom friction with the strong background tidal current causes a reduction in the current in the bottom layer.
- Geostrophic adjustment,
- Southeastern Yellow Sea,
- Thermohaline front,
- Thermal wind,
- Westward transversal current

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References(26)

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