Abstract
In order to estimate the quantitative roles of the tide induced residual currents, density currents and wind driven currents on the residual currents in Kwangynag Bay Korea, numerical experiments with a diagnostic multi-level model were carried out. Density currents were calculated from the temperature and salinity data observed in January, May, August and November 1998. Anti-clockwise circulations are formed at the western inner part of the bay, the location from the east of Myodo Is. to the south of POSCO Co. and the place between Yeosu peninsula and Namhae Is. from the calculation results of the tide induced residual currents. Velocities of the density currents are less than 3cm/s at the western inner part of the bay and about 5cm/s at the southern entrance of the bay. Density currents get strong in summer and weak in autumn. Wind driven currents at the surface layer flow in the directions of the given winds which are the daily mean winds when the temperature and salinity observations are carried out. In the middle and lower layers, however the wind driven currents flow in the opposite direction to the surface currents as supplementary currents. The surface wind driven currents are greater than the tide induced residual currents or the density currents. The calculated residual currents including the tide induced residual currents, density currents and wind driven currents agree with the results of the current observations approximately. In the Bay, the wind driven currents affect on the residual currents greatestly and tide induced residual currents and density currents do in the second place and the third place.
