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Wind-induced Spatial and Temporal Variations in the Thermohaline Front in the Jeju Strait, Korea

  • Han, In-Seong (Fishery and Ocean Information Division, National Fisheries Research and Development Institute) ;
  • Suh, Young-Sang (Fishery and Ocean Information Division, National Fisheries Research and Development Institute) ;
  • Seong, Ki-Tack (Southwest Sea Fisheries Research Institute, National Fisheries Research and Development Institute)
  • Received : 2013.03.06
  • Accepted : 2013.03.27
  • Published : 2013.06.30

Abstract

We investigated the short-term and local changes in the thermohaline front in the Jeju Strait, Korea, which is usually formed during winter and spring. To do so, we compared Real-Time Observation System by Ferryboat (RTOSF) data with wind data and routinely collected oceanographic data. During February and April 2007, a thermohaline front formed in the Jeju Strait around the 13-$14^{\circ}C$ isotherms and 33.0-33.5 isohalines. The thermohaline was clearly weakened and began moving southward in mid-March. The variations in the surface temperature and salinity showed a continuous north-south oscillation of the thermohaline front with a period of 3-10 days. The speed of the short-term and local fluctuation of thermohaline front was about 5-30 cm/s. We confirmed these findings by examining the variation in the maximum temperature gradient and $14^{\circ}C$ isotherm during the study period. These short-term and local changes had not been previously detected using serial oceanographic and satellite data. Analysis of local wind data revealed a northerly wind fluctuation with a period of 3-10 days, which was clearly related to the short-term and local changes in the thermohaline front. The short-term and local changes of the thermohaline front in the Jeju Strait originated from local changes in the winter monsoon in this area.

Keywords

References

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