• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.149-158
• /
• 2012

This study analyzed cross-sectional variations in residual current and strengths of stratification by observing cross-sectional velocity and salinity during spring tide and neap tide, respectively, for continuous 13-hour periods at 2 observation lines at northern and southern end of Seokmo Channel, which is located west of Ganghwado. Salinity distribution of channel depends on not only neap and spring tide but also impact of salinity. The residual current component was obtained by removing $M_2$ and $M_4$ tidal components that were extracted using the least squares method on 13-hour velocity component. Cross-section of residual velocity at northern and southern end of Seokmo Channel exhibited southward residual components at channel's surface layer, but northward residual current was observed at channel's bottom layer, clearly showing a 2-layer tidal circulation between surface and bottom layers. The variation in location of appearing northward residual current according to changes in spring and neap tidal cycle and its correlation with stratification were analyzed using the Richardson number and Simpsonhunter index. At northern and southern end of Seokmo Channel, northward residual current appears in the location where Richardson number is large, Simpson-hunter index appears as a value greater than 4.