Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (한국수산과학회지)

The Korean Society of Fisheries and Aquatic Science (한국수산과학회)
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Distribution and Circulation of Autumn Low-salinity Water in the East Sea

동해의 가을철 저염수 분포 및 유동

  • Lee, Dong-Kyu (Department of Oceanography, Pusan National University) ;
  • Lee, Jae Chul (Department of Oceanography, Pukyong National University)
  • Received : 2017.03.10
  • Accepted : 2017.04.25
  • Published : 2017.04.30
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Abstract

Seawater with salinity of 32.5 psu or less is observed in the southern Japan/East Sea (JES) every autumn. It is confined to a surface layer 30-45 m in depth that expands to cover the entire JES in October. Two sources of "autumn low-salinity water" have been identified from historical hydrographic data in the western JES: East China Sea (ECS) water mixed with fresh water discharge from the Yangtze River (Changjiang) and seawater diluted with melted sea ice in the northern JES. Low-salinity water inflow from the ECS begins in June and reaches its peak in September. Low-salinity water from the northern JES expands southward along the coast, and its horizontal distribution varies among years. A rare observational study of the entire JES in October 1969 indicated that water with salinity less than 33.0 psu covered the southwestern JES; the lowest salinity water was found near the Ulleung Basin. In October 1995, the vertical distribution of salinity observed in a meridional section revealed that water with salinity of 33.6 psu or less was present in the area north of the subpolar front.

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