Interannual variability in surface circulation of the East/Japan Sea: Three-dimensional numerical model simulations

Abstract

Interannual variability in surface circulation of the East/Japan Sea is larger than the ocean. However, Interannual variability in surface circulation has been poorly understood in the East/Japan Sea. We aimed to identity possible mechanisms by which interannual variability can be controlled using 3-dimensional high-resolution (3 km in horizontal) numerical model by considering in most possible three factors: Korea Strait transport, atmospheric forcing and internal variationin East/Japan Sea. When interannual variations considered atmospheric forcing, ocean state went away from the observed state in terms of sea surface temperature and sea surface height (SSH) variability, and the interannual variability surface circulation increased in the northern part of the East/Japan Sea. While, when those considered the Korea Strait transport, ocean state got close to the observed one with an increased variability over the western part of the East/Japan Sea. Effect of internal variation reproduced well the interannual variation of mesoscale eddies in the East/Japan Sea. Our results suggest that the main forcing inducing the interannual variability in surface circulation varies regionally with the signification of the internal variation for the interannual surface circulation over the mostly of the East/Japan Sea.s by which interannual variability can be controlled using 3-dimensional high-resolution (3 km in horizontal) numerical model by considering in most possible three factors: Korea Strait transport, atmospheric forcing and internal variationin East/Japan Sea. When interannual variations considered atmospheric forcing, ocean state went away from the observed state in terms of sea surface temperature and sea surface height (SSH) variability, and the interannual variability surface circulation increased in the northern part of the East/Japan Sea. While, when those considered the Korea Strait transport, ocean state got close to the observed one with an increased variability over the western part of the East/Japan Sea. Effect of internal variation reproduced well the interannual variation of mesoscale eddies in the East/Japan Sea. Our results suggest that the main forcing inducing the interannual variability in surface circulation varies regionally with the signification of the internal variation for the interannual surface circulation over the mostly of the East/Japan Sea.