Thermohaline Front structure in the southern Yellow Sea in Winter

Abstract

A thermohaline front between the warm and saline Cheju Warm Current Water and the cold and fresh Yellow Sea Cold Water is formed in the southern Yellow Sea in winter. It is well-known the northward intrusion of the warm and saline water by the strong northerly wind. Observation results in 2003, however, show the westward flow along the front of east-west direction. It is occurred by the thermal wind effect because the denser Cheju Warm Current Water is under the lower Yellow Sea Cold Water/Korea Coastal Water. The front between the two water masses is maintained relatively stable due to the double-diffusion layering process, even though there is strong tidal currents. The westward flow along the front will be influence on the root of northwestward inflow into the Yellow Sea known as the Yellow Sea Warm Current. by the strong northerly wind. Observation results in 2003, however, show the westward flow along the front of east-west direction. It is occurred by the thermal wind effect because the denser Cheju Warm Current Water is under the lower Yellow Sea Cold Water/Korea Coastal Water. The front between the two water masses is maintained relatively stable due to the double-diffusion layering process, even though there is strong tidal currents. The westward flow along the front will be influence on the root of northwestward inflow into the Yellow Sea known as the Yellow Sea Warm Current.