Responses of coastal waters in the Yellow Sea to Typhoon Bolaven

Abstract

In August 2012, Typhoon Bolaven (1215) passed through the East China Sea (ECS) and the Yellow Sea (YS), leading to severe coastal damages in Korea. This study investigated the responses of the coastal waters along the meridional direction of the YS and the ECS to Typhoon Bolaven. This included the causes of record-breaking high waves in the ECS, the possible danger of coincident peak surges and high tides, resonant coupling between the typhoon, tides and topography, and the impact of Bolaven-induced sea surface cooling on the intensity of Typhoon Tembin (1214). Analyses were conducted using observations from an ocean platform, buoys, and tidal stations, as well as a numerical model during the passage of Bolaven. Results revealed that the western coast of the Korean Peninsula fortunately avoided severe storm surge damages due to weak tidal action during the passage of Bolaven, although pure surge components were significantly high. However, we found that there was the possibility of resonant coupling between surges, tides and topography in the YS, which would contribute to further enhancement of the storm surge. Based on the wave simulations, it was revealed that a straight track and fast translation of Bolaven maximized the production of record-breaking high waves in the ECS.