Intermediate level circulation of the southwestern part of the East/Japan Sea estimated from autonomous isobaric profiling floats

Abstract

With trajectory data from autonomous isobaric profiling floats (PALACE, APEX and PROVOR), we obtained a detailed intermediate level circulation pattern over the southwestern part of the East/Japan Sea. The circulation pattern, which is consistent with moored current meter data obtained at a few locations, is largely controlled by the bottom topography. The main features we have found are as follows: 1) a cyclonic circulation along the Korean coast and the continental break around the Ulleung Basin and the western side of Oki Spur to the Yamato Rise, and 2) a cold current from the Japan Basin to the Ulleung Basin through the Ulleung Interplain Gap, which is a part of the anticyclonic flow over the Korea Plateau, a Taylor column.