Currents in Korea-Tsushima Strait during summer 1999

Abstract

Results are presented from continuous current measurements across Korea-Tsushima Strait between May and October 1999. The data are from eleven bottom-mounted Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers that recorded full-depth profiles of currents along two lines, one at each end of the Strait. The two sections show markedly different mean flow regimes. At the southern entrance, the cross-section flow varies smoothly across the channel, showing a broad maximum at mid-channel. The northern section is marked by strong spatial variability but in the mean consists of two streams, one on each side of the strait. Between the two is a regime of highly variable flow with a weak mean, presumably indicating the wake from Tsushima Island. Flow variability in time is described by statistical measures and by representative snapshots.