Abstract
The physical properties of coastal currents in semi-closed bays (e.g., Sakiyama and Amitori bays) in the northwestern part of Iriomote Island are discussed in this chapter, based on the results of theoretical, observational, and numerical investigations. According to the tidal flow dynamics in a single channel, these bays in this region are categorized as “deep bays,” in which little difference in phase and amplitude of the tidal levels exists from the open ocean. Ocean waters therefore flow in a bay in the incoming tide. By contrast, bay waters flow out to the open ocean in the outgoing tide. In Sakiyama Bay with its shallower waters, surface seawater exchange between the bay and ocean is active under near-calm conditions, leading to an environment in which the river water mass near the surface layer is more likely to flow out to the open ocean. By contrast, in Amitori Bay with the deeper waters, near-surface river water is stagnant under near-calm conditions. It selectively distributes to the eastern side of the bay because of the Earth’s rotation. The theory of tidal flow dynamics in a single channel suggests that differences of coastal currents between Sakiyama and Funauki bays are mainly attributable to the difference of the aspect ratio, the length to depth ratio, between the two bays. Such a difference in physical properties in the coastal currents is expected to affect the coastal ocean ecosystem distribution in this region.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Matsumoto K, Takanezawa T, Ooe M (2000) Ocean tide models developed by assimilating TOPEX/POSEIDON altimeter data into hydrodynamical model: a global model and a regional around Japan. J. Oceanography 56:567–581
Murakami T, Yasuda T, Ohsawa T (2004) Development of a multi-sigma coordinate model coupled with an atmospheric model for the calculation of coastal currents. Ann J Coast Eng 51:366–370 (in Japanese with English abstract)
Unoki S (1993) Coastal ocean physics, Tokai University Press, 672 p (in Japanese)
Yoshino J, Noguchi K, Ukai A, Nakase K, Kohno H, Kimura K, Murakami T, Yasuda T (2011) Relationships between ocean current fields and coral habitat environment in Amitori Bay, Iriomote Is., Japan. Ann J Civil Eng Ocean 67(2):I_43–I_48 (in Japanese with English abstract)
Yoshino J, Murakami T, Ukai A, Kohno H, Kita K, Shimokawa S, Sakihara K, Mizutani A (2016) Seawater exchange processes through the bays of Shiarahama and Funauki in Iriomote Island, Okinawa, Japan. J Japan Soc Civil Eng B2 72(2):I_1207–I_1212 (in Japanese with English abstract)
Acknowledgements
Technical assistance with observational and numerical investigations was graciously provided by Mr. Kota Noguchi in Penta-Ocean Construction Co., Ltd.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2020 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Yoshino, J. et al. (2020). Dynamical Properties of Coastal Currents in the Northwestern Part of Iriomote Island Part. 1—Sakiyama and Amitori Bays. In: Shimokawa, S., Murakami, T., Kohno, H. (eds) Geophysical Approach to Marine Coastal Ecology. Springer Oceanography. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-1129-5_4
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-1129-5_4
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-15-1128-8
Online ISBN: 978-981-15-1129-5
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)