Abstract
Several numerical experiments were carried out on the formation of water masses and their fronts such as observed in the Kii Channel in winter. Such water masses and fronts may caused by density-induced current system. The phenomenon is assumed to take place in the vertical two-dimensional plane not involving the effect of the earth's rotation. The linear momentum equation and the diffusion-advection equations of salinity and temperature are integrated with respect to time under a vertically hydrostatic condition. The result is that two rolls which correspond to the onshore water mass and the offshore water mass are formed with an accompanying front between them. The apparent diffusion coefficient reaches a relatively great amount inside the water masses and drops down to the eddy diffusivity level at the front. The dependence of the synoptic distributions of the temperature and salinity on several parameters is also examined. Finally another experiment is carried out involving the effect of the earth's rotation, which results in a rather different distribution pattern from that of the non-rotating model.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bowles, P., R.H. Burns, F. Hudswell andR.T.P. Whipple (1958): Sea disposal of low activity effluent. Proc. Conf. Peaceful Uses Atomic Energy, 2nd, Geneva,18, 376–389.
Endoh, M. (1977): Formation of the thermohaline front by cooling of the sea surface and inflow of the fresh water. J. Oceanogr. Soc. Japan,33, 6–15.
Ichiye, T. (1953): On the hydrography of the Kii-Suido. Bull. Kobe Marine Observatory, No. 164, pp. 253–278.
Kunishi, H., H. Yoshioka andT. Suzuki (1971): On the oceanic process at Kii-Suido. Disast. Prev. Res. Inst. Annuals, Univ. of Kyoto,14B, 511–518 (in Japanese).
Kunishi, H., H. Yoshioka, K. Nishi andY. Hatakeyama (1974): On the oceanic front at Kii-Suido, Annual Meeting of Oceanogr. Soc. Japan, p. 63 (in Japanese).
Oonishi, Y., A. Harashima andH. Kunishi (1978): The characteristics of a front formed by cooling of the sea surface and inflow of the fresh water. J. Oceanogr. Soc. Japan,34, 17–23.
Veronis, G. (1972): On properties of seawater defined by temperature, salinity and pressure. J. Mar. Res.,30, 227–255.
Yanagi, T. (1976): On the coastal environment of the sea of Iyo (I)—Results of observations of KT-74-2 cruise of R. V. Tansei Maru. Mem. of the Ehime Univ., Sect. 3, 8, 3, pp. 233–238 (in Japanese).
Yoshioka, H. (1971): Oceanic front at Kii-Suido in winter (I). Umi to Sora,46(2), 1–31 (in Japanese).
Yoshioka, H. (1977): The variation of oceanic front in the Kii-Channel—Observation of the surface water temperature by the use of ferry boats. Disast. Prev. Res. Inst. Annuals, Univ. of Kyoto,20B, 513–527 (in Japanese).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Harashima, A., Oonishi, Y. & Kunishi, H. Formation of water masses and fronts due to density-induced current system. Journal of the Oceanographical Society of Japan 34, 57–66 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02108659
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02108659