Abstract
A POM based three-dimension baroclinic prognostic model in σ-coordinate was established to simulate the eddies in the East China Seas wintertime circulation, considering the topography, inflow and outflow on the open boundary, Changjiang runoff, heat, flux, and wind stress on the sea surface. The model results showed that three branches separate from the Kuroshio flow toward the interior of the Yellow Sea, and form three eddies respectively. The middle eddy is centered at 124°37′E, 37°00′N, the southern eddy is centered at 124°00′E, 35°30′N. The large cyclonic eddy centered at 125°06′E, 30°30′N and located southwest of Cheju Island is a closed structure formed by the northeastward flowing Taiwan Warm Current, northwestward flowing Yellow Sea Warm Current and southward flowing coastal current. The Kuroshio intrusion engenders an eddy west of Kyushu Island of Japan. The branching of the Kuroshio is the direct dynamic cause of the formation of this large eddy. Moreover, both the topographic influence and the northward wind prevailing in winter affect the eddy's formation obviously.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Guan, B. X., 1962. Some questions about current in China Seas.Oceanologia et Limnologia Sinica 4(3–4): 121–141.
Guan, B. X., 1978. A summary of the East China Sea current system. A Collection of paper about the continent shelf in the East China Sea, Institute of Oceanology, CAS, p. 126–183.
Hu, D. X., Ding, Z. X., Xiong, Q. C., 1980. Primary study of a cyclonic eddy in the northern East China Sea.Chinese Science Bulletin 25(1): 29–31.
Inoue, H., 1975. The current on the continental shelf in the East China Sea.Ocean and Sky 51(1): 5–12. (in Japanese)
Sun, X. P., Su, Y. F., Xiu, S. M., 1996. Primary study of the warm current on the continental shelf in the East&South China Seas.Oceanology Bulletin 15(2): 1–10.
Tang, Y. X., Zou, E. M., Li, X. Z., 2000. Some characters of the current in the southern Yellow Sea.Acta Oceanologica Sinica 22(1): 1–16.
Wang, W., SU, J. L., 1987. A barotropic model for the current system and eddy in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea.Acta Oceanologica Sinica 9(3): 271–284.
Zhao, B. R., Fang, G. H., 1991. Estimation of the flux of main channels in the East China Sea.Acta Oceanologica Sinica 13(2): 169–178.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This research was supported by the Scientific Foundation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (KZCX-202); and by a Major State Basic Research Program (G1999043803).
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Min, C., Yijun, H. & Guohong, F. Numerical simulation of wintertime mesoscale eddies in the East China Sea. Chin. J. Ocean. Limnol. 21, 345–350 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02860430
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02860430