Abstract
Properties of the intermediate layer in the East/Japan Sea are examined by using CREAMS data taken mainly in summer of 1995. Vertical profiles of potential temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen and relationships between these physical and chemical properties show that the dissolved oxygen concentration of 250 µmol/l, roughly corresponding to 0.6°C at the depth of about 400 db, makes a boundary between intermediate and deep waters. Water colder than 0.6°C has a very stable relationship between potential temperature and salinity while salinity of the water warmer than 0.6°C is lower in the western Japan Basin than that in the eastern Japan Basin. The low salinity water with high oxygen corresponds to the East Sea Intermediate Water (ESIW; <34.06 psu, >250 µmol/l and >1.0°C) which was previously identified by Kim and Chung (1984) and the high salinity water with high oxygen found in eastern Japan Basin is named as the High Salinity Intermediate Water (HSIW; >34.07 psu, >250 µmol/l and >0.6°C). Spatial distribution of salinity and acceleration potential on the surface of σϑ = 27.2 kg/m3 shows that the ESIW prevailing in the western Japan Basin is transported eastward by a zonal flow along the polar front near 40°N and a cyclonic gyre in the eastern Japan Basin is closely related to the HSIW.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Cho, Y.-K. and K. Kim (1994): Two modes of the salinity-minimum layer water in the Ulleung Basin. La mer, 32, 271–278.
Gamo, T. and Y. Horibe (1983): Abyssal circulation in the Japan Sea. J. Oceanogr. Soc. Japan, 39, 220–230.
Kajiura, K., M. Tsuchiya and K. Hidaka (1958): The analysis of oceanographical condition in the Japan Sea. Rep. Develop. Fisher. Resour. in the Tsushima Warm Current, 1, 158–170 (in Japanese).
Kim, C. H. and K. Kim (1983): Characteristics and orgin of the cold water mass along the east coast of Korea. J. Oceanol. Soc. Korea, 18, 73–83 (in Korean with English abstract).
Kim, C. H., H.-J. Lie and K.-S. Kim (1991): On the intermediate water in the southeastern East Sea (Sea of Japan). p. 129–141. In Oceanography of Asian Marginal Seas, ed. by K. Takano, Elsevier Science Publishers, Amsterdam.
Kim, K. and J. Y. Chung (1984): On the salinity-minimum and dissolved oxygen-maximum layer in the East Sea (Sea of Japan). p. 55–65. In Ocean Hydrodynamics of the Japan and East China Seas, ed. by T. Ichiye, Elsevier Science Publishers, Amsterdam.
Kim, K., K.-R. Kim, Y.-G. Kim, Y.-K. Cho, J.-Y. Chung, B.-H. Choi, S.-K. Byun, G. H. Hong, M. Takematsu, J.-H. Yoon, Y. Volkov and M. Danchenkov (1996): New findings from CREAMS observation: water masses and eddies in the East Sea. J. Oceanol. Soc. Korea, 31(4), 155–163.
Kim, K., Y.-G. Kim, Y.-K. Cho, M. Takematsu and Y. Volkov (1999): Basin-to-basin and year-to-year variation of temperature and salinity characteristics in the East Sea (Sea of Japan). J. Oceanogr., 55, this volume, 103–109.
Kim, Y.-G., K. Kim, Y.-K. Cho and H. Ossi (1998): CTD data processing for CREAMS expeditions: thermal-lag correction of Sea-Bird CTD. Marine Technology Society Journals (submitted).
Kwon, Y. O. (1998): Secular changes of potential temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen in the East Sea. M.S. Thesis of Seoul National University, 140 pp.
Miyazaki, M. (1953): On the water masses of Japan Sea. Bull. Hokkaido Reg. Fisher. Res. Lab., 7, 1–65 (in Japanese).
Na, J.-Y., J.-W. Seo and S.-K. Han (1992): Monthly-mean sea surface winds over the adjacent seas of the Korea Peninsula. J. Oceanogr. Soc. Korea, 27(1), 1–10.
Naganuma, K. (1973): A distribution on the existence of Tsushima Current third sub-branch. News Fish. Res. Japan Sea, No. 266.
Nitani, H. (1972): On the deep and bottom waters in the Japan Sea. p. 151–201. In Research in Hydrography and Oceanography, ed. by D. Shoji, Hydrographic Department of Japan.
Senjyu, T. and H. Sudo (1993): Water characteristics and circulation of the upper portion of the Japan Sea Proper Water. Journal of Marine Systems, 4, 349–342.
Senjyu, T. and H. Sudo (1994): The upper portion of the Japan Sea Proper Water; its source and circulation as deduced from isopycnal analysis. J. Oceanogr., 50, 663–690.
Sudo, H. (1986): A note on the Japan Sea Proper Water. Prog. Oceanogr., 17, 313–336.
Uda, M. (1934): The results of simultaneous oceanographical investigations in the Japan Sea and its adjacent waters in May and June, 1932. J. Imperial Fishery Experimental Station, 5, 57–190 (in Japanese).
Yasui, M., T. Yasuoka, K. Tanioka and O. Shiota (1967): Oceanographic studies of the Japan Sea (1). The Oceanographical Magazine, 18(2), 177–192.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kim, YG., Kim, K. Intermediate Waters in the East/Japan Sea. Journal of Oceanography 55, 123–132 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007877610531
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007877610531