Abstract
The seasonal variability of oceanographic conditions in the southern part of the Sea of Okhotsk is described based on long-term mean temperature T and salinity S from observations along a standard oceanographic section Cape Aniva-Cape Dokuchaev (May–November). It is shown that the Soya Current is relatively weak in spring, with low temperature and salinity gradients along the section. The Sea of Okhotsk low-salinity water mass is observed in the upper layer. It was formed as a result of melting of a large amount of ice brought here with the East Sakhalin Current from the northwestern part of the Sea of Okhotsk. A cold intermediate layer (CIL) at depths of 50–150 m extends along the entire section. The cold intermediate layer core with a temperature at the edge of the Sakhalin shelf of about −1.3°C is retained during a period of maximum warming in August; however, in October–November the intensified flow of the East Sakhalin Current (up to 50 cm/s) results in a situation when relatively warm low-salinity waters, connected with the Amur River runoff, dissipate CIL. The results of 12 surveys conducted by the Sakhalin Research Institute for Fisheries and Oceanography in 1998–2004 show significant deviations of T and S [10] in different years from the calculated values. Generally, maximum anomalies (ΔT > 4°C and ΔS > 0.55‰) are observed in the surface layer. Their values and statistical significance decrease with depth. However, the situation is opposite in some cases. The maximum deviation from normal was observed in June 1999, when warm and salt waters were located much further seaward from the Kunashir shelf, which is most likely connected with the Soya Current meandering.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
A. A. Bobkov, “The Soya Current and its Branches,” Izvestiya Geograficheskogo Obshchestva, No. 6, 121 (1989) [Izv. Geograf. Sci., No. 6, 121 (1989)].
A. A. Bobkov, “On Intraseasonal Variability of the Soya Current in the Southern Kurils,” Vestnik LGU, Ser. 7, No. 2, 14 (1990) [Vestnik Leningrad State University, Ser. 7, No. 2, 14 (1990)].
K. Bouden, Physical Oceanography of Coastal Waters (Mir, Moscow, 1988) [in Russian].
Hydrology and Hydrochemistry of Seas. Issue 1. Hydrometeorological Conditions (Gidrometeoizdat, St. Petersburg, 1998) [in Russian].
I. A. Zhigalov, Yu. I. Novikov, E. V. Samko, and S. V. Kolosov, “Hydrological Conditions in the Southern Kurils in the Period of Maximum Water Warming (September 2000), Izvestiya TINRO, 130 (2002) [Izv. Pacific Sci. Res. Fishering Center, 130 (2002)].
I. E. Kochergin, S. I. Rybalko, V. F. Putov, and G. V. Shevchenko, “Some Results of Processing of Instrumental Observations of Currents in Piltun-Astokhskii and Arkutun-Daginskii Areas of the Northeastern Sakhalin Shelf,” in Hydrometeorological and Environmental Conditions of the Far East Seas: Estimated Impact on the Marine Environment (Dal’nauka, Vladivostok, 1990) [in Russian].
V. B. Krasavtsev, K. K. Popudribko, and G. V. Shevchenko, “Spatial Structure of Non-periodic Currents on the Northeastern Sakhalin Shelf from the 1990 Measurements,” in Dynamic Processes on the Sakhalin and Kuril Shelf (Yuzho-Sakhalinsk, 2001) [in Russian].
V. B. Krasavtsev, K. L. Puzankov, and G. V. Shevchenko, “Upwelling Formed on the Northeastern Sakhalin Shelf under the Wind Impact,” in Hydrometeorological and Environmental Conditions of the Far East Seas: Estimated Impact on the Marine Environment (Dal’nauka, Vladivostok, 2000) [in Russian].
K. V. Moroshkin, Water Masses of the Sea of Okhotsk (Nauka, Moscow, 1966) [in Russian].
V. M. Pishchal’nik and A. O. Bobkov, The Oceanographic Atlas of the Sakhalin Shelf. Part I (The Sakhalin State University Press, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, 2000) [in Russian].
V. M. Pishchal’nik and S. M. Klimov, Catalogue of Deep Water Observations Performed on the Sakhalin Shelf in 1948–1987 (Institute of Marine Geology and Geophysics, Far East Division, Russ. Acad. Sci., Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, 1991) [in Russian].
A. A. Romanov, O. S. Sedaeva, and G. V. Shevchenko, “Seasonal Oscillations of the Level of the Sea of Okhotsk from Coastal Mareographic Stations and Satellite Altimetry,” Issledovanie Zemli iz Kosmosa, No. 6 (2004) [Earth Research from Space, No. 6 (2004)].
E. V. Samko and Yu. V. Novikov, “Seasonal Variability of Thermohaline Characteristics of the Active Layer in the Pacific Kuril Basin,” Meteorologiya i Gidrologiya, No. 5 (2001) [Russian Meteorology and Hydrology, No. 5 (2001)].
G. V. Shevchenko, “Calculation of Extreme Current Velocities by the Composition Distribution Method (Using the Example of the Piltun-Astokh Oil Field on the Northeastern Shelf of Sakhalin),” Meteorologiya i Gidrologiya, No. 1 (2004) [Russian Meteorology and Hydrology, No. 1 (2004)].
G. V. Shevchenko and V. N. Chastikov, “Dynamic Processes in Aniva Bay (Sakhalin) from Results of Instrumental Measurements in the Fall of 2000,” Meteorologiya i Gidrologiya, No. 5 (2004) [Russian Meteorology and Hydrology, No. 5 (2001)].
V. Budaeva, G. Shevchenko, V. Makarov, et al., “Specific Features of Seasonal and Interannual Variability of Water Structure and Circulation in the Aniva Bay during 2001–2003,” in Proc. 3rd PICES Workshop on the Okhotsk Sea and Adjacent Areas (Sidney, B.C., Canada, 2004).
M. Itoh and K. Ohshima, “Seasonal Variations of Water Masses and Sea Level in the Southwestern Part of the Okhotsk Sea,” J. Oceanogr., 56 (2000).
G. Mizuta, Y. Fukamachi, K. I. Ohshima, and M. Wakatsuchi, “Structure and Seasonal Variability of the East Sakhalin Current,” J. Phys. Oceanogr., 33 (2003).
A. A. Romanov, O. S. Sedaeva, and G. V. Shevchenko, “Seasonal and Tidal Variations of the Sea Level between Hokkaido and Sakhalin Islands Based on Satellite Altimetry and Coastal Tide Gauge Data,” Pacific Oceanography, No. 1–2, 2 (2004).
S. I. Rybalko and G. V. Shevchenko, “Seasonal and Spatial Variability of Sea Currents on the Northeastern Sakhalin Shelf,” Pacific Oceanography, No. 2, 1 (2003).
A. V. Saveliev, M. Danchenkov, and G. H. Hong, “Volume Transport through the La Perouse (Soya) Strait between the East Sea (Sea of Japan) and the Sea of Okhotsk,” Ocean and Polar Research, No. 2, 24 (2002).
T. Takizava, “Characteristics of the Soya Warm Current in the Okhotsk Sea,” J. Oceanogr. Soc. Japan, 38 (1982).
K. Watanabe, “On the Reinforcement of the East Sakhalin Current Preceding to the Sea Ice Season off the Coast of Hokkaido,” Oceanogr. Mag., 14 (1963).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Original Russian Text © G.V. Shevchenko, V.N. Chastikov, 2007, published in Meteorologiya i Gidrologiya, 2007, No. 3, pp. 69–85.
About this article
Cite this article
Shevchenko, G.V., Chastikov, V.N. Seasonal and interannual variability of oceanographic conditions in the southwestern part of the Sea of Okhotsk. Russ. Meteorol. Hydrol. 32, 194–205 (2007). https://doi.org/10.3103/S1068373907030077
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3103/S1068373907030077