A three-dimensional thermocline model for the Yellow Sea and Northern East China Sea

Abstract

A time—dependent, three—dimensional finite difference model is presented for simulating the stratified Yellow Sea and northern East China Sea. The model is forced by time—dependent observed wind, surface flux of heat, and tidal turbulence. With this model, momentum and temperature distribution can be computed, and an approximation for the sub—grid scale effects is introduced by the use of mass and momentum exchange coefficients. The vertical exchanges are quite dependent on these assumed coefficients, which are complicated functions of the turbulence energy of tide and wind, of the stratified strength and other factors. This model was applied to describe the mechanics of the variations in strength and thickness of the thermocline covering almost the whole Yellow Sea and northern East China Sea in summer. Comparisons of the computed output with obtained survey data led to some important conclusions.