Abstract
The currents of the northern shelf of the Yellow Sea are investigated using observations of current and hydrography and numerical current model results. The Regional Ocean Model System (ROMS) with a horizontal resolution about 1km is implemented for the Yellow Sea and the Bohai Sea, and the results are produced for the year 2014 and 2015. Observations from bottom moored ADCP profilers and CTD on the northern shelf of the Yellow Sea are used for validation of the model. The comparison of current time series and bottom temperature evolution show good agreement between model and observation. Barotropic tides are the dominant current component throughout the year on the shelf and consistently mixing the water column in the shallower parts. A thermal front and associated jet exists during the summer creating a robust current structure on the western part of the shelf. The winds in the region are changing constantly creating episodic currents in the upper part of the sea lasting from hours to a couple of days.
Highlights
This study aims at investigating the currents at the northern shelf of the Yellow Sea (YS)
It is meaningful to analyze currents based on individual components created by the separate forcing mechanisms like tide and wind etc., which is what we do in the following
We find that the numerical model delivers a reasonably adequate set of results resembling the same variability as the available observations, and the results will prove useful as information to explore the dynamics and the ecosystems of the Yellow Sea
Summary
This study aims at investigating the currents at the northern shelf of the Yellow Sea (YS). This refers to the coastal water south of the Liaodong Peninsula towards Korea Bay including the Zhangzidao Islands. The bottom depths are shallower than 40– 50 m. This area has great importance for aquaculture of especially bottom cultured scallops (Mao et al, 2019). According to the Chinese Fishery Statistical Yearbook 2018, Liaoning province have produced about 472,230 metric tons of cultured scallops, which accounts for about 23% of the total domestic production. Regarding the sustainable development of the scallop industry on the northern shelf of YS, the understanding of the physical environmental variation and the related driving forces will be crucial
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