Distribution of Desalinated Waters of the Amur Estuary in the Okhotsk Sea According to Satellite Observations

Abstract

The distribution of the desalinated waters of the Amur Estuary in the Northwestern ​​Okhotsk Sea during the summer period was analyzed using satellite data on sea level, salinity, temperature and concentrations of suspended organic carbon. There is good agreement between the spatial distribution of surface water salinity (data from the SMAP satellite) and the sea level (AVISO data) in the study area. The identification of the waters of the Amur Estuary by the surface water temperature and the concentration of suspended organic carbon is limited to the Sakhalin Bay and the coastal waters of Sakhalin Island. An increase (decrease) in the flow of the Amur River during the spring-summer flood leads to an increase (decrease) in sea level in the northern part of the Sakhalin Bay in July. Strengthening of the northwestern (southeastern) winds in September reduces (increases) the inflow of waters with low salinity and elevated sea level to the area north of the Sakhalin Bay.