Influence of Kuroshio Path on Salinity Distribution in Seto Inland Sea

Abstract

Nakashita, S.; Woo, H.; Kim, K.; Kim, K.; Lee, I.-C.; Kim, D.-S., and Hibino, T., 2018. Influence of Kuroshio path on Salinity distribution in Seto Inland Sea. In: Shim, J.-S.; Chun, I., and Lim, H.S. (eds.), Proceedings from the International Coastal Symposium (ICS) 2018 (Busan, Republic of Korea). Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 85, pp. 21–25. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.This study analyzes residual current and salinity distribution in Seto Inland Sea induced by Kuroshio Path variation. The salinity ranged 30 - 34 PSU and it decreased by approximately 1 - 2 PSU at near center of Bisanseto during non-meandering period. Sea level height variations at both boundary of Seto Inland Sea which induces residual current mainly depends on distance between boundaries and Kuroshio Path because of higher sea level hight at Kuroshio path than than that at northern part of Kuroshio path approximately 1 m. Westward residual flow during the non-meandering period (year 1997) was estimated to be faster than that during the meandering period with maximum relative velocity of 4.5 cm/sec. Decrease of salinity at near center of Bisanseto is due to the westward movement of the river water plume from the eastern Bisanseto. From the results obtained above, it is concluded that location of low salinity water at Bisanseto is mainly depends on the residual current due to variation of Kuroshio Path.