Spatio-Temporal Variation of Cold Water Masses along the Eastern Coast of Korea in 2013 and 2014

Abstract

With the results of observations in 2013 and 2014 including ocean buoys, in-situ investigations and wind data, we examined the spatio-temporal variation of cold water masses along the eastern coast of Korea. Usually, a cold water mass first appears along the northern part of the eastern coast from May to July, and then along the southern part of the eastern coast from late June to mid-August. Cold water masses appear 3~5 times a year and remain for 5~20 days in the southwestern part of the East Sea. A distinctive cold water mass appeared usually in mid-July in this area, the surface temperature of which was below 10℃ in some cases. During the appearance of a cold water mass in the southwestern part of the East Sea, the horizontal temperature gradient was large at the surface and a significant low water temperature below 8℃ appeared at the bottom level. This appearance of cold water masses clearly corresponded to southwesterly winds, which generated coastal upwelling.