The temporal and spatial variability of the Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass in the southeastern Yellow Sea, 2009–2011

Abstract

The Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass (YSCWM) is one of the important water mass in the Yellow Sea (YS). It is distributed in the lower layer in the Yellow Sea central trough with the temperature less than 10°C and the salinity lower than 33.0. To understand the variability of the YSCWM, the hydrographic data obtained in April and August during 2009–2011 are analyzed in the southeastern Yellow Sea. In August 2011, relatively warm and saline water compared with that in 2009 and 2010 was detected in the lower layer in the Yellow Sea central area. Although the typhoon passed before the cruise, the salinity in the Yellow Sea central trough is much higher than the previous season. It means that the saline event cannot be explained by the typhoon but only by the intrusion of saline water during the previous winter. In April 2011, actually, warm and saline water (T >10°C, S >34) was observed in the deepest water depth of the southeastern area of the Yellow Sea. The wind data show that the northerly wind in 2011 winter is stronger than in 2009 and 2010 winter season. The strong northerly wind can trigger the intrusion of warm and saline Yellow Sea Warm Current. Therefore, it is proposed that the strong northerly wind in winter season leads to the intrusion of the Yellow Sea Warm Current into the Yellow Sea central trough and influenced a variability of the YSCW Min summer.