Seasonal variations of oceanic conditions near the southeastern coast of Sakhalin Island

Seasonal variations of hydrological conditions in the area adjoining the southeastern coast of Sakhalin Island are described based on the analysis of monthly mean temperature and salinity obtained over standard oceanic sections Makarov-Cape Georgii and Cape Svobodny-the sea and from nine oceanic surveys. The Poronai River runoff that promotes the formation of a warm surface layer with low salinity largely influences the water area of Terpeniya Bay in the northern part of the area studied. In spring, these waters primarily spread southward along the coast; in summer, they flow southeastward, forming a weak vortex structure at 144° E. In the fall, major changes occur below 20 m, where waters of the cold intermediate layer are replaced by warmer waters (4–6°C) of low salinity connected with the Amur River runoff. The destruction of the CIL core near the shelf edge at depths of about 100 m resulting from the fall intensification of the East Sakhalin Current is pronounced in the southern, abyssal part of the region. The coastal area is covered by waters with salinity below 32‰ connected with the Amur River runoff. The volume of low-salinity waters coming through the Cape Svobodny-the sea section into the southern part of the Sea of Okhotsk is estimated at 3000 km³ taking into account instrumental measurements of flow rates.     

“Warm” dichothermal layer in the Sea of Okhotsk

The field data show that the ventilation of waters in the Sea of Okhotsk occurs the year round as a cyclic process and consists of several phases. During the initial phase, the shelf waters enter the offshore subsurface layers. Later, they appear at intermediate depths and spread southward as cold intrusions mixing with surrounding waters on their way. During the last phase of the cycle, the shelf waters do not penetrate the deep-sea layers, and in the vertical structure of temperature field near the northeast coast of Sakhalin, a local phenomenon of “warm” dichothermal layer is observed.     

Seasonal and interannual variability of oceanographic conditions in the southwestern part of the Sea of Okhotsk

The seasonal variability of oceanographic conditions in the southern part of the Sea of Okhotsk is described based on long-term mean temperature T and salinity S from observations along a standard oceanographic section Cape Aniva-Cape Dokuchaev (May–November). It is shown that the Soya Current is relatively weak in spring, with low temperature and salinity gradients along the section. The Sea of Okhotsk low-salinity water mass is observed in the upper layer. It was formed as a result of melting of a large amount of ice brought here with the East Sakhalin Current from the northwestern part of the Sea of Okhotsk. A cold intermediate layer (CIL) at depths of 50–150 m extends along the entire section. The cold intermediate layer core with a temperature at the edge of the Sakhalin shelf of about ?1.3°C is retained during a period of maximum warming in August; however, in October–November the intensified flow of the East Sakhalin Current (up to 50 cm/s) results in a situation when relatively warm low-salinity waters, connected with the Amur River runoff, dissipate CIL. The results of 12 surveys conducted by the Sakhalin Research Institute for Fisheries and Oceanography in 1998–2004 show significant deviations of T and S [10] in different years from the calculated values. Generally, maximum anomalies (ΔT > 4°C and ΔS > 0.55‰) are observed in the surface layer. Their values and statistical significance decrease with depth. However, the situation is opposite in some cases. The maximum deviation from normal was observed in June 1999, when warm and salt waters were located much further seaward from the Kunashir shelf, which is most likely connected with the Soya Current meandering.     

Effects of Sea Surface Temperature Anomalies off the East Coast of Japan on Development of the Okhotsk High

The study examined effects of sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTAs) off the east coast of Japan on the blocking high over the Okhotsk Sea in June by diagnostic analysis and numerical simulation. Firstly, based on 500-hPa geopotential height fields, the Okhotsk high index (OKHI) for June from 1951 to 2000 is calculated and analyzed. The result indicates that the OKHI has obvious inter-annual and inter-decadal variations, and there are 9 yr of high OKHI and 8 yr of low OKHI in 50 yr. Secondly, by using the OKHI, the relationship between the Okhotsk high and the 500-hPa geopotential height anomaly is investigated. The results indicate that the "+-+" pattern of geopotential height anomaly crossing Eurasia in the mid-high latitudes and the "+-" pattern of geopotential height anomaly from high to low latitudes over East Asia are in favor of the formation and maintenance of the Okhotsk high. The relationship between the OKHI and the SSTA over the North Pacific is investigated in early summer by using correlation and composite analysis. We found that when the blocking circulation over the Okhotsk Sea occurs, there is an obvious negative SSTA off the east coast of Japan in early summer. We simulated the effects of the negative SSTA of east coast of Japan on the atmospheric circulation anomaly over East Asia through the control and sensitivity experiments using NCAR CAM3 model in order to confirm our analysis results. The simulation shows that the negative SSTA off the east coast of Japan results in the significant positive 40 gpm 500-hPa geopotential height anomaly over the Okhotsk Sea and the negative anomalies off the east coast of Japan which might contribute to the formation and development of the Okhotsk high in June.     

Ventilation of the Sea of Okhotsk water in summer

Data of field observations are indicative of the periodic appearance of intrusions of cold water at depths of 250–400 m near the northeastern Sakhalin continental slope in summer. Monitoring of the oceanographic conditions in the area shows that the density contrast between shelf and offshore waters persists throughout the year. The static instability of the water column in the vicinity of shelf break and the continental slope is a permanent feature of the area during the year and is the main cause of ventilation of the Sea of Okhotsk water in summer. The energy of tides can be an additional drive for the penetration of shelf waters into the sea interior and modulate the ventilation process.     

Seasonal Variations in Marine Hydrological Characteristics off the Southwestern Coast of Sakhalin Island

Data of long-term observations at three standard oceanographic sections are analyzed. A complex pattern of seasonal variability of oceanographic conditions off the southwestern coast of Sakhalin Island is studied. It is shown that the cold West Sakhalin Current directed to the south is observed from May to October; the low-salinity cold flow of the Sea of Okhotsk water oriented to the north is recorded from November to March. The northern boundary of penetration of the Sea of Okhotsk water is identified.     

Interannual variability of water transport by the East Kamchatka and East Sakhalin Currents and their influence on dissolved oxygen concentration in the Sea of Okhotsk and subarctic pacific

The influence of interannual variability of water transport by the East Kamchatka Current, the Oyashio, and the East Sakhalin Current on the dissolved oxygen concentration in the western subarctic Pacific and the Sea of Okhotsk is considered for studying climate change impact on sea water chemical parameters. It is shown that statistically significant relation is observed between the calculated with the Sverdrup equation interannual variations in water transport with the East Kamchatka Current, the Oyashio, and the East Sakhalin Current and changes in mean sea water level at coastal stations in winter. It is found that the main reason of interannual variability of the dissolved oxygen concentration at isopycnic surfaces in the intermediate water layer (100–800 m) of the Sea of Okhotsk and in the western subarctic Pacific is caused by variations in water transport by the East Kamchatka Current, the Oyashio, and the East Sakhalin Current.     

Analysis of currents near the Sakhalin southeastern coast from instrumental measurements

Field experimental materials on the sea current measurements, carried out by the Sakhalin Research Institute for Fishery and Oceanography in September–December 2004 near the Sakhalin southeastern coast, are analyzed. The experiment included the installation of two coastal and one more remote autonomous buoy stations. The tidal flows in this region, unlike those on the northeastern shelf of the island, are relatively small and do not play a significant role in the dynamics of the coastal zone. The character of currents at coastal stations is determined primarily by their response to the wind effect. In particular, significant water temperature falls of 6–8°C, observed from 2–3 days to a week, are indicative of coastal upwelling induced by the wind. During the passage of a deep cyclone that caused a storm wave 1 m high, the flow velocity at coastal stations increased up to 1.5 knots. At a more remote station, in the region of Cape Svobodnyi, the flow character was determined by the East Sakhalin Current, whose autumn intensification was observed in the second ten-day period of October. It manifested itself in a sharp intensification of the flow, directed southward and southeastward throughout the entire water column, which practically was not pronounced at the coastal stations.     

Estimating the baroclinic Rossby radius of deformation in the Sea of Okhotsk

The first baroclinic Rossby radius of deformation (R ₁) in the Sea of Okhotsk is estimated using the hydrological datasets from the World Ocean Atlas (WOA) 2001 and WOA 2013. It is established that the maximum values of R ₁ are observed over the Kuril Basin (18–20 km), and its minimum values (1.5–2 km), over the northern shelf of the Sea of Okhotsk. In the central part of the sea R1 varies from 8 to 10 km. The seasonal variability of R1 for both datasets is characterized by the minima in winter and by the maxima in summer. It was found that on the eastern shelf of Sakhalin Island R ₁ reaches the maximum both in November (～6 km) and in April (～4-5 km). According to the obtained estimates of R ₁, the model grid resolution of 3 to 8 km should be used for the eddy-permitting numerical simulation of circulation in the Sea of Okhotsk, and the model grid resolution from 1.5 to 2 km, for the explicit simulation of mesoscale variability.     

Contribution of south China Sea tropical cyclones to an increase in southern China summer rainfall around 1993

The increase in southern China summer rainfall around 1993 was accompanied by an increase in tropical cyclones that formed in the South China Sea. This study documents the connection of these two features. Our analysis shows that the contribution of tropical cyclones that formed in the South China Sea to southern China summer rainfall experienced a significant increase around 1993, in particular, along the coast and in the heavy rain category. The number of tropical cyclones that formed in the western North Pacific and entered the South China Sea decreased, and their contribution to summer rainfall was reduced in eastern part of southern China (but statistically insignificant). The increase in tropical cyclone-induced rainfall contributed up to ～30% of the total rainfall increase along the coastal regions. The increase of tropical cyclones in the South China Sea appears to be related to an increase in local sea surface temperature.     

The Amur River runoff formation in the Amur liman

Periodical surface currents with the periods of 46.5, 61, and 91 days detected from the satellite data in the Tatar Strait and Sakhalin Bay are presented as an effect of the Amur River runoff transformation in the estuary. The estuary transforms the flow as a flip-flop directing the Amur runoff by turns to the Sea of Japan or to the Sea of Okhotsk. The flip-flop period is six months. From May 23 to November 10, the Amur River flows into the Sea of Okhotsk and from November 10 to May 25, into the Sea of Japan.     

Hydrodynamic processes on the Sakhalin shelf in the coastal Piltun area of the grey whale feeding and their correlation with atmospheric circulation

Discussed are the results of long-term hydrophysical studies carried out on the northeastern shelf of Sakhalin Island in the area of summer-autumn fattening of the Okhotsk-Korea population of grey whales. It is demonstrated that the inflow of water desalinated by the Amur River runoff and the coastal upwelling caused by the summer monsoon are of great importance for the hydrological regime in the given area. These phenomena are interrelated and depend on interannual variations of atmoispheric circulation. Presented are the results of studying the parameters of internal waves obtained using the anchored autonomous vertical system of measurement. Measured are the velocities of the orbital movement of water particles in the propagating nonlinear internal waves and the respective vertical displacements of water layers. Demonstrated are the peculiarities of the thermohaline structure of water under the slick formed on the sea surface by the internal wave.     

Atmospheric Circulation Patterns over East Asia and Their Connection with Summer Precipitation and Surface Air Temperature in Eastern China during 1961–2013

Based on the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data and Chinese observational data during 1961–2013, atmospheric circulation patterns over East Asia in summer and their connection with precipitation and surface air temperature in eastern China as well as associated external forcing are investigated. Three patterns of the atmospheric circulation are identified, all with quasi-barotropic structures: (1) the East Asia/Pacific (EAP) pattern, (2) the Baikal Lake/Okhotsk Sea (BLOS) pattern, and (3) the eastern China/northern Okhotsk Sea (ECNOS) pattern. The positive EAP pattern significantly increases precipitation over the Yangtze River valley and favors cooling north of the Yangtze River and warming south of the Yangtze River in summer. The warm sea surface temperature anomalies over the tropical Indian Ocean suppress convection over the northwestern subtropical Pacific through the Ekman divergence induced by a Kelvin wave and excite the EAP pattern. The positive BLOS pattern is associated with below-average precipitation south of the Yangtze River and robust cooling over northeastern China. This pattern is triggered by anomalous spring sea ice concentration in the northern Barents Sea. The anomalous sea ice concentration contributes to a Rossby wave activity flux originating from the Greenland Sea, which propagates eastward to North Pacific. The positive ECNOS pattern leads to below-average precipitation and significant warming over northeastern China in summer. The reduced soil moisture associated with the earlier spring snowmelt enhances surface warming over Mongolia and northeastern China and the later spring snowmelt leads to surface cooling over Far East in summer, both of which are responsible for the formation of the ECNOS pattern.     

Influence of the Amur River runoff on the hydrological conditions of the Amur Liman and Sakhalin Bay (Sea of Okhotsk) during the spring-summer flood

Hydrographic and satellite observation data obtained in June 2007 enabled to study the influence of the Amur River runoff on the hydrological conditions of the Amur Liman and the Sea of Okhotsk during the spring-summer flood. Salt waters from the Sea of Japan and fresh Amur River waters mix in the estuary (the Amur Liman). Freshened waters flow from the estuary into the Sea of Okhotsk as a jet-like flow drift, which forms a recirculating anticyclonic gyre in the Sakhalin Bay. The coastal current associated with the Amur River flow was obserwed near Sakhalin Island coast. The computed values of dynamic parameters (Kelvin number K=2, Froude number F = 0.4) showed that the Earth rotation and stratification are important factors in the dynamical balance of the Amur River plume during the spring-summer flood event.     

Studying the influence of cyclonic activity on suspension distribution in the sea water of the northwestern Black Sea

Processes of roiling, transport-diffusion, and deposition of fine disperse bottom sediments are studied in the northwestern shelf of the Black Sea in different synoptic situations connected with the passage of cyclones. Movement of atmospheric disturbances with velocities of 5 and 15 m/s along three trajectories typical of this region is considered. A nonlinear sigma-coordinate numerical model is used to calculate hydrodynamic and suspension concentration fields. The bottom areas, most sensitive to erosion, and the areas of maximum accumulation of depositions due to their sedimentation are determined. The change in suspension distribution in the surface layer with time is studied.     

Computation of extreme ice drift velocities on the northeastern shelf of Sakhalin Island from radar measurements

The technology ofthe method of joint probabilities ofthe tidal and residual (de-tided) components developed to estimate the possible sea level fluctuations [1, 10] and modified to calculate rare extreme total sea current velocities [8], is applied to compute ice drift velocity on the northeastern shelf of Sakhalin Island. The initial data are the hourly series of the drift velocity vector obtained from radar observations at Odoptu coastal station (1986-1996, during the whole ice season) and at the Molikpaq drilling platform (in May in 1999, 2000, 2003, 2005, and 2006). The distribution of the tidal component was determined by the prediction of the corresponding series for 19 years that is possible due to the stability of characteristics of the tidal drift. The distribution of the residual component was estimated by combining all de-tided series for the entire time period. The obtained estimates of total ice drift velocities of rare occurrence are in good agreement with those presented in [8] and can be used for designing facilities for the extraction and transportation of hydrocarbons on the northeastern shelf of Sakhalin Island.     

Atomic mercury distribution features in the surface air layer in the Sea of Japan in the fall of 2010

Presented are the results of mercury content measurements in the surface air layer in the Sea of Japan in the period from October 27 to November 11, 2010. It is revealed that the mercury content varied from 0.6 to 3.8 ng/m³. It is demonstrated that the mercury concentration distribution has geographical zoning and depends on the movement of air masses and on the closeness of anthropogenic sources. The maximum mercury concentration is detected in the central part of the sea at the southwestern and southern directions of the wind, that is associated with the industrial emissions of East Asia countries. The minimum mercury concentration corresponding to the concentration in the surface air layer of the Arctic, Atlantic Ocean (Northern Hemisphere), and the Sea of Okhotsk and Bering Sea was observed along the coast of Primorye at the northwestern wind direction.     

The climatic response of the Arctic Ocean to Soviet river diversions

A numerical model is constructed to evaluate the effect of river diversions on the circulation of the Arctic Ocean, including the climatically important response in the extent of sea ice. The ocean model solves the primitive equations of motion in finite-difference form for the irregular geometry of the Arctic Ocean and Greenland/Norwegian Sea, using 110 km horizontal grid spacing and up to 13 unevenly spaced levels in the vertical. Annual mean atmospheric conditions and river discharges are specified from observations. The presence of sea ice is diagnosed on the basis of model ocean temperature; and the effects of sea ice on the surface fluxes of momentum, heat, and salt are included in a simplified way. Lateral exchanges at the southernmost boundary are held near observed values but respond to circulation changes in the Greenland/Norwegian Sea. Three equilibrium solutions are obtained by eighty-year integrations from simple initial conditions: the first with inflow from all rivers, the second with one-third of the inflow diverted from four major rivers (the Ob, Yenesei, Dvina, and Pechora), and the third with total diversion from those rivers. The middle case corresponds to maximal diversions which are either planned or envisioned by the Soviet Union over the next fifty years, whereas the final extreme case is run in the event that model sensitivity is low relative to that of nature.The control integration gives a good simulation of known water masses and currents. In the Central Arctic, for example, the model correctly predicts a strong shallow halocline, a relatively warm intermediate layer of Atlantic origin, and a temperature jump across the deep Lomonosov Ridge. The overall pattern of surface salinity and the margin of the pack ice are also properly simulated.When runoff into the marginal Kara and Barents Seas is diverted, either in part or in full, almost no effect on the halocline results in the Central Arctic. In particular, deep convection does not develop in the Eurasian Basin, the possibility of which was suggested by Aagaard and Coachman (1975). The vertical stability within the two marginal seas is considerably decreased by the total diversion of four rivers, but not to the point of convective overturning. The surface currents in this area change to confine the water with increased salinity to the shelf region. At deeper levels, an increased salinity tongue spreads into the deep basins of the ice-free Greenland/Norwegian Sea, where existing deep convection is slightly enhanced. As a result, there is some additional heat loss from the Atlantic layer before it enters the Central Arctic. The ice extent remains nearly the same as before within the Kara and Barents Seas. In fact, since modified bottom currents over the continental shelf bring in less heat from the Greenland Sea, an increased thickness of sea ice may result there, in spite of reduced vertical stability. These model responses are generally in agreement with those suggested by Micklin (1981) and by Soviet investigations of the effect of river diversions. These annualmean results should be regarded as tentative, pending confirmation by studies which include the seasonal cycles of runoff and atmospheric forcing.The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.     

Water temperature variations off the Sakhalin coast from the data of instrumental observations

The data of instrumental observations of water temperature at autonomous bottom stations in the coastal zone of Sakhalin Island (the depth is 3-17 m) mainly along the southeastern coast are analyzed. The cases of sharp (by 15°C per day) temperature drop are detected. They are caused by the strengthening of southern and southwestern winds typtcal of summer and betng the offshore winds which favor the lift of cold water to the surface. This phenomenon is observed every year but its intensity varies depending on the frequency of offshore winds. Along the southwestern coast of Sakhalin, where the offshore effect is induced by northern, northeastern, and eastern winds characterized by the low frequency of occurrence, water temperature drops are rarer and shorter (3-5 days) but rather sharp. The occurrence of cold water (its temperature is sometimes negative) in the shallow coastal zone may lead to the mass mortality of juvenile salmon after its downstream migration in spawning rivers, may impede the approaches of humpback salmon and negatively affect its catch.     

2021年秋季海洋天气评述

2021年秋季(9—11月)北半球大气环流特征为:极涡整体呈单极型,中高纬环流呈5波型分布,欧亚地区西风带环流形势季节内调整大,副热带高压(以下简称“副高”)偏强,西伸明显。秋季我国近海大风过程主要由冷空气、温带气旋和热带气旋影响造成。在12次8级以上大风过程中,冷空气影响8次,温带气旋影响6次,台风影响4次。西北太平洋和南海共生成9个台风,其中5个台风进入我国近海,在东西带状分布的副高影响下,近海台风主要活跃于南部海域;全球其他海域共命名热带气旋18个。我国出现2 m以上大浪过程的日数为74 d,约占总日数的81%,大浪过程与大风过程联系密切。秋季我国近海海面温度整体偏高,随着冷空气的逐渐活跃,北部海区和沿岸海域海面降温迅速,沿岸海面温度梯度加大,我国近海海域中,海面温度梯度最大的区域出现在东海。