Measurement and evaluation of the hydrodynamics and secondary currents in and near a strait connecting large water bodies—A field study

The straits connect two large water bodies show highly strong and stratified currents related to meteorological, morphological and hydrodynamic conditions. In some cases, spatial and temporal changes of the stratified currents and their thickness, direction and magnitude are so complex. This complexity directly affects the circulation pattern in the region, water exchange between both ends of the straits and migration of fish species. In order to understand general characteristics of this kind of straits and identifying the complexity of the hydrodynamics of the region and evaluate the secondary currents and recirculation need long term, intensive, field work and measurement studies. As an example of this kind of hydrodynamically complex straits, Bosphorus strait is selected for a field study. The Bosphorus strait has a strongly stratified two-layer system and a unique case of the maximal exchange regime typical of strait flows, which is largely determined by conditions at the Black Sea. Although the Bosphorus strait has distinct two-layer stratification with an associated two-layer system exchange, no continuous current measurements have been made so far, previous measurements all having been random sampling.In this paper, a detailed measurement program has been applied to Bosphorus strait. In the measurement program, a short-term current profile measurement at selected locations at southern part of the strait has been conveyed. Additionally a long-term measurement of current profile has been performed at a selected critical location (in front of the Dolmabahçe Palace) where a recirculation flow exists in the strait. The scope of this paper is to present the techniques and the results of analysis of measurement data. In the measurements the current profile (magnitude and direction) has been determined at every 1 m depth intervals from the surface to the sea bottom at 3 min duration at every hour. Measurements provide that lower-layer flows in northward direction from the Sea of Marmara towards the Black Sea, whereas the upper-layer flow comes from the Black Sea and flows towards the Sea of Marmara in the opposite direction of lower layer. The Bosphorus strait exhibits distinctive features associated with variations in its width and depth. The meandering features of Bosphorus also cause recirculation flows. These results of measurements are presented, discussed and compared with previous studies.     

Numerical simulation of currents in a basin of variable depth with two straits

Within the framework of the linear theory of long waves, with regard for the turbulent viscosity, we study the development of tidal currents in a basin of variable depth with two straits. The problem is solved numerically. The velocity field on the strait-basin boundary is regarded as known. The numerical analysis is performed for different depths of the straits. We study the influence of the geometric characteristics of the basin on the amplitudes of the profile of free surface and wave velocity and establish the dependences of the wave characteristics on the period of current velocities in the strait and the parameters of the basin. In particular, it is shown that the increase in the period of current velocities in the strait leads to significant changes in the level and structure of currents. __________ Translated from Morskoi Gidrofizicheskii Zhurnal, No. 4, pp. 3–12, July–August, 2007.     

日本海主要海峡体积输运的季节变化特征

利用变分资料同化技术对P矢量方法进行优化处理,并采用此优化后的P矢量方法优化计算了日本海环流和日本海主要海峡的体积输运.日本海的主要环流系统,比如对马暖流(TWC)及其分支,东朝鲜暖流(EKWC)和日本近岸分支(JNB),极地锋海流(PFC),和日本海中的反气旋式涡,都能够被很好地一一反映出来.另外,优化后的P矢量方法...     

Mesoscale, seasonal and interannual variability in the Mediterranean Sea using a numerical ocean model

In this paper, we present the results from a 1/8° horizontal resolution numerical simulation of the Mediterranean Sea using an ocean model (DieCAST) that is stable with low general dissipation and that uses accurate control volume fourth-order numerics with reduced numerical dispersion. The ocean model is forced using climatological monthly mean winds and relaxation towards monthly climatological surface temperature and salinity. The variability of the circulation obtained is assessed by computing the volume transport through certain sections and straits where comparison with observations is possible. The seasonal variability of certain currents is reproduced in the model simulations. More important, an interannual variability, manifested by changes in currents and water mass properties, is also found in the results. This may indicate that the oceanic internal variability (not depending on external atmospheric forcing), is an important component of the total variability of the Mediterranean circulation; variability that seems to be very significant and well documented by in situ and satellite data recovered in the Mediterranean Sea during the last decade.     

Variability of internal tides in the coastal water area of Oahu Island (Hawaii)

The variability of the parameters of semidiurnal internal tides in Mamala Bay (Oahu Island, Hawaii) was investigated using the experimental data obtained with ADCP bottom current profilers and ther-mistor strings. It was stated that the size, shape, and orientation of the orbits, as well as the sign of the rotation of the orbital currents, are rarely similar to those characteristic of progressive internal waves on a rotating Earth. It is supposed that such unusual features of the orbital currents are related to the interference of the waves that arrive from the straits rimming Oahu Island and to the waves that, under favorable conditions, are episodically generated at the shelf edge of Mamala Bay. Due to the fact that the floor inclinations of the shelf in the bay are supercritical for semidiurnal internal tides, the local generation of internal tides is poorly efficient.     

Formation of sand banks due to tidal vortices around straits

Sand banks around straits are used as a commercial fishing ground. In order to clarify the mechanism of sand bank formation, the Lagrangian method was used to measure currents and turbidity around the banks in the Neko Seto Sea in the Seto Inland Sea of Japan. A neutrally buoyant float released in the Neko Seto Strait at the maximum tidal flow stage was engulfed in a pair of tidal vortices and moved around one of the sand banks. The vertical distribution of turbidity, which was measured by the vessel moving with the neutral float, showed an extremely high turbidity in the bottom layer of this bank area. According to the analysis of these observational data, the process of sand bank formation around straits is as follows. The tidal vortex transports water mass with suspended materials (including sand) which are whirled up at the bottom by the tidal jet. In the decaying stage of the vortex, the materials in the bottom layer are gathered in the central part of the vortex by the secondary convergent flow in the vortex. Among these materials, a large-size sand particle with a high critical erosion velocity accumulates at the bottom and forms banks. The distribution of bottom sediment and the thickness of alluvium support this result.     

琼州海峡冬末春初潮余流场特征

1995年2月26日至3月6日,在琼州海峡的新海一四塘断面上,大小潮期间进行15条船同步测流.该断面上涨潮流速普遍大于落潮流速,实测最大涨潮流速为172cm/s,最大落潮流速为142cm/s;大潮期间北部6个站全层平均余流速度为18.4cm/s.海峡中间3个站0～20m层平均流速为18.3cm/s,南部6个站平均余流速度为10.2m/s.中间和北部诸站余流方向指向W一S范围,南部6个站因受地形影响,流向指向NE.用数值计算方法,再现了大小潮期间琼州海峡整个潮流场.大潮期间,通过西断面(灯楼角──玉苞角)落潮流总通量为4.73×1010m3,涨潮流总通量为4.29×1010m3;通过东断面(东营──龙塘镇)落潮流总通量为5.22×1010m3,涨潮流总通量为4.90×1010m3,其净通量,西、东断面分别为0.43×1010和0.32×1010m3,其方向指向西.     

Recent progress in studies of the South China Sea circulation

The South China Sea (SCS) is a semi-enclosed marginal sea with deep a basin. The SCS is located at low latitudes, where the ocean circulations are driven principally by the Asia-Australia monsoon. Ocean circulation in the SCS is very complex and plays an important role in both the marine environment and climate variability. Due to the monsoon-mountain interactions the seasonal spatial pattern of the sea surface wind stress curl is very specific. These distinct patterns induce different basin-scale circulation and gyre in summer and winter, respectively. The intensified western boundary currents associated with the cyclonic and anticyclonic gyres in the SCS play important roles in the sea surface temperature variability of the basin. The mesoscale eddies in the SCS are rather active and their formation mechanisms have been described in recent studies. The water exchange through the Luzon Strait and other straits could give rise to the relation between the Pacific and the SCS. This paper reviews the research results mentioned above.     

On the influence of salinity exchange on the circulation of a fluid in an enclosed basin

The mechanism responsible for fluid circulation in an internal basin of the Black Sea type is studied using a two-dimensional model for convective currents generated by the inhomogeneous horizontal gradient of salinity exchange. Analytical investigations and calculations have shown that the generation of cyclonic motions occurs due to an imbalance of salt fluxes at the fluid lateral boundaries of the basin. Under the influence of salt fluxes from the straits and the fresh water from rivers, the circulation tends to become streamlike. At the site of reduced salinity, the stream narrows and becomes more intensive. Translated by V. Puchkin.     

The statistical structure of synoptic variability ocean currents at the continental slope of the Laptev Sea and features of their generation by anemobaric forces

Based on vector-algebraic analysis of random processes, we study the statistical structure of the synoptic variability of currents measured by an ADCP in the upper mixed layer in the central part of the continental slope of the Laptev Sea in 2006–2007. The results of statistical analysis show that in some cases the synoptic currents in the surface layer of the sea are signs of wind drift currents. This is indicated by the high correlation between the tangential friction of wind and currents, as well as the reversal of the depth of current vectors and the major axes of the ellipses of the mean-square deviation of the Ekman spiral. Due to the large variability of wind flows and stratification of water masses, the penetration depth of these currents is small and varies from 6 to 30 m, with pronounced seasonal variation. In deeper layers, no relationship between the currents and anemobaric forces is traced. It is concluded that the fluctuations of synoptic scale currents in the area of the continental slope of the Laptev Sea represent a superposition of Ekman drift currents and movements associated with free baroclinic Kelvin waves. These currents are the dominant contributor in the upper 30-m layer of the ocean, while waves play a key role in deeper waters.     

Extraction of Internal Tidal Currents from A Portion of Sea Current Profile

Internal tide is one of the major oceanic phenomena. Determination of internal tide is important for theoretical studyand for ocean engineering research. As an inverse problem, extraction of internal tidal currents from sea currents is diffi-cult. In this paper, a method is developed to extract internal tidal currents from a portion of the sea current profile basedon the fact that the directions of internal tidal currents above and below the thermocline are inverse. Sea current data col-lected from the South China Sea is processed with this method. The internal tidal currents and the depth of the thermo-cline are successfully extracted. The depth of the thermocline determined is in good agreement with that measured in 1959.     

Information-and-measuring drifter system for the monitoring of currents in the coastal zone of the sea

The autonomous drifting buoys equipped with satellite link turn into one of the most important components of the global system of operative observations of the ocean and the surface layer of the atmosphere. However, on the regional level, the problem of analysis of the surface circulation of waters in the coastal zone and sea straits remains quite urgent because the available drifters cannot be used in this case due to their sizes and long intervals between measurements. We present the results of development and testing of a new drifter system aimed at measuring currents. The system is based on the use of buoys operating at depths less than 1 m. To improve the space-and-time resolution of measurements, the buoys are equipped with receivers of the global positioning system (GPS) and GSM modems for the data transfer via cellular communication networks. The drifter system guarantees the possibility of determination of the coordinates of buoys with a resolution of 3 min in time and 14 m in space. We describe the specific features of the design of the proposed information-and-measuring drifter system and present the first results of application of new buoys called “minidrifters” for the pilot monitoring of currents in the Kerch Strait.     

淤泥质潮流深槽最大冲刷深度的一个概念模型

以概念模式方法计算了淤泥质潮流深槽的最大深度,探讨了涨落潮流速、涨落潮历时、深槽淤泥质物质粒径、深槽顶底部原始深度、水道长度等因素对潮流深槽最大深度的影响。概念模式的假设条件是:(1)深槽形态为长方体,底部纵向坡度为0;(2)沉积物粒径无垂向变化;(3)只考虑潮流作用的影响,涨、落潮流速在时间序列上呈正弦分布;(4)不考虑细颗粒物质的粘性和絮凝作用。模拟结果显示:(1)涨、落潮历时对深槽最大深度的影响很小。(2)优势潮流流速与最大深槽深度之间存在着幂函数关系。(3)深槽的底质粒径、深槽的长度均与最大冲刷深度呈正相关关系。(4)深槽顶部水深与最大深度呈负相关关系。(5)由于潮汐水道深度与潮流流速和沉积物侵蚀强度之间具有负反馈关系,因此水道冲刷存在着一个极限,即最终可以达到均衡状态。潮流深槽的均衡态特征和达到均衡态所需的时间可运用沉积动力学方法来确定;同时,若应用深槽的真实参数,进一步减少模型的假设条件,可望使该模型具有实际的应用价值。     

Vertical Structure of Baroclinic Currents over Northern South China Sea Continental Slope

The 28.6 d time series of ADCP currents at 27 depth levels, (11,15,…,115m) which are obtained from a mooring station at the northern South China Sea continental slope, have been decomposed into barotropic and baroclinic components. The emphasis in this paper is on the analysis of the time series of baroclinic currents by means of several methods,such as the tidal harmonic analysis, the power spectra and the kinetic energy estimation.The major results are as follows: (1) In respect of the baroclinic currents, the values of several parameters first decrease and then increase with depth. These parameters include the temporal mean value of the cross-shelf component, the standard deviations, the amplitudes of K1 constituents, the mean eddy kinetic energy, as well as the significant peaks of the power spectra of the cross-shelf components. (2) The diurnal period of the baroclinic currents is dominant. The diumal tidal current rotates clockwise and the major axis of current ellipse is located along the directions of NW-SE. The vertical distribution of the phases of the diurnal constituent varies with the different water layers. Around the 67m depth level, the phase changes very much.At those layers far away from the 67m depth level, the vertical distribution of the phase is relatively stable, but with opposite phases in the upper and lower water layers. For the upper layers between the surface and 67m,the phases are around 300°; for the lower layers between 67m and 115m, the phases are around 120° .(3) The mean eddy kinetic energy of the baroclinic current is quite large, accounting for 41% of the mean kinetic energy of the measured currents. The cross-shelf component is larger than the along-shelf one. The two baroclinic current components correspond to the major and minor axes of the current ellipse of the diurnal constituent respectively. (4) The power spectra of the baroclinic currents show a singnificant period of about 24h, with 23.6h at both 19m and 99m and 24.4h at 55m. The vertical distributions of the significant spectra-peak values of the power spectra of both the crossshelf and along-shelf components of both the baroclinic currents are different. The former increases with depth, then decreases and finally increases again while the latter decreases with depth.     

Extraction of Intemal Tidal Currents from A Portion of Sea Current Profile

Internal tide is one of the major oceanic phenomena. Determination of internal tide is important for theoretical study and for ocean engineering research. As an inverse problem, extraction of internal tidal currenls from sea currents is diffi-cult. In this paper, a method is developed to extract internal tidal currents from a portion of the sea current profile based on the fact that the directions of internal tidal currents above and below the thermocline are inverse. Sea current data col-lected from the South China Sea is processed with this method. The internal tidal currents and the depth of the thermocline are successfully extracted. The depth of the thermocline determined is in good agreement with that measured in 1959.     

2008年8—9月份吕宋海峡西南侧锚定ADCP的斜压海流观测

2008年8月份在吕宋海峡西侧大约4000m深的海域首次布放了两套深水潜标,对上层海洋进行了为期一个月的高频率ADCP海流采样。对数据进行了多重处理,分解得到平均流和逐层潮流,并分析了具有斜压性海流的频率分布。调和分析结果表明,该海域以不规则日周期潮流为主,潮流椭圆随深度旋转。海流的功率谱分析表明,内潮能量在温跃层附近最大,并随深度减小,同时海流有明显的近惯性振荡信号。该观测为了解吕宋海峡深层海洋的潮流、近惯性运动以及海峡水交换提供了第一手的资料。     

Simulation of Gravity Currents Using VOF Model

By the Volume of Fluid (VOF) rnultiphase flow model two-dimensional gravity currents with three phases including air are numerically simulated in this article. The necessity of consideration of turbulence effect for high Reynolds numbers is demonstrated quantitatively by LES (the Large Eddy Simulation) turbulence model. The gravity currents are simulated for h ≠ H as well as h= H, where h is the depth of the gravity current before the release and H is the depth of the in-truded fluid. Uprising of swell occurs when a current flows horizontally into another lighter one for h ≠ H. The problems under what condition the uprising of swell occurs and how long it takes are considered in this article. All the simulated results are in reasonable agreement with the experimental results available.     

Hydrological conditions in the straits of the Ryukyu archipelago and adjacent basins

The structure and dynamics of the water are studied on the basis of hydrological and meteorological long-term data combined with the materials of field observations over a period longer than half a century in the region of the Ryukyu archipelago. New data about the hydrological characteristics of the waters were obtained. Characteristic differences of waters of various modifications in the main straits between the islands are demonstrated. The dependence of the water structure formation in the straits on the seasonal variability of the water exchange through the straits is distinguished.     

A numerical study of the seasonal circulation in the Seto Inland Sea,Japan

The seasonal variation of water circulation in the Seto Inland Sea is investigated using a high resolution, three-dimensional numerical ocean model. The model results are assessed by comparison with long-term mean surface current and hydrographic data. The simulated model results are consistent with observations, showing a distinct summer and winter circulation patterns. In summer the sea water is highly stratified in basin regions, while it is well mixed near the straits due to strong tidal mixing there. During this period, a cold dome is formed in several basins, setting up stable cyclonic eddies. The cyclonic circulation associated with the cold dome develops from May and disappears in autumn when the surface cooling starts. The experiment without freshwater input shows that a basin-scale estuarine circulation coexists with cyclonic eddy in summer. The former becomes dominant in autumn circulation after the cold dome disappears. In winter the water is vertically well mixed, and the winter winds play a significant role in the circulation. The northwesterly winds induce upwind (downwind) currents over the deep (shallow) water, forming a “double-gyre pattern” in the Suo-Nada, two cyclonic eddies in Hiuchi-Nada, and anticyclonic circulation in Harima-Nada in vertically averaged current fields.     

Estimates of winter currents on the Israeli continental shelf

A simplified analytical model for continental shelf wind-driven currents is adopted. The calculated results compare favorably with extensive field measurements from two separate sources. The model is used to hindcast the current climatology on the Israeli continental shelf. The maximum northward/southward alongshore currents at 10-m water depth, with a return period of 100 years, are found to be 1.28 and 0.53 m/s, respectively.