Role of sea ice on satellite-observed chlorophyll-a concentration variations during spring bloom in the East/Japan sea

The relationship between the spring bloom along the Primorye coast and the sea ice of the Tatarskiy Strait in the northern region of the East/Japan Sea, a semi-enclosed marginal sea in the North Pacific, was investigated using the ten-year SeaWiFS chlorophyll-a concentration data and DMSP/SSMI sea ice concentration data from 1998 to 2007. Year-to-year variations in the chlorophyll-a concentrations in the spring were positively correlated with those of the sea ice concentrations in the Tatarskiy Strait in the previous winter with a correlation coefficient of 0.77. Abrupt increases in nutrients, essential for the spring bloom in the upper ocean during spring, were supplied from sea ice-melted waters. Time series of vertical distributions of the nutrients indicated that phosphate concentrations were extremely elevated in the upper ocean (less than 100 m) without any connection to high concentrations in the deep waters below. The water mass from sea ice provided preferable conditions for the spring bloom through changes in the vertical stratification structure of the water columns. Along-coast ratios of stability parameters between two neighboring months clearly showed the rapid progression of the generation of a shallow pycnocline due to fresh water originating from sea ice. This study addressed the importance of the physical environment for biogeochemical processes in semi-enclosed marginal seas affected by local sea ice.     

Spring phytoplankton bloom in the fronts of the East China Sea

Frontal areas between warm and saline waters of the Kuroshio currents and colder and diluted waters of the East China Sea (ECS) influenced by the Changjiang River were identified from the satellite thermal imagery and hydrological data obtained from the Coastal Ocean Process Experiment (COPEX) cruise during the period between March 1^st and 10^th, 1997. High chlorophyll concentrations appeared in the fronts of the East China Seas with the highest chlorophyll-a concentration in the southwestern area of Jeju Island (~2.9 mg/m³) and the eastern area of the Changjiang River Mouth (~2.8 mg/m³). Vertical structures of temperature, salinity and density were similar, showing the fronts between ECS and Kuroshio waters. The water column was well mixed in the shelf waters and was stratified around the fronts. It is inferred that the optimal condition for light utilization and nutrients induced both from the coastal and deep waters enhances the high phytoplankton productivity in the fronts of the ECS. In addition, the high chlorophyll-a in the fronts seems to have been associated with the water column stability as well.     

Modeling the effects of atmospheric nitrogen input on biological production in the Japan Sea

The effects of atmospheric nitrogen input on biological production in the Japan Sea have been investigated using a coupled physical-ecosystem model. Comparison between the cases with and without nitrogen deposition shows a relatively large effect on primary production in the southern Japan Sea during summer to autumn, when nitrogen deposition is high and nutrient is depleted in the surface layer. The atmospheric nitrogen deposition supports > 10% of the annual export production in the nearshore region along the Japanese coast. The importance of atmospheric input as a new nutrient will grow steadily with increasing deposition into the Japan Sea.     

Environmental Factors Affecting the Occurrence and Production of the Spring Phytoplankton Bloom in Funka Bay, Japan

The concentration of nutrients was measured during the spring phytoplankton bloom in Funka Bay over a 5-year period (1988–92). During the winter mixing period, nutrient concentrations were similar in every year except in 1990 when a high concentration of silicate was observed. There was interannual variation in the onset of the bloom, presumably depending on the stability of the water column. The bloom developed in early March when the Oyashio water (OW), which has a lower density than the existing winter water, flowed into the bay and the pycnocline formed near the bottom of the euphotic zone. In this case, high chl a was found only in the euphotic zone and nutrient utilization was limited to this zone. In the year when the inflow of OW was not observed by April, the bloom took place at the end of March without strong stratification and high chl a was found in the whole water column, accompanied by a decrease in nutrients. Interannual differences were found not only at the beginning of the decrease, but also in the thickness of the layer which showed a decrease in nutrients. Primary production from the beginning to the end of the spring bloom was estimated from the nutrient budget before and after the spring bloom. The integrated production over the spring bloom period ranged from 25 to 73 g C m^-2, which accounts for 19–56% of the annual production in this bay. We found that the timing of the bloom was strongly dependent on the inflow of OW, but the amount of production was not clearly related to this timing.     

A Box Model of Glacial-Interglacial Variability in the Japan Sea

The Japan Sea has experienced drastic changes in the last 60 ka: the surface water was colder than the present value by five degrees and extremely freshened (24 ppt) in the last glacial maximum (15 ka), and then it contained Oyashio water for a few thousand years. It is an open question whether the inflow-outflow pattern was entirely reversed, opposite to the present exchange with an inflow through Tsushima Strait and an outflow through Tsugaru Strait. A box model is employed with two boxes representing the northern and the southern half domains in the upper (300-m-thick) layer. The model is driven by atmospheric forcing and inflow through Tsushima Strait and/or Tsugaru Strait. Here, the net transport through Tsushima to Tsugaru is given in the model. A baroclinic component is added to the net transport through each strait. It is the baroclinic components that allow the upper and the lower portions to flow to the opposite directions in the straits, and hence a reversal flow becomes possible against the net transport, under the condition of an extremely freshened Japan Sea. The fresh surface layer in 1814 ka is attributable to a near-shutoff of the inflow due to the low sea level. Shortly after the near-shutoff, the baroclinic transport through Tsugaru Strait yields intrusion of the Oyashio water into the Japan Sea. Thus, it is implied that Oyashio water existed in the Japan Sea a few thousand years after the reopening of Tsugaru Strait, even though the net transport was one-way, similar to the present state.     

On Conditions of Phytoplankton Blooms in the Coastal Waters of the North-Western East/Japan Sea

Seasonal changes of abundance of the main phytoplankton groups of species (diatoms, dinoflagellates, chrysophytes, small flagellates and cryptophytes) and a set of environmental parameters were investigated in coastal and preestuarine waters of Peter the Great Bay (East/Japan Sea) in May-October of 1998 and 1999. Three periods of mass development were revealed: spring, summer and autumn blooms, with successive change of species. The conditions favourable for each group of species were determined. Driving mechanisms of the succession include nutrients transport through seasonal pycnocline by turbulent mixing, terrestrial nutrients supply by monsoon floods, nutrients supply by upwellings, and light control by the thickness of upper mixed layer. Summer succession could be explained by a simple SST-MLD diagram similar to Pingree S-kh diagram with sea surface temperature as indicator of stratification (S) and mixed layer depth as indicator of light availability (kh).     

日本海、鄂霍次克海和白令海的古海洋学研究进展

边缘海的存在使大陆和大洋之间的物质和能量交换变得相当复杂。在构造运动和海平面升降的控制下,边缘海和大洋之间时而连通时而隔绝,各种古气候变化信号都在一定程度上被放大。基于近期有关西北太平洋边缘海的古海洋学研究成果,简要概述了日本海、鄂霍次克海、白令海以及北太平洋地区自中新世以来的古气候和古海洋环境演化特征,并认为它们与全球其它地区一样也受控于因地球轨道参数变化引起的太阳辐射率的变化,大尺度的气候变化具有与地球轨道偏心率周期相对应的100ka周期,而41ka的小尺度周期则受地球自转轴斜率变化的控制。一些突发性的气候变化则是由气候不稳定性、海峡的关闭与开启和其它一些地球气候系统的非线性活动所驱动。但同时作为中高纬度边缘海,它们的古海平面、古海水温度、古洋流等古海洋环境因子的变化特征还受到冰盖扩张和退缩、构造运动、冰川性地壳均衡补偿、东亚季风等因素的影响,具有一定的区域特点。     

春季南海南部上混合层数值模拟与数值实验

采用一维湍动能模式对南海南部的 SST及混合层进行数值模拟和数值试验。结果表明 :TKE模式能够模拟南海南部的海表面温度 SST以及除南海南部 5月中旬以外的上混合层深度随时间变化基本特征。在 5～ 6月 ,SST的日振荡主要依赖于短波辐射的日变化 ,风的混合作用抑制了 SST的日周期振荡。春季夏季风爆发期间 ,南海海面潜热通量和感热通量与短波辐射和风应力相比较 ,是一个对 SST和混合层影响较小的量。在春季南海南部 ,短波辐射作用能使 SST升高的最大值约为 4℃ ;潜热和感热通量能使 SST的下降的最大值为 3℃。风应力对南海混合层深度随时间变化趋势起着决定的作用 ,并能使其深度加深 2 0～ 30 m,而短波辐射则使混合层的深度变浅2～ 3m,潜热和感热通量会使混合层的深度加深 1～ 2 m。在春季南海南部 ,热通量对混合层深度的影响与风应力相比要小得多     

Review of recent findings on the water masses and circulation in the East Sea (Sea of Japan)

Recent findings on water masses, biogeochemical tracers, deep currents and basin-scale circulation in the East/Japan Sea, and numerical modeling of its circulation are reviewed. Warming continues up to 2007 despite an episode of bottom water formation in the winter of 2000–2001. Water masses have definitely changed since the 1970s and further changes are expected due to the continuation of warming. Accumulation of current data in deep waters of the East/Japan Sea reveals that the circulation in the East/Japan Sea is primarily cyclonic with sub-basin scale cyclonic and anticyclonic cells in the Ulleung Basin (Tsushima Basin). Our understanding of the circulation of intermediate water masses has been deepened through high-resolution numerical studies, and the implementation of data assimilation has had initial success. However, the East/Japan Sea is unique in terms of the fine vertical structures of physical and biogeochemical properties of cold water mass measured at the highest precision and their rapid change with the global warming, so that full understanding of the structures and their change requires in-depth process studies with continuous monitoring programs.     

日本海环流研究综述

日本海作为东北亚地区最大的边缘海,是西北太平洋上的重要海区。由于特殊的地理位置和复杂的地形,使得日本海的环流结构呈现独有特征,如日本海内的亚极地锋现象,复杂多变的涡旋,北部形成的深水团等。概述了日本海环流状况,着重介绍了对马海峡、郁陵海盆环流情形和日本海特征水团;总结了目前仍存在的争议问题,如对马暖流源头、对马暖流空间结构等;指出了目前日本海尚待解决的科学问题,如对马暖流流量的长期变化及其原因、东韩暖流消失现象及其机制、日本海特征水的传播路径及其影响因素、日本海的某些变化产生原因及其与全球变化的响应等。     

Effects of Eddy Variability on the Circulation of the Japan/East Sea

The effect of mesoscale eddy variability on the Japan/East Sea mean circulation is examined from satellite altimeter data and results from the Naval Research Laboratory Layered Ocean Model (NLOM). Sea surface height variations from the Geosat-Exact Repeat Mission and TOPEX/POSEIDON altimeter satellites imply geostrophic velocities. At the satellite crossover points, the total velocity and the Reynolds stress due to geostrophic mesoscale turbulence are calculated. After spatial interpolation the momentum flux and effect on geostrophic balance indicates that the eddy variability aids in the transport of the Polar Front and the separation of the East Korean Warm Current (EKWC). The NLOM results elucidate the impact of eddy variability on the EKWC separation from the Korean coast. Eddy variability is suppressed by either increasing the model viscosity or decreasing the model resolution. The simulations with decreased eddy variability indicate a northward overshoot of the EKWC. Only the model simulation with sufficient eddy variability depicts the EKWC separating from the Korean coast at the observed latitude. The NLOM simulations indicate mesoscale influence through upper ocean-topographic coupling. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Variability of Sea Surface Circulation in the Japan Sea

Composite sea surface dynamic heights (CSSDH) are calculated from both sea surface dynamic heights that are derived from altimetric data of ERS-2 and mean sea surface that is calculated by a numerical model. The CSSDH are consistent with sea surface temperature obtained by satellite and observed water temperature. Assuming the geostrophic balance, sea surface current velocities are calculated. It is found that temporal and spatial variations of sea surface circulation are considerably strong. In order to examine the characteristics of temporal and spatial variation of current pattern, EOF analysis is carried out with use of the CSSDH for 3.5 years. The spatial and temporal variations of mode 1 indicate the strength or weakness of sea surface circulation over the entire Japan Sea associated with seasonal variation of volume transport through the Tsushima Strait. The spatial and temporal variations of mode 2 mostly indicate the temporal variation of the second branch of the Tsushima Warm Current and the East Korean Warm Current. It is suggested that this variation is possibly associated with the seasonal variation of volume transport through the west channel of the Tsushima Strait. Variations of mode 3 indicate the interannual variability in the Yamato Basin.     

渤、黄、东海8个主要分潮的数值模拟研究

应用MIKE数值模拟软件,采用无结构三角形网格,建立一套计算区域包括整个渤海、黄海、东海以及东海大陆架和琉球群岛的高分辨率数值模型,考虑了实际水深和岸线,外海开边界采用西北太平洋大模型结果的潮位提供,模拟了东中国海潮波的波动过程,对潮波垂直运动过程进行调和分析,得到了渤海、黄海、东海的M2,S2,K1,O1以及N2,K2,P1,Q1八个主要分潮的传播和分布特征。利用中国沿海14个潮位站的调和常数对模型结果进行了验证,验证结果显示模型较为准确可靠。研究结果表明:4个主要半日潮(全日潮)在渤、黄、东海的传播情形基本相似,即潮波在渤海、黄海、东海沿岸的传播性质上类似沿岸开尔文波的传播形态,并且成功再现了计算海域的4个半日分潮无潮点和2个全日分潮无潮点。全日潮振幅各无潮点附近振幅最小,而海湾的波腹区振幅最大,东海潮差呈现近岸方向振幅大、离岸方向振幅小,浙闽沿海振幅也较大,黄海振幅相对较小,渤海振幅在辽东湾和渤海湾顶最大,两个无潮点周边振幅较小。     

南海北部浮游生态系统要素季节变化的模拟研究

本文基于南海SEATS站的观测资料,利用垂直一维海洋生态系统动力学模式(MEM-1D)模拟了南海北部生态要素垂直结构的季节变化。结果表明,南海北部表层Chla浓度具有明显的季节变化特征,夏季呈现低值(<0.05 mg·m-3),冬季呈现高值,12月为0.38 mg·m-3。春季,风速相对变小,垂直混合变弱,次表层Chla浓度极大值现象形成(80~100 m),并可一直持续到10月末。冬季,海表温度降低,东北季风爆发,垂直混合增强,出现表层水华现象。浮游动物和细菌的垂直结构相似,冬季上层水体中浮游动物和细菌出现最大值,分别为13 mg·m-3和18 mg·m-3。3~10月细菌(12 mg·m-3)同浮游动物(14 mg·m-3)一样出现次表层最大值,其存在深度与浮游动物相似。     

黄、东海环流的数值研究Ⅲ——正压环流的数值模拟

依据黄、东海环流的的动力学模型 ,运用“流速分解法”对黄、东海正压环流进行了数值模拟。计算结果表明冬季黄海正压环流主要受风应力影响 ,基本形态为黄海暖流由济州岛西南进入南黄海中部 ,其东西两侧分别为两支向南流动的沿岸流 ;夏季主要受到潮致体力的影响 ,为一逆时针涡旋。东海环流主要是边界力作用驱动的结果 ,东海黑潮、台湾暖流和对马暖流较稳定。冬季风应力对东海环流表层流场有消弱作用 ,在夏季则有一定增强作用。     

1999年渤海浮游植物生物量的数值模拟

以浮游植物量、浮游动物量、营养盐浓度 (包括无机氮和无机磷 )以及碎屑量为生态变量 ,在HAMSOM水动力学模式的基础上构建了 1个三维浮游生态动力学NPZD模型。采用此模型研究了渤海 1999年浮游植物量和初级生产力的变化情况 ,模拟结果与实测基本相符。模拟结果表明 :1999年渤海浮游植物量的变化大致呈双峰分布 ,春季水华出现在4,5月份 ,秋季水华出现在 9,10月份 ;受透明度和局地水深的影响 ,渤海湾和辽东湾北部浮游植物量的年变化呈夏季大、冬季小的单峰分布。 1999年渤海不同海区初级生产力的变化特征是 :除莱州湾一年中有春、夏 2个峰值外 ,其它 3个海区都是夏季高、冬季低的单峰分布 ;1999年整个渤海年平均的初级生产力为 2 5 7mgC/m2 /d。     

一次黄海海雾的三维数值模拟研究

本文利用 1个考虑了地形效应、植被影响、长波辐射、地表能量收支、液态水的重力沉降等影响雾的形成和发展主要因子的三维海雾模式 ,模拟了 1995 - 0 6 - 0 1发生在黄海的 1次实际海雾过程 ,分析了海雾生长、发展和消亡过程中液态水含量和其它物理量的三维时空分布变化特征。结果表明 ,该模式能较好地模拟出黄海海域实际的海雾生消过程 ,对海雾的三维结构有一定的模拟能力。     

Long-Term Variations of Potential Temperature and Dissolved Oxygen of the Japan Sea Proper Water

Observed potential temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen are analyzed to elucidate their variations during the period from 1958 to 1996 at Stn. P (37°43′ N, 134°43′ E) and from 1965 to 1996 at Stn. H (40°30′ N, 137°40′ E) in the Japan Sea. At Stn. P, increases of the potential temperature for the period are found below 800 m depth with the largest value of 0.16 ± 0.09°C per century at 800 m depth. At Stn. H, the potential temperature increased below 500 m depth. The increase rate has the largest value of 0.50 ± 0.18°C per century at 500 m depth and it is 0.30 ± 0.09°C per century at 800 m depth. The concentrations of dissolved oxygen increased around 800 m depth at Stn. P. At Stn. H, they increased above 800 m depth. On the other hand, they decreased below 1200 m depth at both stations. The layer of the dissolved oxygen minimum has deepened in these decades. These features appearing in the distributions of temperature and dissolved oxygen are successively simulated by a vertical one-dimensional advection-diffusion model including consumption of dissolved oxygen and termination of the deep water supply. These results suggest that the supply of the Japan Sea Proper Water into the deep layer, which is cold and rich in dissolved oxygen, has been decreasing for the last four decades. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Mixed layer in the Sea of Japan: numerical simulation and long-term data analysis

Seasonal variation and topography of the mixed layer in the Sea of Japan are studied by comparison of results from long-term observation data analysis and from numerical simulation with the MHI oceanic model (Shapiro. 1998. Marine Hydrophysical Journal, 6:26～40). The data are retrieved from Oceanographic Atlas of the Bering Sea, Okhotsk Sea, and Japan/East Sea (Rostov, Rostov, Dmitrieva, et al. 2003. Pacific Oceanography, 1 (1):70-72). The simulated and long-term patterns are compared. An impact of surface buoyancy flux, wind, and convergence/divergence of surface currents upon the mixed layer in the Sea of Japan is analyzed.