Simulation of mesoscale circulation in the Tatar Strait of the Japan Sea. (June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ponomarev, V.I.; Fayman, P.A.; Prants, S.V.; Budyansky, M.V.; Uleysky, M.Yu.
• Is Part Of: Ocean modelling. Volume 126(2018)
• Page Start: 43
• Page End: 55
• Publication Date: 2018-06
• Subjects: Numerical circulation model RIAMOM -- The Tatar Strait of the Japan Sea -- Lagrangian maps; Oceanography -- Periodicals; Océanographie -- Périodiques; Oceanography; Periodicals; 551.46
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ocemod.2018.04.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1463-5003

Abstract

Highlights: Seasonal variability of circulation in the Tatar Strait (Japan Sea) is simulated. The circulation is shown to be cardinally different in the cold and warm seasons. It changes due to a seasonal change of the North Asian Monsoon. Lagrangian maps illustrate dynamics of mesoscale currents and eddies in the Strait. Simulation results are consistent with observation data in various seasons and years. Abstract: The eddy-resolved ocean circulation model RIAMOM (Lee et al., 2003) is used to analyze seasonal variability of mesoscale circulation in the Tatar Strait of the Japan Sea. The model domain is a vast area including the northern Japan Sea, Okhotsk Sea and adjacent region in the Pacific Ocean. A numerical experiment with a horizontal 1/18° resolution has been carried out under realistic meteorological conditions from the ECMWF ERA-40 reanalysis with restoring of surface temperature and salinity. The simulated seasonal variability of both the current system and mesoscale eddy dynamics in the Tatar Strait is in a good agreement with temperature and salinity distributions of oceanographic observation data collected during various seasons and years. Two general circulation regimes in the Strait have been found. The circulation regime changes from summer to winter due to seasonal change of the North Asian Monsoon. On a synoptic time scale, the similar change of the circulation regime occurs due to change of the southeastern wind to the northwestern one when the meteorological situation with an anticyclone over the Okhotsk Sea changes to that with a strong cyclone. The Lagrangian maps illustrate seasonal changes in direction of the main currents and in polarity and location of mesoscale eddies in the Strait.