The circulation in the southern Huanghai Sea and northern East China Sea in June 1999

On the basis of hydrographic data, the mooring current measured data and vessel mounted ADCP and toward ADCP data obtained in June 4 to 9, 1999, the circulations in the southern Huanghai Sea and northern East China Sea are computed by using the modified inverse method. The following results have been obtained. (1) The Kuroshio flows northeastward through a eastern part of the investigated region and has a main core at Section PN, and it is located at the shelf break. There is also a northward current at the eastern most part of Section PN. There is a weaker anticyclonic and warm eddy between these two northward currents. A weak cyclonic eddy occurs at the western part of Section PN. (2) The net northern volume transport (VT) of the Kuroshio and the offshore branch of Taiwan Warm Current (TWCOB) through Section PN is about 26 2×10 6 m 3/s in June 1999. The inshore branch of Taiwan Warm Current (TWCIB) through the investigated region is about 0 4×10 6 m 3/s. The Taiwan Warm Current has much effect on the currents in the continental shelf. (3) The Huanghai Sea Coastal Current flows southeastward and enters into the northwestern part of investigated region, and flows to turn cyclonically, then it flows northeastward, which is due to the influence of the Taiwan Warm Current and topograpy. (4) There is cyclonic cold eddy southwest of the Cheju Island, and it is located north of the area where the Huanghai Sea Coastal Current makes a turn cyclonically. It has high dense and cold water. (5) The cold and higher density water is occurred in the layer from about 30 m level to the bottom between Stations C306 and C311 of the northernmost Section C3. It is a southwestern part of the Huanghai Sea Cold Water Mass (HSCWM).