Abstract
During the winter of 1990, two current-meter moorings were deployed in the outer shelf region across a canyon northeast of Taiwan. The data indicate that a steady flow exists in the southward, along-slope direction, opposite to the nearby northward-flowing Kuroshio current. Tides run transverse to the mean flow. Fluctuations in subtidal current mostly occur on the south side of the canyon, concentrated in the synoptic (2–4 days) band and oriented in the cross-slope direction. From the nearby winds and coastal sea-level observations, it is clear that the rotating-wind field associated with the passage of winter cold front is responsible for generating the observed energetic fluctuations. The northeasterly monsoon wind is very effective in piling up water against the northern coast of Taiwan and establishing an out-flowing geostrophic current. Trailing wind behind the high-pressure system has exactly the opposite effect. The investigation suggests that due to the winter-weather pattern, the area northeast of Taiwan is an important region for water exchange between the East China Sea and the Kuroshio.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Chao, S.-Y. (1990): Circulation of the East China Sea, a numerical study. J. Oceanogr. Soc. Japan,46, 273–295.
Chern, C.-S. (1982): A preliminary study on the response of Taiwan Strait to winter monson. Acta Oceanogr. Taiwanica,13, 124–139.
Chern, C.-S., J. Wang, and D.-P. Wang (1990): The exchange of Kuroshio and East China Sea shelf water. J. Geophys. Res.,95, 16017–16023.
Chuang, W.-S. (1985): Dynamics of subtidal flow in Taiwan Strait. J. Oceanogr. Soc. Japan,41, 65–72.
Chuang, W.-S. (1986): A note on the driving mechanisms of current in the Taiwan Strait. J. Oceanogr. Soc. Japan,42, 355–361.
Guan, B. (1984): Major features of the shallow water hydrography in the East China Sea and Huanghai Sea. p. 1–13. In: Ocean Hydrodynamics of the Japan and East China Seas, ed. by T. Ichiye, Elsevier, New York.
Hsueh, Y., R. D. Romea and P. W. deWitt (1986): Wintertime winds and coastal sea-level fluctuations in the Northeast China Sea. Part II: Numerical model. J. Phys. Oceanogr.,16, 241–261.
Hsueh, Y. and J. H. Tinsman (1987): A comparison between geostrophic and observed winds at a Japan Meteorological Agency buoy in the East China Sea. J. Oceanogr. Soc. Japan,43, 251–257.
Kundu, P. K., and J. S. Allen (1976): Some three-dimensional characteristics of low-frequency current fluctuations near the Oregon coast. J. Phys. Oceanogr.,6, 181–199.
Nakamura Y., K. Miyaji, K. Tamai, and Y. Zheng (1990): On the characteristics of the oceanic front in the East China sea from the viewpoint of oceanic currents. p. 84–98. In: Proceedings of Japan-China Joint Symposium of the Cooperative Study on the Kuroshio, November 14–16, 1989, Tokyo.
Nitani, H. (1972): Beginning of the Kuroshio. p. 129–163. In: Kuroshio, Its Physical Aspects, ed. by H. Stommel and K. Yoshida, Univ. Tokyo Press, Tokyo.
Noble M. and B. Butman (1989): The structure of subtidal currents within and around Lydonia Canyon: Evidence for enhanced cross-shelf fluctuations over the mouth of the Canyon. J. Geophys. Res.,94, 8091–8110.
Pu, Y., Y. Su, and X. Xu (1987): Some features of the current field in the south of the East China Sea (in Chinese with English abstract). p. 33–43. In: Essays on the Investigation of Kuroshio, ed. by X. Sun, Ocean Press, Beijing.
Sun, X. (1987): Analysis of the surface path of the Kuroshio in the East China Sea (in Chinese with English abstract). p. 1–14. In: Essays on the Investigation of Kuroshio, ed. by X. Sun, Ocean Press, Beijing.
Uda, M. and A. Kishi (1974): Cyclonic cold eddies along the edge of the Kuroshio current in relation to the genesis and passage of cyclones, I. Waters north of Taiwan. p. 199–218. In: The Kuroshio III, Proceedings of the 3rd Symposium, Bangkok, Thailand, 1972.
Zhang, M., J. Yao, and J. Chen (1987): Preliminary analysis of meteorological features during the survey of Kuroshio in the East China Sea (in Chinese with English abstract). p. 247–255. In: Essays on the Investigation of Kuroshio, ed. by X. Sun, Ocean Press, Beijing.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chuang, WS., Wu, CK. Slope-Current fluctuations northeast of Taiwan winter 1990. Journal of the Oceanographical Society of Japan 47, 185–193 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02310034
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02310034