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The fronts of the Huanghai cold water mass (HCWM) induced by tidal mixing

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Abstract

Since Simpson and Hunter proposed in 1971 the idea that shallow water fronts were induced by tidal mixing, many authors have investigated the tide induced shallow water fronts in various areas. It was generally assumed that a critical value of the stratified parameterK=log10(H/U 3) may be used to identify the location of these fronts. Here, H means the depth of sea waler. U denotes the characteristic velocity of tidal current. and the critical value ofK is generally laken as 1.8–2.0.

In this paper. Simpson-Hunter’s stratified parameterK was calculated by using quasi-maximum current velocity (which consists of the six main tidal constituents. i.e.M 2.S 2,O 1.K 1.M 4,MS4) in the H ranghai Sea (Yellow Sea) and in the northern Donghai Sea (East China Sea) as well. Caleulated results show that the areas of the Subei (the northern part of Jiangsu) Shoal. the area off the mouth area of the Changjiang (the Yangtze) River, along the coast of Shandong Peninsula. and along the western coast of Korea, the tidal mixing is strong. Calculations also show that along the whole boundary of the HCWM and also along the western boundary of the cyclonic eddy in the northern Donghai Sea, i.e. along the fronts, the value ofK is found to be very close to the eritical value 1.8. It is also to be noied that at these locations, the temperature of the surface water is very low. These clearly show that shallow water fronts in the Huanghai Sea and in the northern Donghai Sea as well, are induced by tidal mixing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Occanology, Academic Sinica, China

    Zhao Baoren

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  1. Zhao Baoren
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Contribution No. 1241 from Institute of Oceanology, Academia Sinica.

This paper was published in Chinese in theOcean. et Limn. Sinica 16(6): 451–459, 1985.

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Baoren, Z. The fronts of the Huanghai cold water mass (HCWM) induced by tidal mixing. Chin. J. Ocean. Limnol. 4, 159–170 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02850432

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02850432

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