Connectivity of the Taiwan, Cheju, and Korea straits

Insight into the circulation of the East China Sea and origin of the Tsushima Current are investigated through direct, concurrent measurements of velocities through the Taiwan, Cheju, and Korea Straits. Current data are obtained from six bottom-mounted acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCPs) arrayed along a section spanning the Korea Strait, a single bottom-moored ADCP in the Cheju Strait, and four bottom-moored ADCPs along a section spanning the Taiwan Strait. Mass transports are computed for the October–December, 1999 time period. In addition, temperature and salt transports are examined in conjunction with climatological values of temperature and salinity. Average volume transport is 0.14 Sverdrups (Sv) through the Taiwan Strait, 0.59 Sv for the Cheju Strait, and 3.17 Sv for the Korea Strait. Salt and temperature transport through the Korea Strait and into the Japan/East Sea are 110.48×106 kg/s and 0.24×1015 watts (W), respectively. Heat loss in the East China Sea is approximately 200 W/m2. Winds affect the transports in each of the straits. Most noticeable wind effects are observed in the Taiwan Strait where strong north wind events force flow into the South China Sea. The main source for the Tsushima Current and its flow into the Japan/East Sea is clearly the Kuroshio for fall, 1999.