Tidal and Sub-tidal Current Characteristics in the Central part of Chunsu Bay, Yellow Sea, Korea during the Summer Season

Abstract

This study analyzed the ADCP records along with wind by KMA and discharge records at Seosan A-, B-district tide embankment by KRC for 33 days obtained in the Chunsu Bay, Yellow Sea, Korea spanning from July 29 to August 30, 2010. Various analyses include descriptive statistics, harmonic analysis of tidal constituents, spectra and coherence, complex correlation, progressive vector diagram and cumulative curves to understand the tidal and subtidal current characteristics caused by local wind and discharge effect. Observed current speed ranges from -30 to 40 (cm/sec), with standard deviation from 1.7 (cm/sec) at bottom to 18.7 (cm/sec) at surface. According to the harmonic analysis results, the tidal current direction show NNW-SSE. The magnitudes of semi-major axes range from 9.4 to 14.8 (cm/sec) for M2 harmonic constituent and from 4.4 to 7.0 (cm/sec) for S2, respectively. And the magnitudes of semi-minor axes range from 0.1 to 0.5 (cm/sec) for M2 and from 0.4 to 1.4 (cm/sec) for S2, respectively. In the spectral analysis results in the frequency domain, we found 3~6 significant spectral peaks for band-passed wind and residual current of all depth. These peak periods represent various periodicities ranging from 2 to 8 (days). In the coherency analysis results between band-passed wind and residual current of all depth, several significant coherencies could be resolved in 3~5 periodicities within 2.8 (days). Highest coherency peak occurred at 4.6 (day) with 1.2-day phase lag of discharge to band-passed residual current. The progressive vector of wind and residual current travelled to northward at all layers, and the travel distance at middle layer was greater than surface layer distance. The Northward residual current was caused by a seasonal southern wind, and the density-driven current formed by fresh water input effected southward residual current. The sub-tidal current characteristics is determined by seasonal wind force and fresh water inflow in the Chunsu Bay, Yellow Sea, Korea.