Variation of velocity and volume transport of the Tsugaru warm current in the winter of 1999-2000

Ito, Toshimichi ; Togawa, Orihiko ; Onishi, Mitsuyo*; Isoda, Yutaka*; Nakayama, Tomoharu*; Shima, Shigeki*; Kuroda, Hiroshi*; Iwahashi, Masayuki*; Sato, Chizuru*

The variation of velocity and volume transport of the Tsugaru Warm Current (TWC) is investigated based on the data of continuous and cross-sectional current monitoring in the Tsugaru Strait. During November 1999 - March 2000, the structure of the velocity transection across the strait was almost stable in which the TWC occupied the central part of the strait, while the returning flows existed in the northern and southern part of the strait, and these indicate a totally declining trend. The volume transport of the TWC varies from 2.1 to 1.1 Sv, with the mean value of 1.5 Sv, following the variation of the TWC. The temporal variation of the volume transport shows a linear correlation with that of the sea level difference between the Japan Sea and the Pacific Ocean. The contribution of the sea level difference to the volume transport is estimated to be roughly 70 %.