Characteristics of High-Frequency Transport Variability in the Korea/Tsushima Strait

The high-frequency transport variability on a period of 3 to 50 days has been investigated using the 10 years ADCP data measured along the route of the ferry \u22Camellia\u22 sailing across the Korea/Tsushima Strait. To find the spatial and temporal features of the transport variation, the EOF analysis for the velocity component normal to the ferry route was performed. It revealed the transport mode is a most prominent high-frequency variability through the strait, explaining 20% of the total variance. In space, the volume transport variation is strong in the central regions of the western and eastern channels with dominant time scales shorter than 2 weeks all the year round. In time, it strengthens from September to January, and weakens from May to August. The lagged covariance of the high-frequency transport to the wind stress was examined. It revealed the transport variation has a high correlation to the wind forcing within lags of 2 days. For lags of one to 2 days, the synoptic scale wind field over the Japan Islands induces the volume transport as a propagation of coastally trapped waves. For a day lag, the transport variation is also led by the cross-strait wind over the strait through the Ekman transport. The along-strait wind near the strait is effective for driving the volume transport directly for zero day lag