Louisiana State University LSU Digital Commons LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses Graduate School 1980 Dynamics of Flow in the Region of the Tsugaru Strait. Dennis Michael Conlon Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses Recommended Citation Conlon, Dennis Michael, "Dynamics of Flow in the Region of the Tsugaru Strait." (1980). LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses. 3557. https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses/3557 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at LSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of LSU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. INFORMATION TO USERS This was produced from a copy of a document sent to us for microfilming. While the most advanced technological means to photograph and reproduce this document have been used, the quality is heavily dependent upon the quality of the material submitted. The following explanation of techniques is provided to help you understand markings or notations which may appear on this reproduction. 1. The sign or “target” for pages apparently lacking from the document photographed is “Missing Page(s)”. If it was possible to obtain the missing page(s) or section, they are spliced into the film along with adjacent pages. This may have necessitated cutting through an image and duplicating adjacent pages to assure you of complete continuity. 2. When an image on the film is obliterated with a round black mark it is an indication that the film inspector noticed either blurred copy because of movement during exposure, or duplicate copy. Unless we meant to delete copyrighted materials that should not have been filmed, you will find a good image of the page in the adjacent frame. 3. When a map, drawing or chart, etc., is part of the material being photo­ graphed the photographer has followed a definite method in “sectioning” the material. It is customary to begin filming at the upper left hand comer of a large sheet and to continue from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. If necessary, sectioning is continued again-beginning below the first row and continuing on until complete. 4. For any illustrations that cannot be reproduced satisfactorily by xerography, photographic prints can be purchased at additional cost and tipped into your xerographic copy. Requests can be made to our Dissertations Customer Services Department. 5. Some pages in any document may have indistinct print. In all cases we have filmed the best available copy. University Microfilms International 300 N. ZEEB ROAD, ANN ARBOR, Ml 48106 18 BEDFORD ROW, LONDON WC1R 4EJ, ENGLAND 8110411 C o n l o n, D e n n is M ic h a el DYNAMICS OF FLOW IN THE REGION OF THE TSUGARU STRAIT The Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical PH.D. Col 1980 University Microfilms International300 N. Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48106 DYNAMICS OF FLOW IN THE REGION OF THE TSUGARU STRAIT A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy m The Department of Marine Sciences by Dennis Michael Conlon B.A., Rice University, 1966 M.S., Louisiana State University, 1969 M.S., Louisiana State University, 1974 December 1980 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This work is dedicated to Annette Adams Conlon, without whose love and support it would not have been possible, ET AD MAIOREM DEI GLORIAM. The author extends his sincere thanks to Professor Stephen P. Murray, principal advisor on this dissertation, for his continued support and encouragement throughout this endeavor. Helpful comments were also provided during the course of this work by Drs. D. Shoji, C. Sonu, J. D. Thompson, J. Whitehead, J. Suhayda, and T. Ichiye. Unpublished data were generously provided by Mr. R. Stewart, Mr. K. Nitta, and Mr. R. Peloquin. Professor Y. Nagata and Dr. C. Sonu assisted greatly in securing information and reports from various organizations in Japan. The Japanese Section of the Library of Con­ gress was an invaluable source of information; to Mr. H. Matsumoto and his staff the author extends his special thanks. Annette A. Conlon performed extensive work in keypunching and data reduction. The figures were drafted by Mrs. G. Dunn and photo­ graphed by Mr. K. Lyle. Mrs. M. Mosby typed preliminary versions of the text with diligence and patience. The final text was typed at Coastal Studies Institute. The Office of Naval Research provided support for a period of extended training at the Coastal Studies Institute, during which time the approach to this research was formulated. TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.................................................. ii LIST OF T A B L E S .................................................. iv LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS............................................ v ABSTRACT ........................................................ vi CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION ............................................... 1 II. THE SEA OF JAPAN AND THE TSUSHIMA CURRENT................... 12 III. STERIC SEA LEVELING......................................... 17 IV. THE INFLOW REGION OF THE TSUGARU STRAIT...................... 21 V. THE TSUGARU S T R A I T ......................................... 44 VI. THE OUTFLOW REGION OF THE TSUGARU ST R A I T ................... 64 VII. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS..................................... 77 REFERENCES .............................................. 80 APPENDIX ........................................................ 84 VITA ............................................................ 88 iii LIST OF TABLES 1. Steric Heights (cm) Referenced to 400 d b .................. 36 CM CM CO <t Steric Sea Level Differences (cm) .......................... 36 Section Geostrophic Transports (Sv) ......................... 38 Calculated Surface Currents and Sectional Transports for Combinations of A and k Using Eq. 21 with T = 0, 3p/px = 0 ........................................ 56 5. Seasonal Variation of Internal Rossby Radius .............. 69 iv LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 1. Map of the Sea of J a p a n ..................................... 2 2. Survey lines of Japanese multi-agency experiment in Tsugaru Strait region ................................ 8 3. Locations of current meter moorings and SVSTD stations, cruises of USNS SILAS BENT, November 1975 and January 1976 9 4. Locations of current meter observations and tidal stations, JMSA75 .............................. ..... 11 5. Map of East China Sea/Japan Sea showing Kuroshio System .. 13 6. Hydrographic section on latitude 40°40'N from cruise of KOFU MARU, October 15, 1970 (Section D, Run I, JMA70), showing Tsushima Current inshore of longitude 1 3 9 ° E .................................................... 15 7. Deep currents in the inflow region, November 1975- January 1976 24 8. Vertical variation of cross-stream balance on section C M 1 - 5 .................................................... 27 9. Seasonal sea level variations (January-December) at Iwasaki/Fukaura .......................................... 32 10. Steric height variations in inflow region of Tsugaru Strait during JMA70 ............................................ 34 11. Seasonal sea level difference based on monthly mean tide gauge records for the period 1972-1976 40 12. Seasonal steric heights calculated from hydrographic station pairs, 1956-1976, near latitude 40°20'N .......... 41 13. Map of Tsugaru Strait with 200-m isobath l i n e s ............ 45 14. Typical surface flow pattern within the Tsugaru Strait . 47 15. Near-surface currents in the Tsugaru Strait during JMSA75 . 49 16. STD profiles obtained during cruise of USNS SILAS BENT, November 1975 ............................................ 58 17. The Hansen-Rattray (1966) estuarine classification diagram applied to various sea straits .................. 61 18. Schematic representation of principal modes of outflow jet from the Tsugaru Strait.............................. 65 19. The outflow region of the Tsugaru Strait in October 1975, during cruises of KORU MARU and SHUMPU M A R U .............. 71 20. The outflow region of the Tsugaru Strait in February-March 1976, during cruise of KOFU M A R U ........................ 73 21. Currents in the outflow region of the Tsugaru Strait, November 1975-January 1976, from survey of USNS SILAS BENT .................................................... 75 v ABSTRACT The Tsugaru Strait is one of four straits that connect the Sea of Japan to adjacent oceans. Flow dynamics in the Tsugaru Strait region are closely tied to the dynamics of the Tsushima Current, a branch of the Kuroshio that enters the Sea of Japan through the Korea Strait and exits through the Tsugaru and Soya Straits. This research concentrates on the dynamic interplay of the Tsushima Current and the Tsugaru Strait in three regions: the inflow region (Sea of Japan side), the strait itself, and the outflow region (North Pacific side). Dynamic calculations and steric sea leveling in the inflow re­ gion indicate that transport into the Tsugaru Strait is principally governed by the geostrophically balanced Tsushima Current. Setup generated south of the strait by the Tsushima Current cannot be main­ tained at the entrance to the strait; the resulting northward drop in coastal sea level is balanced by a net