| In this paper, the distributions and characteristics of water masses in the South Yellow Sea are studied by using “the comparison analysis method” based on May 19 - June 2, 1992 CTD data and May 10 - 15, 1992 data on temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen data obtained along two standard sections (34 °N and 36 °N) in the middle and western parts of the South Yellow Sea. The internal structure of the South Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass and its relation to the Qingdao Cold Water Mass are discussed. Some conclusions are as follows.
1. There are eight water masses, i.e., Yellow Sea Water, South Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass, Qingdao Cold Water Mass, Yellow Sea Warm Current Water, Chengshan Cape Cold Water, Western Korea Coastal Water, Northern Jiangsu Coastal Water and Changjiang River Diluted Water in the South Yellow Sea in spring.
2. In spring, the South Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass is in a formative period and is composed of two secondary water masses, the Yellow Sea Local Cold Water and the modified water of the Yellow Sea Warm Current, so its internal characteristics of temperature and salinity are not very uniform.
3. The Qingdao Cold Water Mass is an independent water mass in spring. It comes from the Yellow Sea Coastal Water (the South Bohai Sea Coastal Water) and possesses particular characteristics of temperature and salinity and growing and vanishing process, so it is not a part of the South Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass. |
