| Distributional features and seasonal variations of the temperature fronts in the East China Sea (ECS) are analysed mainly based on the 1934 - 1988
observations of water temperature. The relationship between the seasonal variation of the fronts and the evolution of the water masses is studied in the light of the results of the China-Japan Joint Investigation and study on the Kuroshio. Main results are as follows:
1. In the ECS three fronts. Zhe-Min coastal front, northern ECS shelf front, Kuroshio front clearly appear in the four seasons, in addition, a middle ECS shelf front occurring in the southern ECS in spring and summer with the northward intrusing of Taiwan Strait water.
2. The geographic position, width and strength of the fronts have remarkable seasonal variations: the width and strength on the surface are the largest in winter, the next in spring, and the ones below the surface are the strongest in summer.
3. Since the geographic positions of the fronts are different, their distribution and variation show regional difference. Geographically, the Kuroshio front is the most stable, and the shelf fronts show much large variation. On multi-year average, front strength in decreasing order is the Kuroshio front (0.14 °C /n mile), Zhe-Min coastal front (0.14 °C /n mile), middle shelf front (0.13 °C / n mile) and northern shelf front (0.10 °C /n mile).
4. The number, main shape, width and the strength variation of the fronts depend basically on the disposition and evolution of the ECS water masses, with the ECS shelf mixing water playing a key role in the distribution and variation of the fronts. |
