The Yellow Sea Surface Cold Patches in Warm Seasons

Abstract

An important hydrographic phenomenon in the Yellow Sea is the surface cold patches (SCP) in warm seasons, among which the most conspicuous are the Shandong SCP, Subei SCP, and Mokpo SCP. Previous studies based on monthly mean fields propose that these patches result from the collaboration of tidal mixing and tidal induced upwelling. While this is true for patches like the Shandong SCP, the monthly mean tidal mixing and upwelling alone cannot explain all their formations. In this study, through a detailed analysis of their patterns over a spring-neap tidal cycle, it is found that the Subei and Mokpo SCPs show distinct spring-neap variations. During the neap tide phase, strong stratification is established, and hence the cold patches in these two areas may be greatly weakened or even suppressed, while during the spring tide phase, the surface temperature reaches its minimum. That is to say, for these two SCPs, besides the well-accepted mechanisms, the effect of spring-neap tidal variation must be taken into account.