CAJ | 학술논문

Princeton Ocean Model (POM) is employed to investigate the Taiwan Warm Current (TWC) and its seasonal variations. Results show that the TWC exhibits pronounced seasonal variations in its sources,strength and flow patterns. In summer, the TWC flows northeast in straight way and reaches around 32°N; it comes mainly from the Taiwan Strait, while its lower part is from the shelf-intrusion of the Kuroshio subsurface water (KSSW). In winter, coming mainly from the shelf-intrusion of the Kuroshio northeast of Taiwan, the TWC flows northward in a winding way and reaches up around 30°N. The Kuroshio intrusion also has distinct seasonal patterns. The shelf-intrusion of KSSW by upwelling is almost the same in four seasons with a little difference in strength; it is a persistent source of the TWC. However, Kuroshio surface water (KSW) can not intrude onto the shelf in summer, while in winter the intrusion of KSW always occurs. Additional experiments were conducted to examine effects of winds and transport through the Taiwan Strait on the TWC. In winter, northerly winds enhance the shelf-intrusion of the Kuroshio and spread northward, but hamper the northward inflow from the Taiwan Strait. In summer, the effect of the winds is confined in the surface layer, and less obvious than that of winter. Transport through the Taiwan Strait influences the TWC significantly. With the Taiwan Strait closed in the simulation, the TWC would be dramatically weakened.