紀伊水道の Oceanic Front における流れの観測

Abstract

Current was measured at 20 m and 60 m layers below the sea surface of the oceanic front inKii-Channel for about 15 days from April the 23th, 1978. Temperature and salinity distributionswere also surveyed. Analysis of the results reveals the followings.The water density stratifies stably and is heaviear offshore-wards across the front. Thelower layer below the front is occupied by the offshore water.The time changes of the velocity, temperature and salinity are composed of the semi-diurnaland the inertia oscillations. Though the semi-diurnal oscillations are usual tidal oscillations, theinertia oscillations have the opposite phases between the 20 m and 60 m layers.The quasi steady flow is nearly in the geostrophic balance, which forms a belt of strong cur-rent along the front.