A NUMERICAL-SIMULATION OF THE WINTER-TIME CURRENT SYSTEM IN THE CHINASEA AND ADJACENT AREAS

The monthly mean circulations in the whole Pacific Ocean are investiga ted numerically by using a barotropic ocean model with finer horizonta l resolutions. The current system in the China Sea and its adjacent ar eas has been well reproduced. Especially, some warm currents moving wi ndward in winter, such as the South China Sea Warm Current (SCSWC), Ta iwan Warm Current (TWC), Yellow Sea Warm Current (YSWC) and Tsushima W arm Current (TsWC) are simulated very well. Numerical results of Janua ry show that there exists indeed a so-called ''Taiwan-Tsushima-Tsugaru Warm Current System'' (TTTWCS) which originates from the area off the southeastern Hainan Island and enters the Pacific Ocean mainly throug h the Tsugaru Strait in January.