Summer transport through the Tsushima-Korea Strait

Transport variations through the Korea-Tsushima Strait are examined from tw o lines of bottom-moored acoustic doppler current profilers (ADCPs) deploye d southwest and northeast of Tsushima Island in May 1999. Almost full-depth velocity profiles are measured, An optimal interpolation (OI) scheme is us ed to interpolate the data spatially and to provide error estimates along e ach section. The strong northeastward current core through the southern sec tion lies approximately in the center of the strait, and small southwestwar d flows occur sporadically near both the Korea and Japan coasts. Much of th e flow through the northern line occurs near the Korea and Japan coasts, wi th a weak southwestward mean flow and large variability in the strait cente r on the leeside of Tsushima Island. The estimated mean transport is 2.9 sv erdrups (Sv) through the southern line and 3.5 Sv through the northern line . The northern line does not extend close to the Korea coast where there is significant flow. Expected errors in the transport estimates at any time a re about 0.5 Sv RMS for each mooring line. The gradual transport increase t hrough the summer is carried through the center of the southern line and on the Korea side of the strait through the northern line.