Numerical simulation of Pacific water intrusions into Otsuchi Bay, northeast of Japan, with a nested-grid OGCM

• Published in: Journal of oceanography Vol. 73; no. 1; pp. 39 - 54
• Main Authors: Sakamoto, Takashi T., Shogo Urakawa, L., Hasumi, Hiroyasu, Ishizu, Miho, Itoh, Sachihiko, Komatsu, Teruhisa, Tanaka, Kiyoshi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tokyo Springer Japan 01-02-2017; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Autumn; Climate; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Environmental impact; Freshwater & Marine Ecology; Marine; Mathematical models; Observational studies; Oceanography; Rivers; Seasonal variations; Special Section: Original Article; Spring; Tides; Water outflow; Japan; INW, Japan, Honshu, Iwate Prefect., Otsuchi Bay; INW, Japan, Honshu; Sanriku coast; Baroclinic tide; High-resolution numerical model; River discharge; Climatological circulation
• ISSN: 0916-8370; 1573-868X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10872-015-0344-y

A numerical simulation of Otsuchi Bay located on the northeast coast of the Honshu, the largest island of Japan, is conducted, using an ocean general circulation model (OGCM) with a nested-grid system in order to illustrate seasonal variability of the circulation in the bay. Through a year, an anticlockwise circulation is dominant in the bay, as observational studies have implied, although it is modified in the bay-mouth-half of the bay in winter. In addition, there is an intense outflow at the surface layer during spring to autumn, influenced by river water discharge. Intrusion of the Pacific water into the bay is influened by mean circulations, but it is also influenced by baroclinic tides from spring to autumn. Pacific water intrusions affected by baroclinic tides may have an impact on the environment in Otsuchi Bay.