Variability of Current and Sea Level Difference in the Western Channel of the Korea Strait in Winter 1995-96

As a part of the long-term ADCP mooring program to measure the mass flux through the Korea Strait, current velocity data were obtained for 39 days in the deepest point of the strait. Near-surface velocity of this observation was compared with Izuhara-Pusan sea level difference (SLD) to investigate the geostrophic relationship. Principal direction of the Tsushima Current at the mooring station is 44.6 degrees to the north from the east. Variability of the tidal current is greater than the nontidal current by a factor of two. Correlation coefficient of tidal current against SLD is 0.46 but the nontidal current is not correlated. The current velocity (U in cm/s) can be estimated from the demeaned SLD (in cm) by the relation U=23.63+0.64SLD where the maximum range of SLD is 52.9 cm. Current is coherent with SLD at semidiurnal, diurnal and 42.7-hour periods. A dominant nontidal variability with about 5-day period is not coherent with SLD.