KORDI program for typhoon-ocean interaction in the shelf seas and Northwestern Pacific

A research program for ocean-typhoon coupling in the Korean marginal seas and Northwestern Pacific has been launched. The main goal is to set up the accurate typhoon prediction system under ocean-typhoon coupling. The program also aims at understanding the ocean response under typhoon pass in the shelf region of the East China Sea where typhoon weakens due to low ocean heat content, and the Kuroshio region where typhoon intensifies due to high ocean heat content. Ocean models for the Northwestern Pacific are being set up by KORDI group, while URI group is developing typhoon model. The relation between the long term variability of typhoon occurrence frequency and SST in tropical Pacific is also examined

Field program in the Yellow and East China shelf seas for understanding ocean process has been carried out during summer, 2007. CTD casting before and after the typhoon Nari passed across the East China Sea toward Korean peninsula. Ocean drifters as well as ADCP have been deployed before the typhoon Nari approached.

This presentation will include the observed features for ocean response under the typhoon Nari and some interesting findings for the current response implying vertical mixing down to near bottom and up to the surface when the typhoon passed by the moored ADCPs. Cold water mass after the typhoon passed through the region persisted over nearly 10 days or more, which has been verified from surface temperature observed by the deployed drifters.

General introduction for research program is presented during the presentation as well as some introduction to the field findings during the 1st year program since the program is initiated.