Abstract
Spring and autumn satellite sea surface temperature observations have identified a recurring
eddy at the terminal end of the East Korean Warm Current (e.g. Huh 1982). During late April,
1997 thermal infrared imagery from the NOAA AVHRR sensor and ocean color data from the
Japanese OCTS sensor, revealed this feature. The cold core had elevated chlorophyll concentra
tions, based on OCTS estimates, of greater than 3 mg/m1 while the warmer surrounding waters
had chlorophyll concentrations of 1 mg/m1 or less. The elevated chlorophyll associated with this
eddy has not been previously described. The eddy is also evident in SST images from autumn, but
the SST in the core is warmer than in spring, and the warmjet flowing to the west of the eddy is
also warmer in autumn compared to spring. The eddy forms at the northern extent of the East
Korean Warm Current as those waters collide with the cold, south-flowing Liman Current over a
topographic shelf about 1500m deep. This region of the eddy formation appears to have a strong
connection with the dynamics of the western part of the polar front eddy field that dominates
surface mesoscale structure in the central East (Japan) Sea. Interaction of the eddy with ARGOS
tracked drifters, and evidence for its persistence are discussed.
