Acoustic measurement of the net transport through the Seto Inland Sea

Abstract

The net transport through the Seto Inland Sea, associated with the inflow of the Kuroshio Current from the Pacific Ocean, is the focus of this study. Direct measurement of the net transport was successfully accomplished during February–November 2012 using reciprocal sound transmissions in the Akinada Sea, the western part of the inland sea, while accurate transport was estimated only from mid-April to late July and from mid-September to October. The net westward transport averaged monthly for the accurately observed period of six months was 13,107± 2,544 m³s^-1. This result implies that the inland sea water is exchanged with Pacific water every 778 days (2.1 years).