Abstract
The wind response of salinity structures in Isahaya Bay was investigated by using the data of wind and salinity measured by the Kyushu Regional Agricultural Administration Office. In Isahaya Bay, the south-southwest wind and north-northeast wind were prevailing in summer season. It is known that the fresh water discharged from Chikugo River is transported along the west coast of the inner area of Ariake Sea and reaches to the mouth of Isahaya Bay. When a large amount of fresh water is discharged from Chikugo River and the northerly wind is blowing for a long period, the strong salinity stratification appears in Isahaya Bay. It is caused by that the northerly wind accelerates the transport of the Chikugo River originated fresh water into Isahaya Bay. After that, the salinity stratification is gone with the blow of southerly wind. The data-analysis reveals that the salinity structure in Isahaya Bay depends strongly on the fresh water from the Chikugo River and the wind blowing over Ariake Sea.
