SEASONAL VARIABILITY OF THE CURRENTS IN THE OFFSHORE REGION OF SURF ZONE AND EFFECTS OF EXTERNAL FORCINGS ON THE CURRENTS

Abstract

 Data analysis of nearshore observations and ocean reanalysis datasets was carried out to understand seasonal variability of the current in the offshore region of surf zone at Ishikawa Coast, Japan. The reanalysis dataset (FORP-JPN02) showed that large-scale northeastern current traveled on the continental shelf along the Kaetsu Coast and the seasonal variability of the current velocity was influenced by the Tsushima Warm Current. The northeast current was also dominant in the offshore region (15 m deep) of surf zone. The current velocity decreased in September and October due to combined effects of increasing winds and waves in the southwest direction and temporal decreasing of the large-scale current in autumn.