Strong surface winds in the vicinity of Cape Erimo: Distributions and synoptic fields

抄録

This study investigated the distributions of strong surface winds in the vicinity of Cape Erimo and the synoptic conditions favorable for inducing the strong winds by using scatterometer wind measurements and atmospheric reanalysis data. The wind around Cape Erimo is highly constrained by the topography, and the prevailing wind directions are split between westerly to west-northwesterly winds during the cool season and the easterly to northeasterly winds during the warm season. The zonal wind components in the region surrounding Cape Erimo are significantly correlated with the east–west sea level pressure gradient, which works as an index for the strong winds in the vicinity of Cape Erimo. Using composite analysis based on the index, the following atmospheric fields are presented. The low-pressure system passing over the Okhotsk Sea induces the northwesterly winds to the south of Cape Erimo during the cool season. The well-organized southwesterly winds are observed in the east of Cape Erimo when the southwesterly winds dominate during the warm season. The low-pressure system passing over Japan enhances the easterly winds around Cape Erimo during the cool season. The developed Okhotsk high induces strong winds to the southwest of Cape Erimo during the warm season.