Chemical and physical fronts in the Bohai, Yellow and East China seas

Associated with strong mixing and stirring, as well as enhanced bioproductivity and ecotones, oceanic fronts have garnered worldwide attention in recent years. Research into oceanic fronts, especially thermal fronts, has gained momentum since the advent of satellites and their increased accessibility. Yet, studies of salinity and nutrient fronts -particularly those that are subsurface are few and far between. This study reviews the most widely accepted facts about surface and subsurface temperature and salinity fronts in the Bohai, Yellow and East China seas and their seasonal variations. The distribution of nutrients in the surface and bottom waters are mapped and nutrient fronts, for the first time, are identified systematically. These fronts are generally strongest in winter when southward flowing coastal currents are influenced most by winter monsoons, and the contrasts between these cold, fresh, nutrient-rich currents and the northward flowing warm, saline but nutrient-poor Kuroshio are strongest. Surface fronts are generally weakest in summer when coastal currents may be weaker and temperature, salinity and nutrient contrasts are diminished. The existence of fronts and why some are disconnected are mainly related to oceanic features such as topography, boundaries between water masses and current flow patterns. Three latitudinal temperature and nutrient fronts in the southern East China Sea in winter may suggest eastward flowing currents. These currents have not been described previously. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.