Sea of ​​Japan briefly. Sea of ​​Japan (shores in Russia)

The Sea of ​​Japan lies between the mainland Asia, the peninsula of Korea, about. Sakhalin and the Japanese Islands, separating it from the ocean and two neighboring seas. In the north, the border between the Sea of ​​Japan and the Sea of ​​Okhotsk runs along the line of Cape Sushcheva - Cape Tyk on Sakhalin. In the Laperouse Strait, the boundary line is Cape Soya - Cape Crillon. In the Sangar Strait, the border runs along the line of Cape Syria - Cape Estan, and in the Korea Strait - along the line of Cape Nomo (Kyushu Island) - Cape Fukae (Goto Island) - about. Jeju - Korean Peninsula.

The Sea of ​​Japan is one of the largest and deepest seas in the world. Its area is 1062 km 2, volume - 1631 thousand km 3, average depth- 1536 m, the greatest depth - 3699 m. This is a marginal oceanic sea.

There are no large islands in the Sea of ​​Japan. Of the smaller ones, the most significant are the islands of Moneron, Rishiri, Okushiri, Ojima, Sado, Okinoshima, Ullyndo, Askold, Russian, Putyatina. Tsushima Island is located in the Korea Strait. All islands (except Ulleungdo) are located near the coast. Most of them are located in the eastern part of the sea.

Coastline Sea of ​​Japan comparatively weakly indented. The most simple in outline is the coast of Sakhalin, the coasts of Primorye and the Japanese Islands are more sinuous. Large bays of the mainland coast include De-Kastri, Sovetskaya Gavan, Vladimir, Olga, Peter the Great, Posyet, Korean, on about. Hokkaido - Ishikari, on about. Honshu - Toyama and Wakasa.

Landscapes of the Sea of ​​Japan

Coastal boundaries cut through the straits that connect the Sea of ​​Japan with the Pacific Ocean, the Sea of ​​Okhotsk and the East China Sea. The straits are different in length, width and, most importantly, in depth, which determines the nature of the water exchange in the Sea of ​​Japan. Through the Sangar Strait, the Sea of ​​Japan communicates directly with the Pacific Ocean. The depth of the strait in the western part is about 130 m, in the eastern part, where its maximum depths are, about 400 m. The Nevelskoy and Laperouse straits connect the Sea of ​​Japan and the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. The Korean Strait, divided by the islands of Jejudo, Tsushima and Ikizuki into the western (Broughton Passage with the greatest depth of about 12.5 m) and the eastern (Krusenstern Passage with the greatest depth of about 110 m) parts, connects the Sea of ​​Japan and the East China Sea. Shimonoseki Strait with depths of 2-3 m connects the Sea of ​​Japan with the Inland Sea of ​​Japan. Due to the shallow depths of the straits, at the great depths of the sea itself, conditions are created for isolating its deep waters from the Pacific Ocean and adjacent seas, which is the most important natural feature of the Sea of ​​Japan.

Diverse in structure and external forms, the coast of the Sea of ​​Japan in different areas belongs to different morphometric types of coasts. Mostly these are abrasion, mostly little-changed, coasts. To a lesser extent, the Sea of ​​Japan is characterized by accumulative shores. This sea is surrounded by mostly mountainous shores. In places, single rocks rise out of the water - kekurs - characteristic formations of the Sea of ​​Japan coast. Low-lying shores are found only in certain parts of the coast.

Bottom relief

Bottom relief and currents of the Sea of ​​Japan

According to the nature of the bottom topography, the Sea of ​​Japan is divided into three parts: the northern one - north of 44 ° N, the central one - between 40 and 44 ° N. and southern - south of 40 ° N.L.

The northern part of the sea is like a wide trough, gradually rising and narrowing towards the north. Its bottom in the direction from north to south forms three steps, which are separated from one another by clearly defined ledges. The northern step is at a depth of 900-1400 m, the middle step is at a depth of 1700-2000 m, and the southern step is at a depth of 2300-2600 m. The surfaces of the steps are slightly inclined to the south.

The coastal shoal of Primorye in the northern part of the sea is approximately 20 to 50 km long, the edge of the shoal is located at a depth of about 200 m.

The surfaces of the northern and middle steps of the central trough are more or less level. The relief of the southern step is significantly complicated by numerous individual uplifts up to 500 m high. Here, on the edge of the southern step, at a latitude of 44 ° minimum depth above it 1086 m.

The southern step of the northern part of the Sea of ​​Japan breaks off as a steep ledge to the bottom of the central basin. The steepness of the ledge is on average 10-12°, in some places 25-30°, and the height is approximately 800-900 m.

The central part of the sea is a deep closed basin, slightly elongated in an east-northeast direction. From the west, north, and east, it is bounded by the steep slopes of the mountain structures of Primorye, the Korean Peninsula, the islands of Hokkaido and Honshu, descending into the sea, and from the south, by the slopes of the underwater height of Yamato.

In the central part of the sea, coastal shallows are very poorly developed. A relatively wide shoal is located only in the region of southern Primorye. The edge of the shoal in the central part of the sea is very clearly expressed throughout its length. The bottom of the basin, located at a depth of about 3500 m, is leveled in contrast to the complexly dissected surrounding slopes. On the surface of this plain, separate hills are noted. Approximately in the center of the basin there is an underwater ridge stretched from north to south up to 2300 m high. mountain systems- Kuril-Kamchatka, Japanese and Ryu-Kyu. Here is located the vast Yamato Upland, which consists of two ridges elongated in the east-north-east direction with a closed basin located between them. From the south, the Yamato Rise is adjoined by a wide underwater ridge of approximately meridional strike.

In many areas of the southern part of the sea, the structure of the underwater slope is complicated by the presence of underwater ridges. On the underwater slope of the Korean Peninsula, wide underwater valleys can be traced between the ridges. The continental shelf almost throughout its length has a width of no more than 40 km. In the area of ​​the Korea Strait, the shoals of the Korean Peninsula and about. Honshu merge and form shallow water with depths of no more than 150 m.

Climate

The Sea of ​​Japan lies entirely in the monsoon climate zone of temperate latitudes. In the cold season (from October to March) it is influenced by the Siberian anticyclone and the Aleutian low, which is associated with significant horizontal atmospheric pressure gradients. In this regard, strong northwestern winds with speeds of 12-15 m/s and more dominate the sea. Local conditions change the wind conditions. In some areas, under the influence of the relief of the coasts, a large frequency of northern winds is noted, in others, calms are often observed. To the south- east coast the regularity of the monsoon is violated, western and northwestern winds prevail here.

During the cold season, continental cyclones enter the Sea of ​​Japan. They cause strong storms, and sometimes severe hurricanes that last for 2-3 days. In early autumn (September), tropical typhoon cyclones sweep over the sea, accompanied by hurricane-force winds.

The winter monsoon brings dry and cold air, the temperature of which increases from south to north and from west to east. In the coldest months - January and February - the average monthly air temperature in the north is about -20 °, and in the south about 5 °, although significant deviations from these values ​​are often observed. During the cold seasons, the weather is dry and clear in the northwestern part of the sea, wet and cloudy in the southeast.

In warm seasons, the Sea of ​​Japan is affected by the effects of the Hawaiian High and, to a lesser extent, by the depression formed in summer over Eastern Siberia. In this regard, south and south-west winds prevail over the sea. However, pressure gradients between high and low pressure areas are relatively small, so the average wind speed is 2-7 m/s. A significant increase in wind is associated with the release of oceanic, less often continental cyclones to the sea. In summer and early autumn (July-October), the number (with a maximum in September) of typhoons increases over the sea, which cause hurricane-force winds. In addition to the summer monsoon, strong and gale-force winds associated with the passage of cyclones and typhoons, in different areas of the sea, local winds. They are mainly due to the peculiarities of the orography of the coasts and are most noticeable in the coastal zone.

In the Far Eastern seas

The summer monsoon brings with it warm and humid air. The average monthly temperature of the warmest month - August - in the northern part of the sea is about 15 °, and in the southern regions about 25 °. Significant cooling is observed in the northwestern part of the sea with cold air inflows brought by continental cyclones. In spring- summer time cloudy weather prevails with frequent fogs.

A distinctive feature of the Sea of ​​Japan is the relatively small number of rivers flowing into it. The largest of them is Suchan. Almost all rivers are mountainous. The continental runoff into the Sea of ​​Japan is approximately 210 km 3 /year and is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. Only in July the river runoff slightly increases.

The geographical position, the outlines of the sea basin, separated from the Pacific Ocean and adjacent seas by high thresholds in the straits, pronounced monsoons, water exchange through the straits only in the upper layers are the main factors in the formation of the hydrological conditions of the Sea of ​​Japan.

The Sea of ​​Japan receives a lot of heat from the sun. However, the total heat consumption for effective radiation and evaporation exceeds the solar heat input, therefore, as a result of the processes occurring at the water-air interface, the sea annually loses heat. It is replenished due to the heat brought by the Pacific waters entering the sea through the straits, therefore, on the average long-term value, the sea is in a state of thermal equilibrium. This indicates the important role of water heat exchange, mainly heat inflow from outside.

Hydrology

Essential natural factors- exchange of waters through the straits, the flow of atmospheric precipitation to the sea surface and evaporation. The main inflow of water into the Sea of ​​Japan occurs through the Korea Strait - about 97% of the total annual amount of incoming water. The largest flow of water goes through the Sangar Strait - 64% of the total flow; 34% flows out through the La Perouse and Korean straits. Only about 1% remains for the share of fresh components of the water balance (mainland runoff, precipitation). Thus, the main role in the water balance of the sea is played by water exchange through the straits.

Scheme of water exchange through the straits in the Sea of ​​Japan

Features of the bottom topography, water exchange through the straits, climatic conditions form the main features of the hydrological structure of the Sea of ​​Japan. It is similar to the subarctic type of structure of the adjacent regions of the Pacific Ocean, but has its own characteristics, which have developed under the influence of local conditions.

The entire thickness of its waters is divided into two zones: surface - to a depth of an average of 200 m and deep - from 200 m to the bottom. The waters of the deep zone are relatively uniform in physical properties throughout the year. Characteristics of surface water under the influence of climatic and hydrological factors change in time and space much more intensively.

Three water masses are distinguished in the Sea of ​​Japan: two in the surface zone: the surface Pacific Ocean, characteristic of the southeastern part of the sea, and the surface Sea of ​​Japan, for the northwestern part of the sea, and one in the deep part, the deep Sea of ​​Japan water mass.

The surface Pacific water mass is formed by the water of the Tsushima current; it has the largest volume in the south and southeast of the sea. As you move north, its thickness and distribution area gradually decrease, and approximately at about 48 ° N. latitude. due to a sharp decrease in depth, it wedges out in shallow water. In winter, when the Tsushima current weakens, northern border Pacific waters is located approximately at 46-47 ° N.L.

Water temperature and salinity

The surface Pacific water is characterized by high temperatures (about 15-20°) and salinity (34-34.5‰). In this water mass, several layers are distinguished, the hydrological characteristics of which and the thickness change throughout the year:

the surface layer, where the temperature during the year varies from 10 to 25 °, and salinity - from 33.5 to 34.5‰. The thickness of the surface layer varies from 10 to 100 m;

the upper intermediate layer has a thickness varying from 50 to 150 m. Significant temperature, salinity and density gradients are noted in it;

the lower layer has a thickness of 100 to 150 m. During the year, its depth and distribution boundaries change; temperature varies from 4 to 12°, salinity - from 34 to 34.2‰. The lower intermediate layer has very small vertical gradients in temperature, salinity and density. It separates the surface Pacific water mass from the deep Sea of ​​Japan.

As we move north, the characteristics of the Pacific Ocean water gradually change under the influence of climatic factors as a result of its mixing with the underlying deep water of the Sea of ​​Japan. During cooling and desalination of Pacific water at latitudes 46-48 ° N.L. the surface water mass of the Sea of ​​Japan is formed. It is characterized by relatively low temperature (about 5-8°C on average) and salinity (32.5-33.5‰). The entire thickness of this water mass is divided into three layers: surface, intermediate and deep. As in the Pacific, in the surface Japanese-sea water, the greatest changes hydrological characteristics occur in the surface layer with a thickness of 10 to 150 m or more. The temperature here during the year varies from 0 to 21 °, salinity - from 32 to 34‰. In the intermediate and deep layers seasonal changes hydrological characteristics are insignificant.

The deep water of the Sea of ​​Japan is formed as a result of the transformation surface water descending to depths due to the process of winter convection. Changes in the characteristics of the deep water of the Sea of ​​Japan along the vertical are extremely small. The bulk of these waters has a temperature of 0.1-0.2° in winter, 0.3-0.5° in summer, salinity during the year 34.1-34.15‰.

Water temperature on the surface of the seas of Japan, Yellow, East China, South China, Philippine, Sulu, Sulawesi in summer

The features of the structure of the waters of the Sea of ​​Japan are well illustrated by the distribution of oceanological characteristics in it. Surface water temperatures generally rise from northwest to southeast.

In winter, the surface water temperature rises from negative values ​​close to 0° in the north and northwest to 10-14° in the south and southeast. This season is characterized by a well-pronounced water temperature contrast between the western and eastern parts sea, and in the south it manifests itself weaker than in the north and in the central part of the sea. So, at the latitude of Peter the Great Bay, the water temperature in the west is close to 0°, and in the east it reaches 5-6°. This is explained, in particular, by the influence of warm waters moving from south to north in the eastern part of the sea.

As a result of spring warming, the surface water temperature throughout the sea rises quite rapidly. At this time, the temperature differences between the western and eastern parts of the sea begin to smooth out.

In summer, the surface water temperature rises from 18-20° in the north to 25-27° in the south of the sea. Temperature differences across latitude are relatively small.

Near the western shores, the surface water temperature is 1-2° lower than near the eastern shores, where warm waters spread from south to north.

In winter, in the northern and northwestern regions of the sea, the vertical water temperature changes slightly, and its values ​​are close to 0.2-0.4°. In central, southern and southeastern parts sea, the change in water temperature with depth is more pronounced. In general, the surface temperature, equal to 8-10°, remains until the horizons of 100-150 m, from which it gradually decreases with depth to about 2-4° at the horizons of 200-250 m, then it decreases very slowly - to 1-1, 5° at the horizons of 400-500 m, deeper the temperature decreases somewhat (to values ​​less than 1°) and remains approximately the same to the bottom.

In summer, in the north and north-west of the sea, a high surface temperature (18-20°) is observed in the 0-15 m layer, from here it sharply decreases with a depth of up to 4° at a 50 m horizon, then it decreases very slowly to a horizon of 250 m, where it is approximately 1°, deeper and to the bottom the temperature does not exceed 1°.

In the central and southern parts of the sea, the temperature decreases rather smoothly with depth and at a horizon of 200 m it is approximately 6 °, from here it decreases somewhat faster and at the horizons of 250-260 m it is 1.5-2 °, then it decreases very slowly and at horizons 750-1500 m (in some areas on the horizons of 1000-1500 m) reaches a minimum equal to 0.04-0.14°, from here the temperature rises to the bottom up to 0.3°. The formation of an intermediate layer of minimum temperatures is presumably associated with the subsidence of waters in the northern part of the sea, which are cooled in severe winters. This layer is quite stable and is observed all year round.

Salinity on the surface of the Seas of Japan, Yellow, East China, South China, Philippine, Sulu, Sulawesi in summer

The average salinity of the Sea of ​​Japan, which is approximately 34.1‰, is somewhat lower than the average salinity of the waters of the World Ocean.

In winter, the highest salinity of the surface layer (about 34.5‰) is observed in the south. The lowest salinity on the surface (about 33.8‰) is observed along the southeastern and southwestern coasts, where heavy precipitation causes some freshening. In most of the sea, salinity is 34.l‰. In springtime, in the north and northwest, surface water desalination occurs due to ice melting, while in other areas it is associated with increased precipitation. Relatively high (34.6-34.7‰) salinity remains in the south, where at this time the inflow of more saline waters flowing through the Korea Strait increases. In summer, the average salinity on the surface varies from 32.5‰ in the north of the Tatar Strait to 34.5‰ off the coast of about. Honshu.

In the central and southern regions of the sea, precipitation significantly exceeds evaporation, which leads to desalination of surface waters. By autumn, the amount of precipitation decreases, the sea begins to cool, and therefore the salinity on the surface increases.

The vertical course of salinity is generally characterized by small changes in its values ​​with depth.

In winter, most of the sea has a uniform salinity from the surface to the bottom, equal to approximately 34.1‰. Only in coastal waters is there a weakly pronounced minimum of salinity in the surface horizons, below which the salinity slightly increases and remains almost the same to the bottom. At this time of the year, vertical salinity changes in most of the sea do not exceed 0.6-0.7‰, and in its central part do not reach

Spring-summer desalination of surface waters forms the main features of the summer vertical distribution of salinity.

In summer, the minimum salinity is observed on the surface as a result of a noticeable desalination of surface waters. In the subsurface layers, salinity increases with depth, and noticeable vertical salinity gradients are created. The maximum salinity at this time is observed at the horizons of 50-100 m in the northern regions and at the horizons of 500-1500 m in the south. Below these layers, salinity decreases somewhat and almost does not change to the bottom, remaining within the range of 33.9-34.1‰. In summer, the salinity of deep waters is 0.1‰ less than in winter.

Water circulation and currents

The density of the water in the Sea of ​​Japan depends mainly on temperature. The highest density is observed in winter, and the lowest - in summer. In the northwestern part of the sea, the density is higher than in the southern and southeastern parts.

In winter, the density on the surface is quite uniform throughout the sea, especially in its northwestern part.

In spring, the uniformity of surface density values ​​is disturbed due to different heating of the upper water layer.

In summer, the horizontal differences in surface density values ​​are greatest. They are especially significant in the area of ​​mixing of waters with different characteristics. In winter, the density is approximately the same from the surface to the bottom in the northwestern part of the sea. In the southeastern regions, the density slightly increases at the horizons of 50-100 m, deeper and to the bottom, it increases very slightly. The maximum density is observed in March.

In summer, in the northwest, the waters are noticeably stratified in density. It is small on the surface, rises sharply at the horizons of 50-100 m, and deeper to the bottom increases more smoothly. In the southwestern part of the sea, the density noticeably increases in the subsurface (up to 50 m) layers; at the 100-150 m horizons, it is quite uniform; below, the density slightly increases to the bottom. This transition occurs at the 150-200 m horizons in the northwest and at the 300-400 m horizons in the southeast of the sea.

In autumn, the density begins to level off, which means the transition to winter look density distribution with depth. The spring-summer density stratification determines a fairly stable state of the waters of the Sea of ​​Japan, although in different areas it is expressed in varying degrees. In accordance with this, more or less favorable conditions are created in the sea for the emergence and development of mixing.

Due to the predominance of winds of relatively low strength and their significant intensification during the passage of cyclones under conditions of water stratification in the north and northwest of the sea, wind mixing penetrates here to horizons of the order of 20 m. In less stratified waters of the southern and southwestern regions, the wind mixes the upper layers to the horizons 25-30 m. In autumn, the stratification decreases, and the winds intensify, but at this time of the year, the thickness of the upper homogeneous layer increases due to density mixing.

Autumn-winter cooling and ice formation in the north cause intense convection in the Sea of ​​Japan. In its northern and north western parts as a result of rapid autumn cooling of the surface, convective mixing develops, which covers deep layers for a short time. With the onset of ice formation, this process intensifies, and in December the convection penetrates to the bottom. At great depths, it extends to horizons of 2000-3000 m. In the southern and southeastern regions of the sea, which are cooled to a lesser extent in autumn and winter, convection mainly extends to horizons of 200 m. as a result of which density mixing penetrates to horizons of 300-400 m. Below, mixing is limited by the density structure of waters, and ventilation of the bottom layers occurs due to turbulence, vertical movements and other dynamic processes.

On the roads of Tokyo port

The nature of the circulation of the waters of the sea is determined not only by the influence of winds acting directly over the sea, but also by the circulation of the atmosphere over northern part Pacific Ocean, since the strengthening or weakening of the inflow of Pacific waters depends on it. In the summer, the southeast monsoon contributes to increased water circulation due to the influx of a large number water. In winter, the persistent northwest monsoon prevents water from entering the sea through the Korea Strait, causing a weakening of water circulation.

The waters of the western branch of the Kuroshio, which passed through the Yellow Sea, enter the Sea of ​​Japan through the Korea Strait and spread to the northeast along the Japanese Islands in a wide stream. This stream is called the Tsushima current. In the central part of the sea, the Yamato Rise divides the flow of Pacific waters into two branches, forming a zone of divergence, which is especially pronounced in summer. Deep water rises in this zone. Having rounded the hill, both branches are connected in the area located to the north-west of the Noto Peninsula.

At a latitude of 38–39°, a small flow separates from the northern branch of the Tsushima Current to the west, into the region of the Korea Strait, and passes into a countercurrent along the coasts of the Korean Peninsula. The bulk of the Pacific waters are carried out of the Sea of ​​Japan through the Sangarsky and La Perouse straits, while part of the waters, having reached the Tatar Strait, give rise to the cold Primorsky current, moving south. South of the Peter the Great Bay, the Primorskoye Current turns east and merges with the northern branch of the Tsushima Current. An insignificant part of the waters continues to move south to the Korean Bay, where it flows into the countercurrent formed by the waters of the Tsushima current.

Thus, moving along the Japan Islands from south to north, and along the coast of Primorye - from north to south, the waters of the Sea of ​​Japan form a cyclonic circulation centered in the northwestern part of the sea. In the center of the cycle, the rise of waters is also possible.

Two frontal zones are distinguished in the Sea of ​​Japan - the main polar front formed by the warm and saline waters of the Tsushima Current and the cold, less saline waters of the Primorsky Current, and the secondary front formed by the waters of the Primorsky Current and coastal waters, which have a higher temperature and lower salinity in summer. than the waters of the Primorsky Current. IN winter time the polar front runs somewhat south of the 40 ° north latitude, and near the Japanese islands it runs approximately parallel to them almost to the northern tip of about. Hokkaido. In summer, the location of the front is approximately the same, it only slightly shifts to the south, and off the coast of Japan - to the west. The secondary front passes near the coast of Primorye, approximately parallel to them.

The tides in the Sea of ​​Japan are quite distinct. They are created mainly by the Pacific tidal wave entering the sea through the Korea and Sangara Straits.

Semidiurnal, diurnal and mixed tides are observed in the sea. In the Korean Strait and in the north of the Tatar Strait - semi-diurnal tides, on the eastern coast of Korea, on the coast of Primorye, near the islands of Honshu and Hokkaido - diurnal, in the Peter the Great and Korean bays - mixed.

Tidal currents correspond to the nature of the tide. In the open areas of the sea, semidiurnal tidal currents with velocities of 10-25 cm/s are mainly manifested. The tidal currents in the straits are more complex, where they also have very significant velocities. So, in the Sangar Strait of speed tidal currents reach 100-200 cm/s, in the La Perouse Strait - 50-100, in the Korea Strait - 40-60 cm/s.

The greatest level fluctuations are observed in the extreme southern and northern regions of the sea. At the southern entrance to the Korea Strait, the tide reaches 3 m. As you move north, it quickly decreases and already at Busan does not exceed 1.5 m.

In the middle part of the sea, the tides are small. Along the eastern shores of the Korean Peninsula and Soviet Primorye, to the entrance to the Tatar Strait, they are no more than 0.5 m. The tides are of the same magnitude near the western shores of Honshu, Hokkaido and Southwestern Sakhalin. In the Tatar Strait, the magnitude of the tides is 2.3-2.8 m. In the northern part of the Tatar Strait, the heights of the tides increase, which is due to its funnel-shaped shape.

In addition to tidal fluctuations in the Sea of ​​Japan, seasonal level fluctuations are well expressed. In summer (August - September) there is a maximum rise in the level on all seashores, in winter and early spring (January - April) there is a minimum level position.

In the Sea of ​​Japan, surge fluctuations in the level are observed. During the winter monsoon, the level can rise by 20-25 cm off the western coast of Japan, and decrease by the same amount near the mainland coast. In summer, on the contrary, off the coast of North Korea and Primorye, the level rises by 20-25 cm, and near Japanese shores decreases by the same amount.

Strong winds caused by the passage of cyclones and especially typhoons over the sea develop very significant waves, while monsoons cause less strong waves. In the northwestern part of the sea, northwestern waves prevail in autumn and winter, and eastern waves prevail in spring and summer. Most often, there is a wave with a force of 1-3 points, the frequency of which varies from 60 to 80% per year. In winter, strong excitement prevails - 6 points or more, the frequency of which is about 10%.

In the southeastern part of the sea, due to the stable northwestern monsoon, waves develop from the northwest and north in winter. In summer, weak, most often southwestern, waves prevail. The largest waves have a height of 8-10 m, and during typhoons, the maximum waves reach a height of 12 m. Tsunami waves are noted in the Sea of ​​Japan.

The northern and northwestern parts of the sea, adjacent to the mainland coast, are annually covered with ice for 4-5 months, the area of ​​\u200b\u200bwhich occupies about 1/4 of the space of the entire sea.

ice coverage

The appearance of ice in the Sea of ​​Japan is possible as early as October, and the last ice lingers in the north sometimes until mid-June. Thus, the sea is completely ice-free only during the summer months - July, August and September.

The first ice in the sea is formed in closed bays and gulfs of the continental coast, for example, in Sovetskaya Gavan Bay, De-Kastri and Olga bays. In October - November, the ice cover mainly develops within the bays and gulfs, and from the end of November - the beginning of December, ice begins to form in the open sea.

At the end of December, ice formation in the coastal and open areas of the sea extends to Peter the Great Bay.

Fast ice in the Sea of ​​Japan is not widespread. First of all, it forms in the bays of De-Kastri, Sovetskaya Gavan and Olga, in the bays of Peter the Great Bay and Posyet it appears after about a month.

Only the northern bays of the mainland coast freeze completely every year. To the south of Sovetskaya Gavan, the fast ice in the bays is unstable and can break up repeatedly during the winter. In the western part of the sea, floating and immobile ice appears earlier than in the eastern part, it is more stable. This is explained by the fact that the western part of the sea in winter is under the predominant influence of cold and dry air masses propagating from the mainland. In the east of the sea, the influence of these masses significantly weakens, and at the same time, the role of warm and humid marine air masses increases. The ice cover reaches its maximum development around mid-February. From February to May, conditions are created throughout the sea that favor the melting of ice (on the spot). In the eastern part of the sea, the melting of ice "begins earlier and is more intense than at the same latitudes in the west.

The ice cover of the Sea of ​​Japan varies considerably from year to year. There are cases when the ice cover of one winter is 2 times or more higher than the ice cover of another.

Economic importance

Inhabitants of the Sea of ​​Japan

The fish population of the Sea of ​​Japan includes 615 species. The main commercial species of the southern part of the sea are sardine, anchovy, mackerel, horse mackerel. In the northern regions, mainly mussels, flounder, herring, greenlings and salmon are mined. In summer, tuna, hammerhead fish, and saury penetrate the northern part of the sea. The leading place in the species composition of fish catches is occupied by pollock, sardine and anchovy.

Located between the Asian mainland, Japanese archipelago and Sakhalin Island. Its shores belong to such countries as Japan, South Korea, North Korea and Russia.

The reservoir is significantly isolated from the Pacific waters. Such isolation is reflected both in the fauna and in the salinity of the water. The latter is below the oceanic. The water balance is regulated by inflows and outflows through the straits that connect the sea with neighboring seas and the ocean. The discharge of fresh water makes an insignificant contribution to water exchange and does not exceed 1%.

Geography

The area of ​​the reservoir is 979 thousand square meters. km. The maximum depth is 3742 meters. The average depth corresponds to 1752 meters. The volume of water is 1630 thousand cubic meters. km. The length of the coastline is 7600 km. Of these, 3240 km belong to Russia. From north to south, the length of the sea is 2255 km. Maximum Width corresponds to 1070 km.

Islands

There are no major islands. Most of small islands located off the east coast. The most significant islands are: Moneron (30 sq. km), Okushiri (142 sq. km), Oshima (9.73 sq. km), Sado (855 sq. km), Ulleungdo (73.15 sq. km) , Russian (97.6 sq. km).

gulfs

The coastline is relatively straight. One of the largest is Peter the Great Bay with a total area of ​​about 9 thousand square meters. km. The length from north to south is 80 km, from west to east it is 200 km. The length of the coastline is 1230 km. The cities of Vladivostok and Nakhodka are located in the bay. North Korea has East Korea Bay, and Hokkaido Island has Ishikari Bay. In addition, there are many small bays.

Straits

The Sea of ​​Japan is connected with the East China Sea, the Sea of ​​Okhotsk and the Pacific Ocean by straits. This is the Tatar Strait between Asia and Sakhalin Island with a length of 900 km. La Perouse Strait between Sakhalin Island and Hokkaido Island with a length of 40 km. Sangar Strait between the islands of Honshu and Hokkaido. Its length is 96 km.

The Shimonoseki Strait separates the islands of Honshu and Kyushu. Railway, automobile and pedestrian tunnels are laid under it. The Korean Strait with a length of 324 km connects the reservoir we are considering with the East China Sea. It divides the Tsushima Islands into 2 parts: Western passage and the Eastern Passage (Tsushima Strait). Through this strait, the warm Pacific Kuroshio current enters the reservoir.

Sea of ​​Japan on the map

Climate

The maritime climate is characterized warm water and monsoons. It is colder in the northern and western regions than in the southern and eastern regions. During the winter months, the average air temperature in the north is minus 20 degrees Celsius, and in the south it is plus 5 degrees Celsius. In summer, humid and warm air blows from the northern regions of the Pacific Ocean. August is considered the warmest month. At this time, the average temperature in the north is 15 degrees Celsius, and in the south it is 25 degrees Celsius.

Annual precipitation is minimal in the northwest and maximal in the southeast. Autumn is characterized by typhoons. The height of the waves during this period reaches 8-12 meters. Ice in winter period the Tatar Strait (90% of all ice) and Peter the Great Bay are covered. The ice crust stays on the water for about 4 months.

Ebb and flow

The reservoir is characterized by complex tides. They have a semi-diurnal cycle in the Korea Strait and in the north of the Tatar Strait. On the east coast of Korea, the Far East coast of Russia, on the coast of the Japanese islands of Hokkaido and Honshu, they are diurnal. Mixed tides are typical for Peter the Great Bay.

The amplitude of the tides is relatively low. It varies from 0.5 to 3 meters. In the Tatar Strait, the amplitude ranges from 2.3 to 2.8 meters due to its funnel-shaped shape. The water level also experiences seasonal fluctuations. The highest is observed in summer, and the lowest in winter. The level is also affected by the wind. He is able to change it by 20-25 cm in relation to the Korean coast to the Japanese one.

Water transparency

Sea water has a color from blue to green-blue. Transparency is about 10 meters. The water of the Sea of ​​Japan is rich in dissolved oxygen. This is especially true for the western and northern regions. They are colder and contain more phytoplankton than eastern and southern regions. The oxygen concentration is 95% near the surface and decreases to 70% at a depth of 3,000 meters.

Fishing in the Sea of ​​Japan

Fishing

The main economic activity is fishing. It is carried out near the continental shelf, and priority is given to such fish as herring, tuna, sardines. Squid are caught mainly in the central sea ​​areas, and salmon off the southwestern and northern shores. Along with fishing, the production of algae is well developed. The Russian whaling fleet is based in Vladivostok, although it fishes in the northern seas.

The Sea of ​​Japan belongs to the Pacific Ocean basin and is a marginal sea, which is separated from the Pacific Ocean by the Japanese Islands and Sakhalin Island. The Sea of ​​Japan washes the shores of Russia and Japan.

Sea characteristic

Large port cities on the sea: Vladivostok, Nakhodka, Vanino and Sovetskaya Gavan.

The coastline of the sea is slightly indented, but has several bays, the largest of which are the bays of Olga, Peter the Great, Ishikari and East Korea Bay.

More than 600 species of fish live in the waters of the Sea of ​​Japan.

Economic use of the sea

Along with industrial fishing, mussels, scallops, squid and seaweed (kelp and seaweed) are harvested.
Vladivostok is final destination Trans-Siberian Railway, where the transshipment base is located, where cargo is reloaded from railway cars to sea cargo ships.

Ecology of the Sea of ​​Japan

In ancient times on western shores The Sea of ​​Japan was inhabited by tribes of the Mongolian race. At the same time, the Japanese islands were settled by the ancestors of the Japanese - the Malay and Polynesian Yamato tribes.

Archaeological research for the first time on Sakhalin Island was carried out in 1867, then during archaeological sites at the southern tip near Lake Lebyazhye, the first artifacts were found confirming the existence of ancient settlements on Sakhalin Island.

In size, it is inferior to the sea and, its area is up to 1,062 tons km2, and the deepest depression reaches up to 3745 m. It is generally accepted that the average depth is 1535 m. Great Depths With geographic location indicate that the sea belongs to the marginal oceanic seas.

There are medium and small islands in the sea. The most significant of them are Rishiri, Oshima, Sado, Momeron, Russian. Almost all islands are located along the mainland in the eastern part.

The coastline is slightly indented, the outlines of Sakhalin Island are especially simple. with the Japanese islands has a more indented coastline. The main major ports of the sea are Vostochny Port, Wonsan, Kholmsk, Vladivostok, Tsuruga, Chongjin.

Currents of the Sea of ​​Japan

Tides in the Sea of ​​Japan

In different areas of the sea, the tides are expressed differently, they are especially distinct in the summer and reach up to three meters in the Korea Strait. To the north, the tides decrease and do not exceed 1.5 m. This is due to the fact that the bottom has a funnel shape. The greatest fluctuation is observed in the northern and southern extreme areas of the sea in summer.

I offer you an interesting video "Parallel World - Sea of ​​Japan" from the series "Russian underwater expeditions".

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Japanese Sea(jap. 日本海 nihonkai, cor. 동해 donghae- "East Sea", in the DPRK it is known as 조선동해, 朝鮮東海 joseon donghae- "East Korean Sea") - a marginal sea in the Pacific Ocean, separated from it by the Japanese Islands. From neighboring Sea of ​​Okhotsk separated by the island of Sakhalin, from the neighboring Yellow Sea - by the Korean Peninsula. By origin, it is a deep-water pseudo-abyssal intrashelf depression connected with other seas and the Pacific Ocean through 4 straits: Korean (Tsushima), Sangar (Tsugaru), La Perouse (Soya), Nevelskoy (Mamiya). Washes the shores, and. In the south, a branch of the warm current Kuroshio enters.

The area is 1062 thousand km². Greatest depth- 3742 m ( 41°20' N. sh. 137°42′ E d.). The northern part of the sea freezes in winter.

Climate

Sea of ​​Japan, Antipenko Island

The climate of the Sea of ​​Japan is temperate, monsoonal. The northern and western parts of the sea are much colder than the southern and eastern parts. In the coldest months (January-February), the average air temperature in the northern part of the sea is about −20 °C, and in the south about +5 °C. The summer monsoon brings with it warm and humid air. average temperature the air of the warmest month (August) in the northern part is about +15 °C, in the southern regions it is about +25 °C. In autumn, the number of typhoons caused by hurricane-force winds increases. The largest waves have a height of 8-10 m, and during typhoons, the maximum waves reach a height of 12 m.

currents

Surface currents form a circulation, which consists of the warm Tsushima current in the east and the cold Primorsky current in the west. In winter, the surface water temperature rises from −1-0 °C in the north and northwest to +10-+14 °C in the south and southeast. Spring warming entails a fairly rapid increase in water temperature throughout the sea. In summer, the surface water temperature rises from 18-20 °C in the north to 25-27 °C in the south of the sea. The vertical distribution of temperature is not the same in different seasons in different areas of the sea. In summer, in the northern regions of the sea, the temperature is 18-10 °C in a layer of 10-15 m, then it drops sharply to +4 °C at a depth of 50 m and, starting from a depth of 250 m, the temperature remains constant at about +1 °C. In the central and southern parts of the sea, the water temperature decreases rather smoothly with depth and reaches +6 °C at a depth of 200 m, starting from a depth of 250 m, the temperature stays around 0 °C.

Salinity

The salinity of the water of the Sea of ​​Japan is 33.7-34.3‰, which is slightly lower than the salinity of the waters of the World Ocean.

tides

The tides in the Sea of ​​Japan are distinct, to a greater or lesser extent in different regions. The greatest level fluctuations are observed in the extreme northern and extreme southern regions. Seasonal fluctuations in sea level occur simultaneously over the entire surface of the sea, the maximum rise in level is observed in summer.

ice conditions

Toyama Bay on about. Honshu is one of the largest bays in Japan

According to ice conditions, the Sea of ​​Japan can be divided into three areas: the Tatar Strait, the area along the coast of Primorye from Cape Povorotny to Cape Belkin, and Peter the Great Bay. In winter, ice is constantly observed only in the Tatar Strait and Peter the Great Bay, in the rest of the water area, with the exception of closed bays and bays in the northwestern part of the sea, it is not always formed. The coldest region is the Tatar Strait, where more than 90% of all ice observed in the sea is formed and localized in the winter season. According to long-term data, the duration of the period with ice in Peter the Great Bay is 120 days, and in the Tatar Strait - from 40-80 days in the southern part of the strait, to 140-170 days in its northern part.

The first appearance of ice occurs at the tops of bays and gulfs, closed from the wind, waves and having a desalinated surface layer. In moderate winters in Peter the Great Bay, the first ice forms in the second ten days of November, and in the Tatar Strait, in the tops of Sovetskaya Gavan, Chikhachev and Nevelskoy Straits, primary ice forms are observed already in early November. Early ice formation in Peter the Great Bay (Amur Bay) occurs in early November, in the Tatar Strait - in the second half of October. Later - at the end of November. In early December, the development of ice cover along the coast of Sakhalin Island is faster than near the mainland coast. Accordingly, in the eastern part of the Tatar Strait at this time there is more ice than in the western part. By the end of December, the amount of ice in the eastern and western parts levels off, and after reaching the parallel of Cape Surkum, the direction of the edge changes: its displacement along the Sakhalin coast slows down, and along the mainland it becomes more active.

In the Sea of ​​Japan, the ice cover reaches its maximum development in mid-February. On average, 52% of the area of ​​the Tatar Strait and 56% of the Peter the Great Bay are covered with ice.

The melting of ice begins in the first half of March. In mid-March, the open waters of Peter the Great Bay and the entire seaside coast to Cape Zolotoy are cleared of ice. The boundary of the ice cover in the Tatar Strait recedes to the northwest, and in the eastern part of the strait, ice is clearing at this time. Early clearing of the sea from ice occurs in the second decade of April, later - at the end of May - beginning of June.

Northwestern coast of the Sea of ​​Japan, in the Dalnegorsk urban district

Flora and fauna

The underwater world of northern and southern regions The Sea of ​​Japan is very different. In the cold northern and northwestern regions, the flora and fauna of temperate latitudes has formed, and in the southern part of the sea, south of , a warm-water faunal complex prevails. Off the coast Far East there is a mixture of warm-water and temperate fauna. Here you can meet octopuses and - typical representatives warm seas. At the same time, vertical walls covered with sea anemones, gardens of brown algae - kelp - all this resembles the landscapes of the White and Barents Seas. Great abundance in the Sea of ​​Japan starfish and sea urchins, of various colors and different sizes, there are brittle stars, shrimps, small crabs (King crabs are found here only in May, and then they go further into the sea). Bright red sea squirts live on rocks and stones. Of the mollusks, scallops are the most common. Of the fish, blennies and sea ruffs are often found.

Sea transport

Vladivostok, Golden Horn Bay

Fisheries and sea culture

Fishing; extraction of crabs, trepangs, algae, sea ​​urchin; scallop cultivation.

Recreation and tourism

Since the 1990s, the coast of the Sea of ​​Japan off the coast of Primorye has been actively developed by local and visiting tourists. The impetus was such factors as the cancellation or simplification of visiting the border zone, the rise in the cost of passenger transportation in the country, which made too much expensive holiday Far East Black Sea coast, as well as a greatly increased number of personal vehicles, which made the coast of Primorye accessible to residents of Khabarovsk and the Amur region.

International legal status

According to Article 122 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Sea of ​​Japan is a semi-enclosed sea. Article 123 of the Convention provides for the obligation of states to cooperate and coordinate their activities in the management of marine resources, however, due to the conflict situation between , and at present, coordination is not carried out.

Sea naming question

IN South Korea The Sea of ​​Japan is called East Sea"(kor. 동해), and in the North - the Korean East Sea (kor. 조선동해). The Korean side claims that the name "Sea of ​​Japan" was imposed on the world community by the Empire of Japan, since in 1910-1945 Korea was occupied and the government of the country could not speak out at the time of approval by the International Hydrographic Society (IHO) in 1929 of the publication "The boundaries of the oceans and seas", the opinion of Korea was not taken into account.

Currently, Korea does not insist on a single variant of the name "East Sea", but only recommends that map publishers use both names in parallel until the dispute is settled. This has led to the fact that the number of countries using both names on their maps at the same time is constantly increasing.

The Japanese side, in turn, shows that the name "Sea of ​​Japan" is found on most maps and is generally accepted and insists on using the name "Sea of ​​Japan" exclusively.

Notes

1. Atlas of oceanography of the Bering, Okhotsk and Japan seas. Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Archived from the original on August 22, 2011.
2. Limits of Oceans and Seas (Special Publication No. 23): [ English ]: [arch. April 17, 2013] / International Hydrographic Organization. - 3rd edn. - : Imp. Monegasque, 1953. - 39 p.
3. «». East Sea. The name has been used for two millennia.
4. Japanese Sea. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. Retrieved January 25, 2010. Archived from the original on August 22, 2011.

Literature

• Sovetov S. A. Sea of ​​Japan // Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron: in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - St. Petersburg. , 1890-1907.
• Istoshin Yu.V. Japanese Sea. - M. : Geografgiz, 1959. - 80 p. - 25,000 copies.(reg.)
• Shamraev Yu. I., Shishkina L. A. Oceanology: Textbook for Hydrometeorological Colleges / Ed. A. V. Nekrasov, I. P. Karpova. - L.: Gidrometeoizdat, 1980. - 382 p.
• Plants and animals of the Sea of ​​Japan. - Vladivostok, 2006.
• Sokolovsky A. S. and others. Fishes of the Russian waters of the Sea of ​​Japan. - Vladivostok, 2007.
• // Biota of Russian waters of the Sea of ​​Japan. - Vladivostok, 2004. - V. 1, Part 1 (Russian version).
• Crustaceans (cladocerans, thin-shelled, mysids, euphausiids) and sea spiders// Biota of Russian waters of the Sea of ​​Japan .. - Vladivostok, 2007. - V. 1, Part 2 (English revised version).
• Brachiopods and phoronids// Biota of Russian waters of the Sea of ​​Japan. - Vladivostok, 2005. - T. 3.
• Caprellidae (sea goats)// Biota of Russian waters of the Sea of ​​Japan.. - Vladivostok, 2006. - T. 4.
• Free-living barnacles and facetects// Biota of Russian waters of the Sea of ​​Japan. - Vladivostok, 2006. - T. 5.
• Polycladid turbellarians, leeches, oligochaetes, echiurs// Biota of Russian waters of the Sea of ​​Japan. - Vladivostok, 2008. - T. 6.
• Sea of ​​Japan: encyclopedia / ed. and comp. I. S. Zonn and A. G. Kostyanoy; ed. A. N. Kosareva. - M.: Intern. relations, 2009. - 420, p.: ill., cart., portrait. - Bibliography: p. 418-420 (51 titles). - 1000 copies.

Links

• Sea of ​​Japan (physical map, scale 1:5,000,000)// National Atlas of Russia. - M. : Roskartografiya, 2004. - T. 1. - S. 283. - 496 p. - 3000 copies. - ISBN 5-85120-217-3.
• Sea of ​​Japan in the book: A. D. Dobrovolsky, B. S. Zalogin. Seas of the USSR. Moscow publishing house. un-ta, 1982.
• Description of the Sea of ​​Japan.