SEASONAL VARIATION IN WATER CIRCULATIONS AND ITS IMPACT ON THERMAL ENVIRONMENT IN A CORAL REEF AREA OF SOUTHWEST JAPAN

S.M.B.  Rahaman; Eizo  Nakaza

doi:10.53808/KUS.2007.8.1.0716-L

Authors

S.M.B. Rahaman Fisheries and Marine Resource Technology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh
Eizo Nakaza Department. of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of the Ryukyus, 1 Senbaru, Nishihara-cho, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53808/KUS.2007.8.1.0716-L

Keywords:

Current, temperature, Shiraho, coral reef, Ishigaki, Japan

Abstract

Summer and wintertime observations were conducted through deploying horizontal oceanographic time series sensors in a coral reef region of Southwest Japan to assess the existing hydrodynamic and thermal environments in relation to seasonal changes. A significant variation in water circulation and temperature distribution pattern was recorded in Shiraho reef area between two different seasons. During winter, a strong inflow of oceanic water was recorded inside the reef on a semidiurnal pattern that led to significant water temperature rising while in summer, considerable amount of sea water entered the reef area with a diurnal frequency causing water temperature slightly lower. Outside the reef, current was found to flow nearly parallel in direction to the north-south stretch of the reef.

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