| After over a century of significant observational and modeling studies, the synoptic and general circulation of the Japan (East) Sea (JES), a major semi-enclosed sea, are not yet well understood. Several simulations (for different parameters, forcings, etc.) of the synoptic and general circulation of the JES are compared with observations with the aim of determining the ?best? simulation. The Princeton Ocean Model (POM), implemented with mesoscale-admitting resolution (ca. 10 km and 20 or more sigma levels) and realistic bottom topography and temperature and salinity stratification, is forced with synoptic atmospheric and throughflow forcing. The observations utilized are shipboard and PALACE float CTD profiles, 800 m-PALACE float and upper-ocean drifter trajectories, coastal sea levels, and other available observational data types. The model-data comparisons, conducted for a few years at the turn-of-the-century, illustrate issues in modeling and observational uncertainties and the need for coordinated strategies in the future. |
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