Distributions of Water Masses and Currents in Tachibana Bay, West of Ari-ake Sound, Kyushu, Japan

摘要

We have investigated the water mass distribution and circulation in Tachibana Bay, which is located in the junction area between Ari-ake Sound and Amakusa-Nda in western Kyushu, Japan. This was done to clarify the mechanism by which ghost shrimp larvae, originating form a sandflat of Amakusa-Shimoshima Island, are transported. Temperature and salinity data repeatedly obtained over the area of Tachibana Bay show That relatively low salinity water lies over northern part of the bay, while high salinity Water lies over southern part of the bay.