Ocean and Polar ResearchISSN:2234-7313(Online)한국해양과학기술원

A shallow channel between Jeju and Udo Islands, which is located in the northeastern Jeju Island, is influenced by storm- or typhoon-induced currents and surface waves as well as strong tidal currents. This study examines the typhoon-induced current and wave patterns in the channel, using Acoustic Doppler Current Meter (ADCP) measurements and an ocean-wave coupled modeling experiment. Three typhoons were chosen - Chaba (2016), Soulik (2018), and Lingling (2019) - to investigate the responses of currents and waves in their pathways. During the pre-typhoon periods, dominant northward flow and wave propagation were observed in the channel due to the southeasterly winds before the three typhoons. After the passage of Chaba, which passed over the eastern side of Jeju Island, the northward flow and wave propagation were totally reversed to the opposite direction, which was attributed to the strong northerly winds on the left side of the typhoon. In contrast, in the cases of Soulik and Lingling, which passed over the western side of Jeju Island, strong southerly winds on the right side of the typhoons continuously intensified the northward current and wave propagation in the channel. The model-simulated current and wave fields reasonably coincided with observational data, showing southward/northward flow and wave propagation in response to the right/left side of the typhoon pathways. Typhoon-induced downwind flows, and surface waves could enhance up to 2m/s and 3m due to the strong winds that lasted for more than 12 hours. This suggests that the flow and wave patterns in the Udo channel are highly sensitive to the pathway of typhoons and accompanying winds; thus, this may be a crucial factor with regard to the movement of seabed sediments and subsequent coastal erosion.