Three-Dimensional Morphology and Long-Term Trends of the Subpolar Front in the East Sea
2027-01-15 20:00 (China Standard Time)
Session:Session 38 - Oceanic (Sub)mesoscale Processes and Their Climate Impacts
Abstract
In the East Sea (ES), the Subpolar Front (SPF) is a strong thermal boundary formed by the interaction of warm and cold currents. Although in-situ observations have revealed that the SPF exhibits a southward-tilting vertical structure, its vertical morphology and long-term variability remain poorly understood. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the three-dimensional (3-D) structure of the SPF and its long-term variability. For this, we developed the Convolutional Kolmogorov-Arnolds Network (ConvKAN) model to estimate subsurface temperature in the ES, using satellite-based variables as inputs and the temperature profiles from the World Ocean Database (WOD) as ground truth for the upper 500 m during 2007–2023. For test results, the ConvKAN model showed a depth-average determination coefficient (R2) of 0.73, root mean square error (RMSE) of 1.12 °C, and normalized RMSE (NRMSE) of 0.09. The reconstructed 3-D temperature fields revealed that the SPF exhibited a southward tilt with depth, although the degree of the tilt varied by region and season. Using the residual component derived from Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition (EEMD), the vertical tilt of the SPF was quantified based on the frontal angle while minimizing the influence of oscillatory frontal variability. The 17-year mean frontal angle varied regionally, averaging 56°, 49°, and 69° in the western, central, and eastern ES, respectively. The frontal angle generally increased over the 17-year period, particularly in the western and central ES, where it was associated with increased East Korea Warm Current (EKWC) volume transport. These changes were accompanied by strengthened vertical alignment and a southwest-to-northeast orientation of the SPF, as indicated by long-term trends in the magnitude of the temperature gradient (GM) and frontal position. These results suggest that the frontal angle is a useful indicator of how well surface frontal signals represent subsurface frontal structures, thereby improving the identification of the subsurface position of the SPF. They also provide a basis for understanding changes in the 3-D structure of the SPF in response to changes in the marine environment.
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Important Dates
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Jan 30
2026
Session / Event proposals open
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Mar 31
2026
Session / Event proposals close
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Apr 30
2026
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Apr 30
2026
Abstract submissions & registration open
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Jun 30
2026
Abstract submissions close
(Extended to July 21) -
Aug 31
2026
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Sep 15
2026
Scientific program released
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Oct 15
2026
Early bird registration closes
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Jan 12–15
2027
XMAS 2027
