Wind and bathymetric forcing of the annual sea surface temperature signal in the East (Japan) Sea

The relationship between the annual cycle of sea surface temperature (SST) in the East (Japan) Sea and wind forcing and bathymetry is examined using AVHRR‐derived SST fields and satellite‐derived scatterometer wind fields. On the basin scale, SST north of the Subpolar Front (SPF) is characterized by relatively larger amplitude (≥10°C) and variance (≥94%) and earlier phase than water to the south. Furthermore, north of the SPF, earlier SST cooling coincides with regions of high winds. On a much smaller spatial scale, the data show earlier SST cooling over the Siberian seamount is a result of the relatively shallow water over the seamount coupled with the complete erosion of the seasonal thermocline in mid February.