Structure of the Primorye Current (Japan Sea) on satellite ima- ges and standard sections

Based on satellite images and standard sections obtained in 2000–2024, spatial structure of the Primorye Current as a band of cold waters along the coast of Primorye is considered. The archive of sea surface temperature reconstructed from the measurements of AVHRR radiometer (NOAA satellites) and MODIS spectroradiometer (AQUA, TERRA satellites) is used. The data were received and processed at the Center for collective use of regional satellite monitoring on environments in the Far-Eastern branch of Russian Ac. Sci. The main features of the Primorye Current structure are determined that allows to conclude that this cold-water area in the surface layer from the Tatar Strait to Peter the Great Bay is formed by a complex of coastal-shelf processes, including upwelling, vertical mixing, and desalination by terrestrial runoff. This cold, low-saline water mass spreads beyond the formation areas in general southwestward direction, along the coast, either as a continuous flow or as a chain of mesoscale eddies, spots, stripes, jets, etc., sometimes interrupted. The main provisions of this concept correspond with ideas established even before the satellite oceanography development, but some details concerning nature of the cold water of Primorye Current, its spreading along the coast of Primorye and interaction with surrounding waters were previously unknown.