Climatic Changes in Thermal Conditions of Marginal Seas in the Western Pacific

Observational data from the Roshydromet hydrometeorological stations for 1978-2017, global meteorological network, and objective analysis and reanalysis (NOAA) are used to study the interannual variability of sea surface temperature and air temperature in the coastal and marine areas of the Okhotsk, Japan, Yellow, East China, and South China seas at the modern stage of the warming. Based on the EOF, cluster, and correlation analysis, the spatiotemporal pattern of temperature variations is analyzed and the zoning of sea areas according to the features of modern climate change is performed. The possible cause-and-effect relationships between these changes and the variations in wind components and climate indices are investigated. The studies revealed, specified, and quantified the modern trends and regional features of interannual variability of thermal conditions in the distinguished areas.