Figure Captions

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Fig. 1. Geography and isobaths showing the bathymetry (m) of the Japan/East Sea (JES).

Fig. 2. Schematic map of surface current systems (after Tomczak and Godfrey, 1994).

Fig. 3. Simulated surface circulation from the control run for (a) January, (b) April, (c) July and (d) October.

Fig. 4. Simulated volume transport (Sv) from the control run for (a) January, (b) April, (c) July and (d) October.

Fig. 5. Simulated zonal cross-section of v-velocity component (m/s) along 37N from the control run for (a) January, (b) April, (c) July and (d) October.

Fig. 6. Simulated latitudinal cross-section of u-velocity component (m/s) along 135E from the control run for (a) January, (b) April, (c) July and (d) October.

Fig. 7. Surface circulation caused by the non-linear effect: (a) January, (b) April, (c) July and (d) October.

Fig. 8. Surface circulation driven by the winds: (a) January, (b) April, (c) July and (d) October.

Fig. 9. Volume transport driven by the lateral forcing: (a) January, (b) April, (c) July and (d) October.