Shandong College of Oceanology;
Qingdao;
Shandong College of Oceanology;
Qingdaohe fundamental principle for differentiating water masses is a strict consideration of their relative "interior homogeneity" and obvious "exterior differences" with others in characteristics. The conceptions of water type;
water mass and water system are dealt with on the basis of the theory of fuzzy sets. A proposal to apply the theory of fuzzy sets to define the water mass and its core;
independent area;
boundary and mixing area is put forward.As an example;
the membership function of the surface water masses in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea in August;
1979;
are considered. Their cores;
independent areas;
boundaries;
mixing areas and the approximation degrees between different water masses are calculated respectively. The water masses are ranged according to their fuzzy degrees.;
water; mass; fuzzy; sets; water; type; water; system; membership; function; the; Yellow; sea; the; East; China; sea;