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.