Three dimensional diagnostic study of the circulation in the South China Sea during winter 1998 |
| |
| Authors: | Guanghong Liao Yaochu Yuan Xiaohua Xu |
| |
| Institution: | (1) State Key Laboratory of Satellite Ocean Environment Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Hangzhou, 310012, China |
| |
| Abstract: | On the basis of hydrographic data obtained from 28 November to 27 December, 1998, the three-dimensional structure of circulation
in the South China Sea (SCS) is computed using a three-dimensional diagnostic model. The combination of sea surface height
anomaly from altimeter data and numerical results provides a consistent circulation pattern for the SCS, and main circulation
features can be summarized as follows: in the northern SCS there are a cold and cyclonic circulation C1 with two cores C1-1
and C1-2 northwest of Luzon and an anticyclonic eddy (W1) near Dongsha Islands. In the central SCS there is a stronger cyclonic
circulation C2 with two cores C2-1 and C2-2 east of Vietnam and a weaker anticyclonic eddy W2 northwest of Palawan Island.
A stronger coastal southward jet presents west of the eddy C2 and turns to the southeast in the region southwest of eddy C2-2,
and it then turns to flow eastward in the region south of eddy C2-2. In the southern SCS there are a weak cyclonic eddy C3
northwest of Borneo and an anti-cyclonic circulation W3 in the subsurface layer. The net westward volume transport through
section CD at 119.125°E from 18.975° to 21.725°N is about 10.3 × 106 m3s−1 in the layer above 400 m level. The most important dynamic mechanism generating the circulation in the SCS is a joint effect
of the baroclinicity and relief (JEBAR), and the second dynamical mechanism is an interaction between the wind stress and
relief (IBWSR). The strong upwelling occurs off northwest Luzon. |
| |
| Keywords: | Circulation in the SCS winter of 1998 three dimensional diagnostic modeling SSHA from altimeter data multi-eddies structure dynamic factors JEBAR and IBWSR upwelling |
| 本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录！ |
|
