THREE-DIMENSIONAL BAROCLINIC NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF THE SOUTH CHINA SEA CIRCULATION＇S SEASONAL CHARACTERISTICS II. MIDDLE AND DEEP CIRCULATION

A three-dimensional baroclinic shelf sea model‘ s numerical simulation of the South China Sea (SCS) middle and deep layer circulation structure showed that: 1. In the SCS middle and deep layer, a seulhward boundary current exists along the east shore of the Indo-China Peninsula all year long.A cyclonic eddy (gyre) is formed by the current in the above sea areas except in the middle layer in spring, when an anticyclonic eddy exists on the eastern side of the current. In the deep layer, a larges-cale anticyclonic eddy often exists in the sea areas between the Zhongsha Islands and west shore of southern Luzon Island. 2. In the middle layer in snmmer and autumn, and in the deep layer in autumn and winter, there is an anticyclonic eddy (gyre) in the northeastern SCS, while in the middle layer in winter and spring, and in the deep layer in spring and snmmer, there is a cyclonic one. 3. In the middle layer,there is a weak northeastward current in the Nansha Trough in spring and snmmer, while in autumn and winter it evolves inl~ an anticyclonic eddy ( gyre), which then spreads westward l~ the whole western Nansha Islands sea areas.     

Pathways of mesoscale variability in the South China Sea

The propagation of oceanic mesoscale signals in the South China Sea (SCS) is mapped from satellite altimetric observations and an eddy-resolving global ocean model by using the maximum cross-correlation (MCC) method. Significant mesoscale signals propagate along two major bands of high variability. The northern band is located west of the Luzon Strait, characterized by southwestward eddy propagation. Although eddies are the most active in winter, their southwestward migrations, steered by bathymetry, occur throughout the year. Advection by the mean flow plays a secondary role in modulating the propagating speed. The southern eddy band lies in the southwest part of the SCS deep basin and is oriented in an approximately meridional direction. Mesoscale variability propagates southward along the band in autumn. This southward eddy pathway could not be explained by mean flow advection and is likely related to eddy detachments from the western boundary current due to nonlinear effects. Our mapping of eddy propagation velocities provides important information for further understanding eddy dynamics in the SCS.     

Abyssal Circulation in the Philippine Sea

The abyssal circulation in the Philippine Sea(PS)is investigated,with outputs from the Simple Ocean Data Assimilation version 2.2.4(SODA224).The deep-water currents in SODA224 are carefully evaluated,with sparse in situ observations in the North Pacific Ocean.In the upper deep layer(20003000 m)of the PS,a strong westward current,which originates from the Northeast Pacific Basin and enters the PS through the Yap-Mariana Junction,exists along 1114 N.This strong westward current bifurcates into two western boundary currents off the Philippines.The northward-flowing current flows out of the PS around 2021 N,whereas the southward-flowing current transports deep water from the northern hemisphere to the southern hemisphere.In the lower deep layer(30004500 m),the inflow water first flows northward to the east of the Western Mariana Basin and then turns westward at approximately 18 N.The inflow water mainly enters the Philippine Basin(PB),with a small part turning southward to constitute a weak cyclonic circulation.The water entering the PB mainly merges into a strong southward western boundary current in the south-ern PB.In the bottom layer(below 4500 m),both the northeast and northwest PB show single cyclonic gyres,whereas the south PB shows a single anticyclonic gyre.Moreover,comparisons with the observations indicate the possible existence of a cyclonic sense of circulation over the Philippine Trench.The current study provides the implications for future observations,which are needed to fur-ther investigate the temporospatial variations of the abyssal circulation in the PS on multiple scales.     

Numerical study on interaction between eddies and the Kuroshio Current east of Taiwan,China

We investigated the interaction between mesoscale eddies and the Kuroshio Current east of Taiwan,China,using a fine-resolution regional general circulation model.Mesoscale eddies are injected into a region east of Taiwan,China,according to the quasi-geostrophic theory of stratified fluids.Modeled eddies propagated westward at the velocity of the first baroclinic mode Rossby wave.When eddies collide with the Kuroshio Current east of Taiwan,China,the spatial structure and volume transport of the Kuroshio Current shows a significant variation.The upper 600 m of the anticyclonic eddy cannot cross the Kuroshio Current to reach the region west of the Kuroshio Current;rather,these waters flow northward along the eastern side of the Kuroshio Current.The upper water carried by the anticyclonic eddies cannot reach the shelf of the East China Sea(ECS).In contrast,the waters in the upper layer of the cyclonic eddy reach the western side of the Kuroshio Current and then flow northward.The dynamic mechanism analysis shows that the interaction between the Kuroshio Current and the cyclonic(anticyclonic) eddy decrease(increase)the horizontal potential vorticity(PV) gradient,or PV barrier,whereby the cyclonic(anticyclonic) eddy can(cannot) cross the Kuroshio Current.This study implies that the continental shelf could potentially be influenced by cyclonic eddies in the open ocean,which can transport heat and material from the upper open ocean acro s s the Kuroshio Current to the shelf waters.     

Path transition of the western boundary current with a gap due to mesoscale eddies: a 1.5-layer, wind-driven experiment

Using a 1.5 layer nonlinear shallow-water reduced-gravity model, we executed numerical simulations to investigate the possibility of a western boundary current (WBC) path transition due to mesoscale eddies based on the background of the Kuroshio intrusion into the South China Sea (SCS) from the Luzon Strait. Because the WBC existed different current states with respect to different wind stress control parameters, we chose three steady WBC states (loop current, eddy shedding and leaping) as the background flow field and simulated the path transition of the WBC due to mesoscale eddies. Our simulations indicated that either an anticyclonic or cyclonic eddy can lead to path transition of the WBC with different modes. The simulation results also show that the mesoscale eddies can lead to path transition of the WBC from loop and eddy shedding state to leaping state because of the hysteresis effect. The leaping state is relatively stable compared with the mesoscale eddies. Moreover, an anticyclonic eddy is more effective in producing the WBC path transition for the path transition than a cyclonic eddy. Our results may help to explain some phenomena observed regarding the path transition of the Kuroshio due to the mesoscale eddies at the Luzon Strait.     

Interannual variability of transport and bifurcation of the North Equatorial Current in the tropical North Pacific Ocean

The relationship of the interannual variability of the transport and bifurcation latitude of the North Equatorial Current (NEC) to the El Ni o-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is investigated. This is done through composite analysis of sea surface height (SSH) observed by satellite altimeter during October 1992-July 2009, and correspondingly derived sea surface geostrophic currents. During El Nio/La Ni a years, the SSH in the tropical North Pacific Ocean falls/rises, with maximum changes in the region 0-15°N, 130°E-160°E. The decrease/increase in SSH induces a cyclonic/anticyclonic anomaly in the western tropical gyre. The cyclonic/anticyclonic anomaly in the gyre results in an increase/decrease of NEC transport, and a northward/southward shift of the NEC bifurcation latitude near the Philippine coast. The variations are mainly in response to anomalous wind forcing in the west-central tropical North Pacific Ocean, related to ENSO events.     

Surface circulation patterns observed by drifters in the Yellow Sea in summer of 2001, 2002 and 2003

In summer of 2001, 2002 and 2003, ten, six and seventeen satellite-tracked surface drifters with drogues centered at 15 and 4 m were deployed, respectively, in the southern Yellow Sea (YS). 23 drifters of them transmitted useful data of at least 30 days. The wind-driven component of the drift was removed from the original drift velocity of drifters. The wind data used are from NCEP (National Center for Environmental Prediction), USA.Trajectories and drift velocities of the 23 drifters depicted the upper circulation structure in the southern YS. There exists an anti-cyclonic eddy with a mean speed and radius of 0.063 m/s and 50km in the central southern YS, whose center lingered within 35.3-36.0°N / 123.5-124.0°E. Showed by 6 drifters, a basin-scale elliptic cyclonic gyre with a mean speed of 0.114 m/s, long and short radius of 250 and 200 km surrounds the anti-cyclonic eddy. In the southwestern part of the southern YS has obvious frontal eddy activities within about 100 km with a mean speed about 0.076     

Reversal process of the South China Sea western boundary current in autumn 2011

Using merged sea level anomaly and absolute geostrophic velocity products from satellite altimetry and Argos drifter data,we analyzed the reversal process of the South China Sea(SCS) western boundary current(SCSwbc) from a summer to winter pattern in 2011 and important oceanic phenomena during this process.Results show that the outbreak time of the northeast monsoon over the southern SCS lagged that over the northern SCS by about 1 month.During the SCS monsoon reversal period,the SCSwbc reversed rapidly into the winter pattern at the Guangdong continental slope in late September.Subsequently,the southward Vietnam coastal boundary current strengthened.However,the northward Natuna Current maintained a summer state until mid-October.Thus,the balance between the southward and northward currents was lost when they met,their junction moved gradually southward.However,a loop current formed southeast of Vietnam because the main stream of the Vietnam Offshore Current(VOC) remained near its original latitude.Meanwhile,the VOC and associated dipole circulation system strengthened.After midOctober,the northward Natuna Current began to weaken,the loop current finally shed,becoming a cool ring.The VOC and its associated dipole sub-basin circulation system also weakened gradually until it disappeared.     

Formation of an anticyclonic eddy and the mechanism involved: a case study using cruise data from the northern South China Sea

Data from satellite altimetry and in situ observations together with the Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model(HYCOM)reanalysis data were used to investigate the mechanism and formation of an anticyclonic eddy in the northeastern South China Sea(SCS).Analysis of water mass using cruise data indicated that the water captured in the eddy differs from those in the SCS,the Kuroshio intrusion,and the eddy-forming region.Data from sea surface height(SSH)and sea level anomaly(SLA)indicate that the eddy formed due both to the Kuroshio intrusion and the local circulation in the SCS.The Kuroshio intrusion is present at the start of the eddy growth(March 5-9)before Kuroshio leaps the Luzon Strait.The eddy then becomes larger and stronger in the absence of the Kuroshio intrusion.From the eddy budget of the HYCOM reanalysis data,the formation of the eddy goes in three steps.By the third step,the eddy had become affected by variations of local SCS circulation,which is more strongly than in the first step in which it is affected more by the Kuroshio intrusion.The variability of the temperature and salinity inside the eddy provide a support to this conclusion.The water in the SCS intruded into the eddy from the southeast,which decrease the salinity gradually in the southern part of the eddy during the growth period.     

The surface path of the Kuroshio Extension’s western sector and the eddies on both sides

The surface path of the Kuroshio Extension’s western sector and the eddies on both sides are systematically analysed based on the GEK-measured surface current and temperature-salinity data from 1955–1985. The main results are shown as follows:1) According to the position and the features of distribution pattern, the surface path of the Kuroshio Extension’s western sector is classified into two kinds (straight and meander) and seven types (f. n_e, S_c, U_i or V_i, V_di or U_di, Ω, f+v). The straight kind accounts for 1/3 and the meander kind accounts for 2/3. 2) The warm eddies on the northern side originate mostly from the area off Sanriku and Joban of Japan. Their moving paths lie in two patterns: Pattern I, eddy moves northeastward or northward; Pattern II, eddy rotates about the original area. The cold eddies on the southern side originate mainly from the area off Boso Peninsula. Their moving paths also lie in two patterns: Pattern III. eddy moves from west to east; Pattern IV, eddy moves from north to south.     

Vorticity budget study on the seasonal upper circulation in the northern South China Sea from altimetry data and a numerical model

Based on the EOF analyses of Absolute Dynamic Topography satellite data,it is found that,in summer,the northern South China Sea(SCS) is dominated by an anticyclonic gyre whilst by a cyclonic one in winter.A connected single-layer and two-layer model is employed here to investigate the dynamic mechanism of the circulation in the northern SCS.Numerical experiments show that the nonlinear term,the pressure torque and the planetary vorticity advection play important roles in the circulation of the northern SCS,whilst the contribution by seasonal wind stress curl is local and limited.Only a small part of the Kuroshio water intrudes into the SCS,it then induces a positive vorticity band extending southwestward from the west of the Luzon Strait(LS) and a negative vorticity band along the 200 m isobath of the northern basin.The positive vorticity field induced by the local summer wind stress curl is weaker than that induced in winter in the northern SCS.Besides the Kuroshio intrusion and monsoon,the water transports via the Sunda Shelf and the Sibutu Passage are also important to the circulation in the northern SCS,and the induced vorticity field in summer is almost contrary to that in winter.The strength variations of these three key factors(Kuroshio,monsoon and the water transports via the Sunda Shelf and the Sibutu Passage) determine the seasonal variations of the vorticity and eddy fields in the northern SCS.As for the water exchange via the LS,the Kuroshio intrusion brings about a net inflow into the SCS,and the monsoon has a less effect,whilst the water transports via the Sunda Shelf and the Sibutu Passage are the most important influencing factors,thus,the water exchange of the SCS with the Pacific via the LS changes dramatically from an outflow of the SCS in summer to an inflow into the SCS in winter.     

On the winter circulation of the northern South China Sea and its relation to the large scale oceanic current

The nonwind-driven mechanism of the winter circulation in the northern South China Sea is discussed. Linked by the Bashi Strait to the Pacific Ocean, the northern South Cnina Sea is treated as a part of the Pacific western boundary where the circulation variation (except the very thin surface layer) is closely related to that of the ocean interior and the effect of local wind might be neglected (at least for some seasons). Based on the assumption that the thick and strong westward current which flows in through the Bashi Strait can effectively prevent water exchange between the northern and southern South China Seas, the model sea only includes the northern part. Barotropic numerical experiments show that part of this westward current is deflected by the continental slope and forms the slope area NE current—the South China Sea Warm Current. Besides, the topographical flow fed by the extension of the western boundary current and the anticyclonic eddy born near the eastern boundary are also fundamental components of the South China Sea Warm Current. The reflection of the incident Rossby waves by the continental slope is found to be of significance in the intensification of the South China Sea Warm Current. Contribution No. 1362 from Institute of Oceanology, Academia     

一种基于空间-拓扑结构相似性的复杂轨迹聚类算法

复杂的面状空间实体如海洋涡旋、环流和降雨过程在运动过程中会产生更复杂的轨迹,即具有分支结构的复杂轨迹。为了挖掘这类复杂轨迹的运动模式特征,本文从复杂轨迹的拓扑结构和空间特征出发,创新性地提出复杂轨迹的空间-拓扑结构相似性度量算法（Spatial-Topological Similarity Measurement, STSM）,该算法是基于图同构算法VF2改进的。首先STSM算法将复杂轨迹用带有节点和边的图结构表达,并将空间信息融入图结构的节点属性中,通过匹配复杂轨迹之间所有最大公共子结构,找到匹配结构中节点之间一一对应的关系,利用加权的欧式距离计算复杂轨迹匹配结构中点对之间的空间距离。然后,基于STSM相似性算法进行层次聚类分析,旨在发现复杂轨迹之间相似的拓扑结构在空间上的聚集模式。最后,利用1993-2016年长时间序列的中国南海冷涡复杂轨迹验证方法的有效性,并对比分析复杂轨迹拓扑结构相似性算法CSM。结果表明：单纯用拓扑结构相似性算法CSM进行聚类分析,不能充分挖掘空间的聚集模式,因为不同空间位置也存在拓扑结构相似的轨迹。而本文提出的STSM算法将南海冷涡复杂轨迹分为5类,第一类分布在南海北部、第二类分布在南海中部、其他三类交错在南海南部。这种聚集模式在一定程度上反映了冷涡的生成和演化过程在南海北部、中部、南部的差异性,同时也表明了冷涡移动在南海南部存在更为复杂的异质性。因此,本文提出的方法可以有效地从复杂轨迹数据中发现其演化过程的潜在聚集模式,为认识这类复杂动态现象的时空演化特征提供了一种新的方法。     

Mean properties of mesoscale eddies in the Kuroshio recirculation region

Using a 19-year altimetric dataset, the mean properties and spatiotemporal variations of eddies in the Kuroshio recirculation region are examined. A total of 2 001 cyclonic tracks and 1 847 anticyclonic tracks were identifi ed using a geometry-based eddy detection method. The mean radius was 57 km for cyclonic eddies and was 61 km for anticyclonic eddies, respectively, and the mean lifetime was about 10 weeks for both type eddies. There were asymmetric spatial distributions for eddy generation and eddy termination, which were domain-dependent. Mean eddy generation rates were 2.0 per week for cyclonic eddies and were 1.9 per week for anticyclonic eddies. Both type eddies tended to deform during their lifetime and had different propagation characteristics, which mainly propagated westward and southwestward with velocities 4.0–9.9 cm/s, in the Kuroshio recirculation region. Further discussion illustrates that the eddy westward speed maybe infl uenced by the combined effect of vertical shear of horizontal currents and nonlinearity of eddy. To better understand the evolution of eddy tracks, a total of 134 long-lived tracks(lifetime ≥20 weeks) were examined. Comparison between short-span eddies(lifetime ≥4 weeks and 20 weeks) and long-lived eddies is also conducted and the result shows that the short-span and long-lived eddies have similar time evolution. Finally, eddy seasonal variations and interannual changes are discussed. Correlation analysis shows that eddy activity is sensitive to the wind stress curl and meridional gradient of sea surface temperature on interannual timescales. Besides, the strength and orientation of background fl ows also have impacts on the eddy genesis.     

Comparison of remote sensing data with in-situ wind observation during the development of the South China Sea monsoon

Wind measurements derived from QuikSCAT data were compared with those measured by anemometer on Yongxing Island in the South China Sea (SCS) for the period from April 2008 to November 2009. The comparison confirms that QuikSCAT estimates of wind speed and direction are generally accurate, except for the extremes of high wind speeds (>13.8m/s) and very low wind speeds (<1.5m/s) where direction is poorly predicted. In-situ observations show that the summer monsoon in the northern SCS starts between May 6 and June 1. From March 13, 2010 to August 31, 2010, comparisons of sea surface temperature (SST) and rainfall from AMSR-E with data from a buoy located at Xisha Islands, as well as wind measurements derived from ASCAT and observations from an automatic weather station show that QuikSCAT, ASCAT and AMSR-E data are good enough for research. It is feasible to optimize the usage of remote-sensing data if validated with in-situ measurements. Remarkable changes were observed in wind, barometric pressure, humidity, outgoing longwave radiation (OLR), air temperature, rainfall and SST during the monsoon onset. The eastward shift of western Pacific subtropical high and the southward movement of continental cold front preceded the monsoon onset in SCS. The starting dates of SCS summer monsoon indicated that the southwest monsoon starts in the Indochinese Peninsula and forms an eastward zonal belt, and then the belt bifurcates in the SCS, with one part moving northeastward into the tropical western North Pacific, and another southward into western Kalimantan. This largely determined the pattern of the SCS summer monsoon. Wavelet analysis of zonal wind and OLR at Xisha showed that intra-seasonal variability played an important role in the summer. This work improves the accuracy of the amplitude of intra-seasonal and synoptic variation obtained from remote-sensed data.     

A numerical study of the wintertime circulation in the Northern Huanghai Sea and the Bohai Sea part I: Basic characteristics of the circulation

A numerical model is developed to explain the response of the shelf sea to the abrupt imposition of a steady, secular mean windstream field and the basic characteristics of the wintertime circulation in the Northern Huanghai Sea (Yellow Sea) and the Bohai Sea by using equidistant, staggered grid points, an implicit finite difference scheme and our new “splitting computational method” of adjustment, development, and dissipation processes. So far as the major tendency of the circulation is concerned, the numerical result agrees with the observational data. The computational results show that the eastern anticyclonic and the western cyclonic circulations constitute the main body of the wintertime circulation in the Northern Huanghai Sea, and that the northern anticyclonic and the southern cyclonic circulations constitute the main body of the wintertime circulation in the Bohai Sea. Contribution No. 1508 from the Institute of Oceanology, Academia Sinica     

Numerical Simulation of Wintertime Mesoscale Eddies in the East China Sea

INTRODUCTIONAnimportantachievementofoceanographysincethe 1960swasthediscoveryofmesoscaleed dieswithspatialscaleofhundredsofmeters,andtimescaleofhours;andaverageflowvelocityofabout 10cm s.Theenormousenergyofthemesoscaleeddyiscomparabletothatofacycloneoran ticycloneintheatmosphere .Themesoscaleeddyisoneoftheimportantfactorsthatdecidethechangeoftheocean .Intherecentdecades,ChineseandforeignscientistshavedonelotsofworkontheEastChinaSeasmesoscaleeddies,theformationmechanismofwhicharethefocuso…     

Interannual variations in energy conversion and interaction between the mesoscale eddy field and mean flow in the Kuroshio south of Japan

Using 19-year satellite altimetric data, variations in the eddy kinetic energy, energy exchanges and interaction between the eddy field and mean flow are discussed for the Kuroshio south of Japan. In the seasonal cycle, the eddy kinetic energy level is a minimum in December/January and a maximum in April/May. In addition to seasonal variations, the eddy kinetic energy undergoes interannual changes. The energy transfers mainly from the mean flow to the eddy field in the Kuroshio south of Japan, and dominant energy exchanges mainly occur along the Kuroshio path south of Japan in each year from 1993 to 2011. In addition, there is often barotropic instability south of Honshu. Regarding interactions between the eddy field and mean flow, cyclonic and anticyclonic accelerations are also found along the Kuroshio path and they flank each other. There is cyclonic acceleration always imposed on southeast of Kyushu, and anticyclonic acceleration dominates south of Honshu from 2001 to mid-2005. Reynolds stress is used to explain the dynamic process of energy exchange. Furthermore, lag-correlation and linear regression analysis show that variability of the energy conversion rate and Reynolds stress involve responses to eddy acceleration at two time scales. The enhanced eddy acceleration induces large Reynolds stress, and enhanced Reynolds stress or barotropic instability further enforces energy transfer from the mean flow to the eddy field.     

Motive force of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau moving to east

A calculation formula on spherical pattern of Qinghai-Tibet plateau moving model is established, Tibet massif moves norward by east in speed of 28 mm/a, Ganshu-Qinghai massif moves to northeast in speed of 15 mm/a, Qomolangma Feng moves northward by a few east in speed of 35 -42 mm/a. The low latitude perimeter is longer than the high latitude perimeter. When the Tibet massif moves northward, its latitude perimeter must be contracted and the Tibet massif must move eastward by Coriolis. Coriolis force is inertial in earth rotation. It makes the fall body turning to east and the rising block turning westward. In the Northern Hemisphere, it makes the northward body turning to east and the southward block turning to west. This is the reason why the tectonic zones of western Pacific are different from those of eastern Pacific.     

Motive force of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau moving to east

A calculation formula on spherical pattern of Qinghai-Tibet plateau moving model is established. Tibet massif moves norward by east in speed of 28 mm/a, Ganshu-Qinghai massif moves to northeast in speed of 15 mm/a, Qomolangma Feng moves northward by a few east in speed of 35 -42 mm/a. The low latitude perimeter is longer than the high latitude perimeter. When the Tibet massif moves northward, its latitude perimeter must be contracted and the Tibet massif must move eastward by Cofiolis. Cofiolis force is inertial in earth rotation. It makes the fall body turning to east and the rising block turning westward. In the Northern Hemisphere, it makes the northward body turning to east and the southward block turning to west. This is the reason why the tectonic zones of western Pacific are different from those of eastern Pacific.