海平面变化对黑潮变异的响应

本文对黑潮影响海我海平面变化进行了分析，发现海平面变化与黑潮变异之间存在着密切关系，每当黑潮大弯曲发生时，海平面上升出现高值。另外还对海平面变化原因做了讨论。     

黑潮延伸体海域海平面年际变化及其与海流的关系

利用黑潮延伸体海域海平面异常(SLA)数据和SODA海流资料,分析海平面和海流的年际变化特征,以及两者之间的关系。分析发现黑潮延伸体SLA的第二模态是黑潮大弯曲模态,存在29个月的准两年显著振荡。该海域海平面具有显著的年际变化,且与ENSO和PDO密切相关,2002-2004年的黑潮大弯曲期间,海平面与Nino3指数的相关系数为0.74。海平面年际变化和海流关系密切,黑潮延伸体主轴两侧海平面具有显著的季节和年际变化,急流呈大弯曲路径(1993-1996、2002-2004)时,流轴稳定流速大,流轴影响深,急流主轴南侧海平面较高,达到年际变化的最大值,主轴两侧海面高度梯度大。非弯曲期间,急流主轴南压,海流强度减弱,此期间海平面低,主轴两侧海面高度梯度较小。黑潮延伸体上游区海平面变化受黑潮大弯曲影响更为显著。上下游区的海平面和比容海平面的年际变化较为相似,黑潮延伸体海域海流和比容效应共同调控该区域海平面变化。     

风对中国东部海域海平面季节变化的影响

应用ROMS数值模式配置基本实验模拟了2004年到2006年中国东部海域海平面的季节变化。模拟结果与TOPEX／Poseidon（T／P）卫星高度计观测结果基本一致,海平面年较差从中国沿岸到黑潮路径逐渐变小。将数值模式的风应力项去掉,配置对比实验。与基本实验结果对比发现,对比实验海平面仍然具有季节变化,但是闽浙沿岸和苏北沿岸海平面春夏季异常偏低、秋冬季异常偏高现象消失,中国沿岸向太平洋的海平面变化减弱。春季和秋季,渤、黄海和黑潮附近海平面异于东海的现象减弱。对比实验海平面的年较差的数值明显减小,从近岸向黑潮海平面年较差渐变的过程消失。整个渤黄海的海平面年较差近似。对比实验海平面年较差占基本实验海平面年较差比率从近岸向黑潮路径逐渐增大。     

黑潮延伸区的海平面异常和中尺度涡的统计分析

利用1993～2004年卫星高度计TP/Jason-1和 ERS/ENVISAT提供的海平面异常(SLA)融合数据,分析了黑潮延伸区12年来的平均海平面异常的变化特征及中尺度涡的分布规律.研究表明,在黑潮延伸区海平面异常(SLA)呈递增趋势,年平均上升率为8.89mm/a,显著性周期是1年、0.5年和6年;黑潮延伸区的海平面异常和海表面温度异常的低频分量与Nino3指数具有较高的相关性.这说明,黑潮延伸区的海平面变化和海表面温度与厄尔尼诺事件密切相关,都受到黑潮变化的密切影响.在日本东部的黑潮延伸区,中尺度涡自东向西移动,寿命约为1年,移动速度大约是10经度/年.气旋涡和反气旋涡的面积呈现几乎同步增减的规律,均呈年周期变化,上半年少,下半年多.在1997～1998年,黑潮延伸区内中尺度涡的面积显著减小,并且正好对应于Nino3指数极大值出现的年份.因此,黑潮延伸区内中尺度涡的数量和强度也与厄尔尼诺事件密切相关.     

黑潮延伸体区海平面异常和中尺度涡的时空特征分析

利用1993-2010年间的卫星高度计资料,用EOF方法及小波分析研究了黑潮延伸体区域的海平面异常和中尺度涡的时空变化特征.研究结果表明:海平面EOF第一模态是季节模态,与该海域风应力旋度第一模态类似,相关系数达0.65.EOF第二模态主要反映了黑潮南部次级环流的变化情况,显著性周期是8-10年.通过相关分析发现黑潮延伸体南部次级环流的年代际变化与PDO有关,同时它又与风应力旋度第二模态有关;该海域的海面高度受到北太平洋东部SSH信号西传的影响,信号的传播需要大约3-4年时间.EOF第三模态是黑潮弯曲模态.日本南部的气旋涡和反气旋涡可以表征黑潮弯曲的形成,而且弯曲强度和涡的持续时间、强度和位置有关.     

黑潮延伸体海域海平面变化及其与比容变化的关系

使用AVISO高度计海面高度异常、SODA的温、盐和混合层深度资料,研究黑潮延伸体(KE)海域海平面变化及其与海水比容变化的关系.1993-2007年KE上游区海平面上升,而比容海平面则微弱下降;两者均具有年代际和年际变化,在年际尺度上的差异显著.KE下游区海平面年代际变化明显,而比容海平面表现出显著的年际变化特征.海...     

东海海平面变化的综合分析

利用1993年1月至2011年12月的卫星高度计数据,研究了东海海平面变化的季节信号、线性趋势和低频信号,并结合风应力资料、Ishii温盐数据和海表面温度数据分析了季节信号和低频信号的驱动机制。东海季节性海平面变化主要由年信号组成,其占海平面变化的大部分;年信号振幅和相位的分布具有明显的区域差异;东海季节性海平面变化主要受海面风和海水热膨胀驱动,而且在不同季节、不同区域,两种驱动机制的作用存在明显差异,主导地位也不断变化;季节信号还受到黑潮的一定影响。1993-2011年间东海海平面线性上升速率为3.28mm/a,各海域海平面上升速率不同。东海海平面变化低频信号与比容海平面变化低频信号具有显著相关性,最大相关系数为0.55;东海比容海平面变化低频信号与SOI低频信号同样具有一定的相关性,最大相关系数为0.3。ENSO通过大气环流和黑潮洋流等对东海海域的比容海平面变化产生影响,比容海平面变化进而对东海年际间海平面变化产生调制作用,因此ENSO可以通过东海年际间比容海平面变化对东海年际间海平面变化产生影响。     

全球和南海海平面变化及其与厄尔尼诺的关系

利用卫星高度计资料,分析了1993年1月至2004年12月全球和南海的海平面变化特征.结果表明,在1993-2004年期间,全球和南海海平面的平均上升率分别为(2.5±0.2)mm/a 和(4.8±1.2)mm/a.研究发现,全球和南海海平面的低频变化都与 El Ni(n)o 密切相关,但二者对El Ni(n)o 的响应位相相反.1997-1998年 El Ni(n)o 初期,全球平均海平面升高,呈现正异常;El Ni(n)o 后期,全球平均海平面下降并由正异常变为负异常.南海平均海平面在 El Ni(n)o 期间呈现负异常,在 La Ni(n)a期间呈现正异常,其低频变化与南方涛动指数的低频分量位相变化几乎完全一致.ENSO 可以通过南海季风和北太平洋环流(黑潮)的变化来影响南海海平面.El Ni(n)o 发生前后的北风异常,以及同期黑潮流量的变化都对 ENSO 影响南海有一定的贡献.     

不同类型El Nio事件对黑潮流域影响的统计分析

利用全球海表面温度、海面流速、海平面异常、降雨和海面风场融合及再分析资料,采用相关分析和合成分析统计诊断方法,对1979-2014年发生的东太平洋和中太平洋El Nio事件对黑潮流域的影响进行分析,为黑潮流域及我国东南部气候变化预测提供参考。研究结果表明:前者对海表面温度的影响要比后者强烈,并经历了从降温到升温的效应转换;两者对黑潮流域海流流速的影响整体上呈相反状态,前者对东海PN断面海流流速起减缓作用,而后者对其流速起加速作用;对于黑潮流域的海平面异常,两者均没有明显的规律性影响;前者会引起黑潮流域降水增多,而后者则会引起黑潮流域降水减少。因此,东太平洋和中太平洋El Nio事件对黑潮流域的影响具有明显的差异。     

北太平洋环流与风应力场关系的初步探讨

关于东海黑潮变异的原因,管秉贤曾提出东海黑潮的变化是受北太平洋副热带上空风应力涡度的影响,即东北信风边界处的风应力场几乎控制了东海黑潮的变异.那未,如何解释这种海-气之间的遥相关呢? 本文试图通过分析大洋上空风应力场的变异引起大洋水位的升降,大洋海平面的变化导致大洋环流(北赤道流)强度的变化,进而导致近海环流(东海黑潮)强弱的变化这一海气相互作用系统,对上面提到的海-气之间的这种远距离相关关系作进一步的物理解释.     

Influence of the Kuroshio Fluctuations on Sea Level Variations along the South Coast of Japan

The correlation between the Kuroshio and coastal sea level south of Japan has been examined using the altimetry and tide gauge data during the period 1992–2000. The sea level varies uniformly in a region bounded by the coast and the mean Kuroshio axis, which stretches for several hundred kilometers along the coast. These variations are related with the Kuroshio velocity, as coastal sea level decreases (or increases) when the Kuroshio is faster (or slower). To the east of the Kii Peninsula, where sea level variations are different from these to the west, movement of the Kuroshio axis additionally affects coastal sea level variations.     

Sea level variations along the south coast of Japan and the large meander in the Kuroshio

Sea level variations from 1974 through 1976 at 9 stations on the south coast of Japan (from west to east, Aburatsu, Tosa-shimizu, Muroto-misaki, Kushimoto, Uragami, Owase, Toba, Maisaka and Omaezaki) were analysed in relation to the large meander in the Kuroshio. From May to July in 1975, a small maximum in sea level variation was observed at every station west of Cape Shionomisaki from Aburatsu to Kushimoto. It propagated eastward along with the eastward propagation of a small meander in the Kuroshio until it reached Kushimoto, when the sea levels at Uragami and Owase started to rise sharply. This remarkable rise appeared at all stations in August when a large meander in the Kuroshio was established. The mean sea level at the stations east of Cape Shionomisaki from Uragami to Omaezaki rose by about 10 cm. The difference in sea level variations between the regions east and west of Cape Shionomisaki, which had been present before the rise, disappeared. A similar characteristic of sea level variation was also found in the generation stage of the large meander in 1959. The sea level variations along the south coast of Japan indicate that, prior to the generation of the large meander, the small meander in the Kuroshio was generated southeast of Kyushu and propagated eastward and that, just when this meander reached off Cape Shionomisaki, a large scale oceanic event covering over the whole region of the south coast of Japan occurred. This large scale event seems to be one of the necessary conditions for the generation of the large meander in the Kuroshio off Enshû-nada.     

Interannual correlations between sea level difference at the south coast of Japan and wind stress over the north pacific

Relationships of the sea level differences between Naze and Nishinoomote and between Kushimoto and Uragami with wind stress over the North Pacific are examined for interannual variability. These sea level differences are considered to be indications of Kuroshio transport in Tokara Strait and Kuroshio path south of Enshu-nada, respectively. In the sea level difference between Kushimoto and Uragami, dominant variations are found to have periods of about seven years and 3–4 years. The variation of about 7-year period, which corresponds to that in the Kuroshio path between the large meander and non-large meander, is coherent with the variation of the wind stress curl in a region about 2,400 km east of the Kii Peninsula, where negative stress curl weakens about two years before the sea level difference drops (i.e. the large meander path in the Kuroshio generates). The variation of the 3–4 year period is coherent with that of the wind stress in a large area covering the eastern equatorial Pacific, which suggests that it links with global-scale atmospheric variations. Interannual variation in sea level difference between Naze and Nishinoomote is not coherent with that between Kushimoto and Uragami, which suggests that it is not related to the variation of the Kuroshio path south of Enshu-nada, but is coherent with that of the zonally-integrated Sverdrup transport in the latitudinal zone along 30°N. It is suggested that the interannual variation of the Kuroshio transport in Tokara Strait can be explained by the barotropic response to the wind stress.     

Variability of Kuroshio velocity assessed from the sea-level difference between Naze and Nishinoomote

Variations of current velocity of the Kuroshio are examined using the 1965–1983 sea-level difference between Naze and Nishinoomote, located on the offshore and onshore sides of the Kuroshio in the Tokara Strait south of Kyûshû.Interannual variations of Kuroshio velocity are large, especially at periods longer than five years and around 2.1 years. They are almost determined by those of sea level on the offshore side of the Kuroshio. They are highly coherent with the offshore sea level at periods longer than 1.7 years, and incoherent with the onshore sea level at periods longer than 2.8 years.The mean seasonal variation averaged for 19 years is at its maximum in July and at its minimum in the second half of October, with a sharp decrease in August and September. However, such a variation does not repeat every year. Amplitude, dominant period and phase are greatly different by year, and they can be roughly divided into four groups: small-amplitude group, semiannual-period group, and two annual-period groups with different phases. The only feature found in almost all years is a weak velocity from September to December.The amplitude of seasonal variation tends to be large in the formation years of the large meander (LM) of the Kuroshio and small during the LM period. It is also large in the years preceding El Niño, and diminishes remarkably in El Niño years.Kuroshio velocity in the Tokara Strait is incoherent with position of the Kuroshio axis over the Izu Ridge, but highly coherent with 70-day variations of coastal sea levels which are dominant during the LM period.     

Interannual Variations of Sea Level at the Nansei Islands and Volume Transport of the Kuroshio Due to Wind Changes

Interannual variations of sea level at the Nansei Islands and volume transport of the Kuroshio during 1967–95 are calculated by integrating variations carried by windforced Rossby waves. Effects of eddy dissipation and ocean ridges are considered. Ridge effect is inferred by comparing between the calculated and observed sea levels. The calculation is satisfactory to sea levels and Kuroshio transport for the whole period. They are mostly caused by Rossby waves forced by wind and modified by the ridges, and are due to barotropic wave primarily and the first baroclinic wave secondly. The calculated Kuroshio transport well represents variations of several-year scales with maximums in respective duration of the large meander (LM) of the Kuroshio, as well as bi-decadal variation that transport was small during the non-LM period of 1967–75 and large during the LM-dominant period of 1975–91. Mean volume transport of the subtropical gyre is estimated at 57 Sv (1 Sv = 10⁶ m³s^–1) and divided by the Nansei Shoto Ridge into those of the Kuroshio in the East China Sea (25.5 Sv) and a subsurface current east of this ridge (31.5 Sv). The Subtropical Countercurrent and a southward deep current east of the Izu-Ogasawara Ridge are estimated at 16 Sv and 7 Sv, respectively. The calculated transports of the Kuroshio and other subtropical currents reach maximums at every El Niño event due to strong excitement of upwelling barotropic Rossby wave.     

Low frequency current variability on the shelf break northeast of Taiwan

A buoy-mounted Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler was deployed on the shelf break off the northeast coast of Taiwan to monitor current variations in the upper ocean. The acquired data show that the flow in the upper water column was initially southwest and then abruptly turned northwest. This abrupt change occurred in mid-October, starting from the surface layer and then gradually extending to the deeper layer. In contrast with this flow, the flow in the lower water column was southwest over the entire record, but its amplitude was reduced after the middle of October. The abrupt change of current from southwest to northwest is related to the intrusion of Kuroshio. Examination of two CTD casts showed the salinity of the upper ocean to have increased after the directional shift in mid-October, further indicating the Kuroshio intrusion. The sea level data at Keelung provided other evidence for the intrusion of Kuroshio. The sea level descended as the intrusion occurred and kept the low value until the end of the record. The northwest flow, which carried the water away from the northern coast of Taiwan, is responsible for this descent. Although the intrusion of Kuroshio was mainly confined to the upper ocean, it did have influence on the whole water column. Examination of the wind record at Pengchiayu showed that the time of Kuroshio intrusion was not coincident with the intensification of the northeasterly monsoon. The local wind and the current at 20 m were incoherent. Both the variation of Kuroshio current and the fluctuation of Kuroshio path may be responsible for the variation of the local current. Since the intrusion of Kuroshio has a weak relationship with local wind variation, it appears to be induced by non-local factors.     

Sea level variations around the Nansei Islands and the large meander in the Kuroshio south of central Japan

The sea level difference between Naze and Nishinoomote and sea level anomalies (the residuals after removal of seasonal variations) around the Nansei Islands were examined in relation to the large meander in the Kuroshio south of central Japan. They are indices of surface velocity and geostrophic transport of the Kuroshio in the Tokara Strait and in the East China Sea, respectively. All of them were large during the meandering period, and each of them reached a maximum before or after the generation of the large meander in 1975. Thus the surface velocity and the geostrophic transport of the Kuroshio in the Tokara Strait and the East China Sea were large during the meandering period. The sea level difference between Naze and Nishinoomote (or Makurazaki) shows that the surface velocity and geostrophic transport in the Tokara Strait were significantly larger during the extinction stage in 1963 and during the generation stage in 1975 and were correlated with the position of the Kuroshio east of Kyûshû in 1974 and 1975 before the generation of the large meander.The surface velocity of the Kuroshio southeast of Yakushima (E-line) based on dynamic calculation referred to 1,000 db was weak during the meandering period, and was out of phase with the variation of surface velocity in the Tokara Strait monitored by tide gauge data. The analysis of GEK and hydrographic data shows that southwestward flow existed below 600 m in the slope region on the E-line and weakened during the meandering period. Thus, the out-of-phase variation in surface velocity mentioned above seems to be partly explained by the variation in velocity on the reference level at the E-line.     

Interannual Sea Level Variations and Annual Tides in the Northwestern Pacific

Specific properties of the interannual sea level variations and annual tides in the Northwestern Pacific were studied. Several tide stations were monitored. The monthly mean sea level for the year of 1995 was analyzed at each tide station. A seismic event in 1995, some tectonic activity around the subject area, and the Kuroshio (the oceanic western boundary current) may possibly contaminate results which would have occurred from the astronomical annual tide alone.