挟带黑潮高盐水的中尺度涡在南海北部的时空特征

吕宋海峡处涡致输运显著影响南海北部的热盐平衡。本文利用1993—2018年间的AVISO卫星数据,识别和筛选了南海北部76个黑潮脱落反气旋涡、46个黑潮伴生气旋涡、29个南海局地反气旋涡和40个南海局地气旋涡。分析发现,四类涡旋的平均非线性系数均远大于1,证实了筛选涡旋具有黑潮高盐水输运能力。涡旋传播路径受南海北部地形影响,在西向传播过程中向西南向偏移。相较于气旋涡,反气旋涡形成之后向南海北部移动了更远的距离。涡旋多形成于吕宋海峡中部,而随着纬度的升高或降低,形成概率逐渐减小。脱落(伴生)涡旋多形成于秋冬两季而夏季最少,以反气旋涡居多,平均每月反气旋涡要比气旋涡多2.5个;年平均脱落(伴生)涡旋数目约为4.6,且气旋涡并不是每年都形成。整体上,El Ni?o事件通过影响黑潮路径而使得黑潮脱落或伴生的涡旋数目增多。     

理想台风驱动的涡旋对吕宋海峡黑潮影响的数值研究*

吕宋海峡以东即北太平洋热带地区常年存在着大量的涡旋,这些涡旋在向西运动的过程中遇到吕宋海峡黑潮后是否会穿越黑潮进入南海值得研究。文章用数值模式来模拟吕宋海峡的黑潮以及吕宋海峡以东的众多涡旋,结果表明没有一个涡旋可以穿越吕宋海峡进入南海。在此基础上引入了一个理想台风风场,通过风应力旋度的形式驱动出强劲的气旋式和反气旋式涡旋,这两个涡旋分别添加在源区黑潮附近,也是在源区黑潮流量最小的8月。以往研究表明,黑潮流量小而涡旋强劲的时候涡旋容易穿越吕宋海峡进入南海,但由何种原因产生的涡旋可以穿越吕宋海峡难以确定;而文章的数值计算结果表明,即使在黑潮较弱的夏季8月,由风应力旋度产生的中尺度涡,无论是气旋式还是反气旋式,都受到了吕宋海峡的阻挡而难以穿越。     

西北太平洋反气旋涡的Argos浮标观测结果分析

结合卫星高度计异常资料和2003年10月上旬投放在西北太平洋的25个Argos表层漂流浮标资料,分析观测海域的中尺度涡特征及浮标漂移路径上的温度和流速变化,结果表明:(1)7个浮标受强劲的黑潮流影响直接进入台湾岛以东黑潮表层的主流轴;(2)16个浮标在反气旋涡内旋转,并随中尺度涡向西运动,到达黑潮的东边界,由于中尺度涡旋的消亡,浮标脱离其影响后由黑潮带动向东海运动,浮标的移动轨迹呈螺线型;(3)仅有2个浮标在(123°E、20°N)附近通过吕宋海峡进入南海,且41490号浮标受台湾岛西南外海反气旋涡的影响作了2周旋转后再进入南海。比较分析表明,黑潮在冬季应该存在入侵南海的分支,但浮标能否顺利进入南海受多种随机因素控制,如风生流、潮流和波浪等。另外,西北太平洋向西传播的中尺度涡难以越过强劲的黑潮流屏障继续向西传播通过吕宋海峡进入南海。     

热带气旋影响吕宋海峡输运的研究进展与展望

吕宋海峡是连接南海与西太平洋的唯一深水通道,也是调节南海环流及其热力特征的关键海洋通道。在大尺度西边界流、中尺度涡、热带气旋等众多因子的共同影响下,吕宋海峡输运表现出显著的多时间尺度变率特征,其中热带气旋是影响该海域强烈且频繁的天气过程之一,解析吕宋海峡输运与热带气旋之间的动力联系也是近年来南海海洋研究的热点之一。本文主要从吕宋海峡附近热带气旋活动特征及其对黑潮、吕宋海峡附近环流结构、吕宋海峡输运的影响等方面回顾最新的研究进展。最后,本文认为接下来应当在热带气旋调制吕宋海峡输运的机制,以及对吕宋海峡输运年际变化的贡献等方面加强研究。     

入侵南海的黑潮流套及其脱落涡旋

将2003年、2004年和2005年秋、冬季在吕宋海峡投放的卫星跟踪漂流浮标(Argos)资料用于分析黑潮通过吕宋海峡时的流型。结果表明,秋、冬季黑潮表层流存在3种类型:北向型、西向型和流套-涡旋型,后两种入侵南海。统计分析指出吕宋海峡表层流进入流套-涡旋型路径的概率为0.23,黑潮流套的纬向尺度最大达210km,仅发生在恒春海脊西侧的台湾岛西南海域。黑潮流套仅是黑潮流分离的一部分,而非黑潮整体蛇形入侵南海,这与墨西哥湾的蛇形流不一样。在流套内西向流速大于东向流速,这可能是流套西向发展的原因之一,黑潮流套常可演变成脱落涡旋,也可能就地消亡。脱落涡旋以约10cm/s速度西移。     

潮汐对吕宋海峡附近海域环流结构的影响

为了考察潮汐混合效应对吕宋海峡附近海域环流场的影响,本文使用ROMS区域海洋模式,通过无潮实验与有潮实验的对比分析指出,潮汐混合作用可以影响121°E断面上的水交换和120d平均的纬向流速分布;在模拟时段内加入潮汐后,模拟结果中台湾岛西南的反气旋涡强度大幅减弱,贴近黑潮东侧的涡旋强度明显强于无潮实验,证明潮汐作用可以引起吕宋海峡海洋环流场较大的改变,特别对黑潮以"跨隙"路径通过吕宋海峡有贡献。     

吕宋海峡水交换季节和年际变化特征的数值模拟研究

利用ROMS(Regional Ocean Modeling System)建立了一套覆盖西北太平洋的涡尺度分辨率环流模型,并对吕宋海峡附近的环流进行了模拟研究。结果表明,吕宋海峡120.75°E断面净流量季节变化显著,全年均为西向输运,6月份达到最小,为0.40×106 m3/s,然后逐渐增大,在12月份达到最大,为6.14×106 m3/s,全年平均流量为3.04×106 m3/s。在500 m以浅,秋、冬季都有明显的黑潮流套存在,并伴有黑潮分支入侵南海,而春、夏季黑潮南海分支减弱或消失,黑潮入侵不明显。在500 m以深,冬、春季,吕宋海峡以东有非常明显的南向流存在,流速约10 cm/s,而到了夏、秋季该南向流出现明显的减弱,黑潮与南海的水交换主要通过吕宋海峡以北的吕宋海沟进行。在垂向结构上,120.75°E断面浅层呈多流核结构,并且流核的位置和强弱受黑潮的季节性变化影响显著,深层流的季节变化不大。在年际尺度方面,吕宋海峡年际体积输运量异常与Niño3.4滞后6个月相关系数达到41.6%,吕宋海峡水交换与ENSO现象有较为显著的正相关关系,并存在2~3 a和准8 a周期的年际变化。     

南海东北部叶绿素a浓度对台风“风泵”和黑潮共同作用的响应

南海东北部是寡营养海域，夏季浮游植物叶绿素浓度较低，热带气旋“风泵”效应带来的上层海洋扰动可能引起表层浮游植物的显著增长。以往的研究通常关注热带气旋风应力和海洋中尺度涡对上层海洋浮游植物的影响，本文利用航次CTD、实测叶绿素a浓度、Argo温盐剖面和遥感数据，探讨了台风“风泵”和黑潮共同作用下真光层内浮游植物的变化特征及其成因。结果表明，2015年台风“莲花”过境1周后产生向吕宋海峡西北侧南海海域(A区)入侵的黑潮流套，该入侵的黑潮流套使台风前原有的气旋涡消失，抑制了台风产生的上升流对表层(0～40 m)营养盐供给，使次表层(60～90 m)营养盐富集，进而抑制了表层的叶绿素a增长，促进了次表层叶绿素a的增长；吕宋海峡西侧南海海域(B区)表层的浮游植物叶绿素a浓度增加不仅是源于叶绿素最大层浮游植物的向上输运，更是由于浮游植物的繁殖增长；A区台风引起的流套式的黑潮入侵，促进了B区台风后气旋式流场的形成，产生的持续增强的气旋涡为B区表层叶绿素持续增长提供了充足的营养盐供给。     

南海贯穿流季节变化数值模拟研究

本文采用美国伍兹霍尔研究所研发的海洋-大气-波浪-泥沙输运耦合模式COAWST(Coupled Dcean-Atmosphere-Wave-Sediment Transport)对南海及邻近海域进行了9 km分辨率的数值模拟研究。结果表明,南海贯穿流的季节变化再现了冬强夏弱的特征,在南海内部冬季呈现气旋环流结构,夏季呈现反气旋环流结构,尤其在冬季其流轴结构更为清晰和稳定,海水从吕宋海峡进入南海,从民都洛海峡、卡里马塔海峡、台湾海峡和巴拉巴克海峡流出,吕宋海峡断面流量与其他4个海峡流量合计在数量级上相当,保持南海海水总量不变。吕宋海峡、卡里马塔海峡、民都洛海峡的流量呈现明显相关性,吕宋海峡流量增大时,民都洛海峡和卡里马塔海峡的流量也相应增大,相关系数分别达到0.78和0.9。通过更适于分析中短期变化的简化绕岛环流理论,定量计算2019年吕宋海峡、黑潮和棉兰老流流量与北赤道流分叉点位置的关系,发现夏季北赤道流分叉点NECBL(North Equatorial Current Bifurcation Latitude)偏南,在13.6°N附近;冬季NECBL偏北,在15.6°N左右,同期黑潮流量减少,棉兰老流流量增加,作为南海贯穿流入流的吕宋海峡流量可达13.4 Sv。吕宋海峡输运补偿了北赤道流到达菲律宾海岸后的北向分支的流量,与棉兰老流的流量呈正相关,相关系数达到0.5361。     

吕宋海峡海洋环流的基本特征

根据对高分辨率的并行海洋气候模式输出的较长时间序列的海面高度（ＳＳＨ）场的分析,推断在吕宋海峡附近海区常年存在吕宋海峡黑潮流套,该流套出现于吕宋海峡的中部和北部,表现为一个舌状的ＳＳＨ的高值中心自海峡东部的太平洋向西扩展到南海北部,大致到达１１０°Ｅ的位置,但其位置、形状、强度等表现季节变化,年际变化和季节内时间尺度变化的特征。在吕宋海峡东侧的大洋上,经常出现位置和范围时有变化的反气旋涡,与之对应,在ＳＳＨ的月平均经向和纬向剖面上,吕宋海峡东侧的大洋上有永久存在的ＳＳＨ高值中心。另外在１９９５年１～７月期间有一次完整的黑潮流环脱离黑潮主体并在南海北部向西南方向移动的过程。     

Three-dimensional properties of mesoscale cyclonic warm-core and anticyclonic cold-core eddies in the South China Sea

In general, a mesoscale cyclonic (anticyclonic) eddy has a colder (warmer) core, and it is considered as a cold (warm) eddy. However, recently research found that there are a number of “abnormal” mesoscale cyclonic (anticyclonic) eddies associated with warm (cold) cores in the South China Sea (SCS). These “abnormal” eddies pose a challenge to previous works on eddy detection, characteristic analysis, eddy-induced heat and salt transports, and even on mesoscale eddy dynamics. Based on a 9-year (2000–2008) numerical modelling data, the cyclonic warm-core eddies (CWEs) and anticyclonic cold-core eddies (ACEs) in the SCS are analyzed. This study found that the highest incidence area of the “abnormal” eddies is the northwest of Luzon Strait. In terms of the eddy snapshot counting method, 8 620 CWEs and 9 879 ACEs are detected, accounting for 14.6% and 15.8% of the total eddy number, respectively. The size of the “abnormal” eddies is usually smaller than that of the “normal” eddies, with the radius only around 50 km. In the generation time aspect, they usually appear within the 0.1–0.3 interval in the normalized eddy lifespan. The survival time of CWEs (ACEs) occupies 16.3% (17.1%) of the total eddy lifespan. Based on two case studies, the intrusion of Kuroshio warm water is considered as a key mechanism for the generation of these “abnormal” eddies near the northeastern SCS.     

A Lagrangian study of the near-surface intrusion of Pacific water into the South China Sea

Satellite-tracked Lagrangian drifters are used to investigate the transport pathways of near-surface water around the Luzon Strait. Particular attention is paid to the intrusion of Pacific water into the South China Sea(SCS).Results from drifter observations suggest that except for the Kuroshio water, other Pacific water that carried by zonal jets, Ekman currents or eddies, can also intrude into the SCS. Motivated by this origin problem of the intrusion water, numerous simulated trajectories are constructed by altimeter-based velocities. Quantitative estimates from simulated trajectories suggest that the contribution of other Pacific water to the total intrusion flux in the Luzon Strait is approximately 13% on average, much smaller than that of Kuroshio water. Even so, over multiple years and many individual intrusion events, the contribution from other Pacific water is quite considerable. The interannual signal in the intrusion flux of these Pacific water might be closely related to variations in a wintertime westward current and eddy activities east of the Luzon Strait. We also found that Ekman drift could significantly contribute to the intrusion of Pacific water and could affect the spreading of intrusion water in the SCS. A case study of an eddy-related intrusion is presented to show the detailed processes of the intrusion of Pacific water and the eddy-Kuroshio interaction.     

Primary Study of the Mechanism of Eddy Shedding from the Kuroshio Bend in Luzon Strait

The mechanism of the anticyclonic eddy's shedding from the Kuroshio bend in Luzon Strait has been studied using a nonlinear 2 1/2 layer model, in a domain including the North Pacific and South China Sea. The model is forced by steady zonal wind in the North Pacific. Energy analysis is adopted to detect the mechanism of the eddy shedding. Twelve experiments with unique changes of wind forcing speed (to obtain different Kuroshio transports at Luzon Strait) were performed to examine the relationship between the Kuroshio transport (KT) and the eddy shedding events. In the reference experiment with KT of 22.7 Sv (forced with zonal wind idealized from the annual mean wind stress from the COADS data set), the interval of eddy shedding is 70 days and the shed eddy centers at (20°N, 117.5°E). When the Kuroshio bend extends westward, the southern cyclonic perturbation grows so rapidly as to form a cyclonic eddy (18.5°N, 120.5°E) because of the frontal instability in the south of the Kuroshio bend. In the evolution of the cyclonic eddy, it cleaves the Kuroshio bend and triggers the separation of the anticyclonic eddy. In statistical terms, anticyclonic eddy shedding occurs only when KT fluctuates within a moderate range, between 21 Sv and 28 Sv. When the KT is larger than 28 Sv, a stronger frontal instability south of the Kuroshio bend tends to generate a cyclonic eddy of size similar to the width of the Luzon Strait. The bigger cyclonic eddy prevents the Kuroshio bend from extending into the SCS and does not lead to eddy shedding. On the other hand, when the KT decreases to less than 21 Sv, the frontal instability south of the Kuroshio bend is so weak that the size of corresponding cyclonic eddy is smaller than half the width of the Luzon Strait. The cyclonic eddy, lacking power, fails to cleave the Kuroshio bend and cause separation of an anticyclonic eddy; as a result, no eddy shedding occurred then, either.     

Satellite altimeter observations of nonlinear Rossby eddy–Kuroshio interaction at the Luzon Strait

Satellite altimeter sea level data from 1993 to 2008 are used to analyze the interaction of nonlinear Rossby eddies with the Kuroshio at the Luzon Strait (LS). The sea level anomaly data show that the west Pacific (WP) is a source of nonlinear Rossby eddies, and the South China Sea (SCS) is a sink. The LS serves as a gateway between the two. The scale analysis indicates that eddies with a radius larger than 150 km are strong enough to significantly alter the Kuroshio and are able to modify the local circulation pattern. Statistical analysis indicates that the probability for eddies to penetrate through the Kuroshio may reach at least 60%. A case study of an anticyclonic mesoscale eddy passing through the LS in June–July 2004 indicates that the Kuroshio behaves as an unsteady flow with its stream path frequently modified, in a way of cutting off, meandering and branching during its interaction with the eddy. We therefore suggest that nonlinear Rossby eddies may play a significant role in modification of the local circulation system near the LS and in exchanges of the mass, momentum and energy between the WP and the SCS.     

Seasonal variation of eddy shedding from the Kuroshio intrusion in the Luzon Strait

Altimeter data and output from the HYbrid Coordinate Ocean Model global assimilation run are used to study the seasonal variation of eddy shedding from the Kuroshio intrusion in the Luzon Strait. The results suggest that most eddy shedding events occur from December through March, and no eddy shedding event occurs in June, September, or October. About a month before eddy shedding, the Kuroshio intrusion extends into the South China Sea and a closed anticyclonic eddy appears inside the Kuroshio loop which then detaches from the Kuroshio intrusion. Anticyclonic eddies detached from December through February move westward at a speed of about 0.1 m s⁻¹ after shedding, whereas eddies detached in other months either stay at the place of origin or move westward at a very slow speed (less than 0.06 m s⁻¹). The HYCOM outputs and QuikSCAT wind data clearly show that the seasonal variation of eddy shedding is influenced by the monsoon winds. A comparison between eddy volume and integrated Ekman transport indicates that, once the integrated Ekman transport exceeds 2 × 10¹² m³ (which roughly corresponds to the volume of an eddy), the Kuroshio intrusion expands and an eddy shedding event occurs within 1 month. We infer that the Ekman drift of the northeasterly monsoon pushes the Kuroshio intrusion into the SCS, creates a net westward transport into the Strait, and leads to an eddy detachment from the Kuroshio.     

吕宋海峡两侧中尺度涡统计

利用1993-2000年间的T/P卫星高度计轨道资料的时间序列和MODAS同化产品中的卫星高度计最优插值资料对南海东北部海区中尺度涡旋进行动态追踪。按照给定的标准从2种资料中提取了涡旋信息并对其特征量进行统计分析。结果表明,南海东北部海区中尺度涡旋十分活跃,平均每年6个,其中暖涡4个,尺度一般为200~250 km,平均地转流速为44 cm/s;冷涡每年平均2个,尺度一般为150~200 km,平均地转流速为-37 cm/s。吕宋海峡两侧涡旋的比较分析表明,南海东北部海区仍属于西北太平洋副热带海区的涡旋带,冷、暖涡旋处于不断的形成—西移—消散过程中。南海东北部中尺度冷涡大多是南海内部产生的,而暖涡与吕宋海峡外侧暖涡有一定的联系又具有相对的独立性。分析认为西北太平洋的西行暖涡在到达吕宋海峡时,受到黑潮东翼东向下倾的等密度面的抑制和岛链的阻碍,涡旋停滞于吕宋海峡外侧并逐渐消弱,被阻挡于吕宋海峡东侧涡旋释放的能量,形成一支横穿吕宋海峡(同时横穿过黑潮)的高速急流,把能量传递给吕宋海峡西侧的涡旋,使其得到强化,这是吕宋海峡两侧涡旋联系的一种重要机制。     

中国近海及其附近海域若干涡旋研究综述 Ⅰ.南海和台湾以东海域

综述了南海和台湾以东海域若干气旋型和反气旋型涡旋研究.在南海存在着许多活跃的中尺度涡,我们分别对南海中、南部海域和南海北部海域中尺度涡作了评述.在南海北部海域,目前最感兴趣的问题为:南海水与西菲律宾海通过吕宋海峡的交换的物理过程,以及黑潮是否以反气旋流套形式进入南海.这些问题目前尚不清楚,尤其是这些问题的机理.这些问题必须通过今后深入和细致的、长时间的海流和水文观测,以及长时间卫星遥感观测资料的论证才能逐渐认识清楚.台湾以东海域,黑潮两侧经常出现中尺度涡,而且变化较大而复杂.文中着重讨论兰屿冷涡和台湾东北的气旋式冷涡.     

吕宋海峡黑潮脱落涡旋的特征分析

涡旋脱落在西太平洋和南海的海水属性交换中起到重要作用。为研究吕宋海峡附近海域由黑潮脱落并进入南海的涡旋特征,本文采用1993—2014年法国空间局(AVISO)多卫星融合海面高度距平(SLA)和绝对动力地形(ADT)全球网格化延时数据,美国国家海洋数据中心(NODC)的WOA13年平均温盐剖面气候数据,以及1993—2010年SODA2.2.4月平均海洋同化数据集,并分析了黑潮脱落涡旋与大尺度环流的关系。结果表明:(1)暖涡脱落数量远多于冷涡数量,且脱落的冷涡绝大部分在黑潮西侧边缘生成,而脱落的暖涡则大部分在黑潮控制区生成。(2)冷涡、暖涡脱落时的平均半径、平均振幅相近,但是冷涡的平均生命、平均迁移距离约为暖涡的一半。(3)冷涡不是每年都有脱落,主要在冬季脱落;暖涡则每年均有脱落,主要发生在秋季。(4)脱落涡旋数量与脱落时的黑潮路径类型相关。(5)脱落涡旋的平均西行速度为5.8cm/s,与斜压第一模态长Rossby波波速及大尺度环流的西向平流流速之和相近。     

南海北部陆坡中尺度涡的演化及传播规律分析

The continental slope in the northern South China Sea(SCS) is rich in mesoscale eddies which play an important role in transport and retention of nutrients and biota. In this study, we investigate the statistical properties of eddy distributions and propagation in a period of 24 years between 1993 and 2016 by using the altimeter data. A total of 147 eddies are found in the continental slope region(CSR), including 70 cyclonic eddies(CEs) and 77 anticyclonic eddies(ACEs). For those eddies that appear in the CSR, the surrounding areas of Dongsha Islands(DS) and southwest of Taiwan(SWT) are considered as the primary sources, where eddies generated contribute more than 60% of the total. According to the spatial distribution of eddy relative vorticity, eddies are weakening as propagating westward. Although both CEs and ACEs roughly propagate along the slope isobaths, there are discrepancies between CEs and ACEs. The ACEs move slightly faster in the zonal direction, while the CEs tend to cross the isobaths with large bottom depth change. The ACEs generally move further into the basin areas after leaving the CSR while CEs remain around the CSR. The eddy propagation on the continental slope is likely to be associated with mean flow at a certain degree because the eddy trajectories have notable seasonal signals that are consistent with the seasonal cycle of geostrophic current. The results indicate that the eddy translation speed is statistically consistent with geostrophic velocity in both magnitude and direction.