South China Sea Warm Pool in Boreal Spring

During the boreal spring of 1966, a warm-core eddy is identified in the upper South China Sea (SCS) west of the Philippines through an analysis of the U.S. Navy’s Master Oceanographic Observation Data Set. This eddy occurred before the development of the northern summer monsoon and disappeared afterward. We propose that this eddy is a result of the radiative warming during spring and the downwelling due to the anticyclonic forcing at the surface. Our hypothesis suggests an air-sea feedback scenario that may explain the development and withdrawal of the summer monsoon over the SCS. The development phase of the warm-core eddy in this hypothesis is tested by using the Princeton Ocean model     

东海沿岸海区垂直环流及其温盐结构动力过程研究I．环流的基本特征

利用三维斜压流体动力学模型 ,通过对东海沿岸海区冬、夏季的斜压环流及其温盐结构的数值研究 ,揭示研究海区垂直环流及其温盐结构的动力过程及其成因。垂直环流的模拟结果表明 :冬季 ,沿岸海区的垂直环流以逆时针流动 ,近表层为向岸流 ,沿岸为下降流 ,近表层以下为离岸流 ,其在外海有明显的上升趋势 ,沿岸下降流自表层至底层逐渐由强变弱 ;夏季 ,沿岸海区的垂直环流以顺时针流动 ,近表层以下为向岸流 ,沿岸为上升流 ,近表层为离岸流 ,其在外海有明显的下降趋势 ,沿岸上升流自底层至表层逐渐由弱变强。就整个沿岸海区而论 ,冬季沿岸下降流和夏季沿岸上升流的强度都随着岸界地形坡度、风速及风向与岸线偏角的变化而变化。沿岸下降流形成的主要原因是由于冬季东北风与岸界地形的耦合效应及海区温盐分布不均匀所致 ,而沿岸上升流形成的主要原因则是由于夏季西南风与岸界地形的耦合效应及海区温盐分布不均匀所致。     

基于镭同位素分布的黄海和东海垂直混合速率计算

在黄海和东海采样测定了水体中的镭同位素分布,用平流扩散模型描述镭同位素分布,最小二乘方法计算了垂直涡动扩散系数和上升流或下降流流速.结果给出北黄海中部、南黄海中部、浙江沿岸和台湾北部海域存在上升流,流速分别为0.46×10^-3cm·s^-1、0.17×10^-3~1.39×10^-3cm·s^-1、2.02×10^-3~3.04×10^-3 cm·s^-1和1.06×10^-3~2.51×10^-3 cm·s^-1.北黄海中部和东海东北部存在下降流.流速分别为-2.30×10^-3 cm·s^-1和-0.61×10^-3~-2.10×10^-3 cm·s^-1.计算同时给出的垂直涡动扩散系数为5.84~48.2 cm²·s^-1,平均值为22.3 cm²·s^-1.北黄海和浙江沿岸上升流流速与文献的结果一致;北黄海中部存在下降流与文献的结论一致.本研究结果与文献结果一致是对所建立的方法的肯定,也是对文献研究结果的支持.     

Net ecosystem metabolism of a coastal embayment fertilised by upwelling and continental runoff

O₂, N, P and Si net ecosystem metabolism of the Ría de Ares-Betanzos (NW Iberian upwelling system) was estimated during two 3-wk periods of contrasting summer downwelling and autumn upwelling conditions by means of a transient 2-D kinematic box model. The subtidal circulation was positive in both situations, although it was depressed during downwelling and enhanced during upwelling. Concurrently, the ría was fertilised mainly by shelf bottom waters, which introduced from 69% (under downwelling) to almost 100% (under upwelling) of the limiting N nutrients. The ría was an efficient nutrient trap: about 70% of the N nutrients that entered the embayment were retained under downwelling conditions (average flushing time, 9 days) and about 50% under upwelling conditions (average flushing time 3 days). Although the trapping efficiency was lower, the net ecosystem production (NEP) was much higher under upwelling (from 1.0±0.3 to 1.5±0.4 g C m⁻² d⁻¹), than under downwelling favourable winds (from 0.2±0.1 to 0.3±0.1 g C m⁻²). The stoichiometry of NEP suggests that P and N compounds recycled faster than C compounds, specially in the inner segment of the ría. The net degree of silification was twice in the inner than in the outer segment of the ría.     

Sediment distribution and transport across the continental shelf and slope under idealized wind forcing

Resuspension, transport, and deposition of sediments over the continental shelf and slope are complex processes and there is still a need to understand the underlying spatial and temporal dynamical scales. As a step towards this goal, a two-dimensional slice model (zero gradients in the alongshore direction) based on the primitive flow equations and a range of sediment classes has been developed. The circulation is forced from rest by upwelling or downwelling winds, which are spatially uniform. Results are presented for a range of wind speeds and sediment settling speeds. Upwelling flows carry fine sediments (low settling speeds) far offshore within the surface Ekman layer, and significant deposition eventually occurs beyond the shelf break. However, coarser sediments quickly settle out of the deeper onshore component of the circulation, which can lead to accumulation of bottom sediments within the coastal zone. Downwelling flows are more effective at transporting coarse sediments off the shelf. However, strong vertical mixing at the shelf break ensures that some material is also carried into the surface Ekman layer and returned onshore. The concentrations and settling fluxes of coarse sediments decrease offshore and increase with depth under both upwelling and downwelling conditions, consistent with trends observed in sediment trap data. However, finer sediments decrease with depth (upwelling) or reach a maximum around the depth of the shelf break (downwelling). It is shown that under uniform wind conditions, suspended sediment concentrations and settling fluxes decay offshore over a length scale of order τ_s/ρf|w_s|, where τ_s is the wind stress, ρ the water density, f the Coriolis parameter, and w_s is the sediment settling velocity. This scaling applies to both upwelling and downwelling conditions, provided offshore transport is dominated by wind-driven advection, rather than horizontal diffusion.     

沿岸海区冬季垂直环流及其温盐结构的数值研究 Ⅰ.环流的基本特征

为了揭示沿岸海区冬季垂直环流及其温盐结构的分布特征和变化规律，利用三维斜压流体动力学模型，对具有岸界坡度变化、河流入海、海湾、岛屿和海槽的理想海区冬季的垂直环流及其温盐结构进行了数值模拟。其环流的数值结果表明，冬季沿岸海区的垂直环流普遍呈逆时针流动。在近表层为向岸流，沿岸为下降流，近表层以下为离岸流；近表层以下的离岸流在外海有明显的上升趋势；沿岸下降流自表层至底层逐渐由强变弱；就整个海区而言，随着自南往北海区水深的逐渐变浅和岸界地形坡度的由大变小，其沿岸下降流则由强变弱。     

Torn between extremes: the ups and downs of phytoplankton

We present a model to investigate the success and resulting patterns of phytoplankton migration, based on motility which depends exclusively on the internal energy and nutrient state of the cells. The model consists of migrating and non-migrating sub compartments for phytoplankton, and migration is a function of the prescribed threshold values for internal quotas. The different modes of phytoplankton behavior are evaluated in the framework of a coupled physical–biological model that includes wind-driven up- and downwelling. The results show that (1) migration is almost always advantageous with respect to biomass, (2) a wide variety of migration patterns (e.g., subsurface maxima, surface-avoidance behavior) can be reproduced by a relatively simple treatment of motility, (3) multiple deep chlorophyll maxima can be explained as the result of certain threshold values in combination with negligible vertical movement of the water, and (4) descending tongues of high phytoplankton concentration may be caused by migratory behavior and not necessarily by subduction due to frontal convergence. Thus, our model offers explanations for a large variety of observed phytoplankton distributions and migration patterns.The comments of two anonymous reviewers are gratefully acknowledged.     

长江口及其邻近海区环流和温、盐结构动力学研究Ⅱ.环流的基本特征

利用POM模型，以研究海区的海面风应力、温度和盐度资料作为海面边界条件，以与外海界面处的温度和盐度资料作为侧向液边界条件，并考虑长江径流、台湾暖流和东海沿岸流的影响，对长江口及其邻近海区各季节的三维斜压环流和温、盐结构进行了数值模拟。环流的数值结果表明，冬季和秋季研究海区的水平环流主要由长江径流、东海沿岸流、台湾暖流、杭州湾环流和沿岸流与台湾暖流之间的气旋和反气旋涡构成；东海沿岸流与长江径流顺岸南下，随着自北往南岸界地形坡度的增大，其流幅变窄，流速增强；台湾暖流沿陡坡及其外缘蜿蜒北上，随着自南往北水深的变浅，其流幅由宽变窄继而又由窄变宽，流速却一直由强变弱。冬季和秋季海区纬度断面垂直环流的总趋势由近岸向外海流动，海底地形变化缓慢区离岸流产生波动，海底地形变化显著的陡坡区离岸流产生剧烈振荡而生成强升降流。春季和夏季研究海区的水平环流主要由长江径流与东海沿岸流汇合流、台湾暖流、杭州湾环流、舟山群岛附近及长江径流和东海沿岸流汇合流与台湾暖流之间的气旋和反气旋涡构成；长江径流和台湾暖流平行北上并在长江口以北产生顺时针偏转。由海区水平环流特征和变化趋势证实，春季长江冲淡水已开始向东北偏转，夏季冲淡水的偏转程度、伸展距离和扩展范围都更甚于春季；春季在长江口近岸存在弱上升流，夏季长江口外的陡坡区出现下降流，而长江口以北和以南的陡坡区出现上升流。     

Cloud cover classification through simultaneous ground-based measurements of solar and infrared radiation

Simultaneous measurements of downwelling short-wave solar irradiance and incoming total radiation flux were performed at the Reeves Nevè glacier station (1200 m MSL) in Antarctica on 41 days from late November 1994 to early January 1995, employing the upward sensors of an albedometer and a pyrradiometer. The downwelling short-wave radiation measurements were analysed following the Duchon and O'Malley [J. Appl. Meteorol. 38 (1999) 132] procedure for classifying clouds, using the 50-min running mean values of standard deviation and the ratio of scaled observed to scaled clear-sky irradiance. Comparing these measurements with the Duchon and O'Malley rectangular boundaries and the local human observations of clouds collected on 17 days of the campaign, we found that the Duchon and O'Malley classification method obtained a success rate of 93% for cirrus and only 25% for cumulus. New decision criteria were established for some polar cloud classes providing success rates of 94% for cirrus, 67% for cirrostratus and altostratus, and 33% for cumulus and altocumulus.The ratios of the downwelling short-wave irradiance measured for cloudy-sky conditions to that calculated for clear-sky conditions were analysed in terms of the Kasten and Czeplak [Sol. Energy 24 (1980) 177] formula together with simultaneous human observations of cloudiness, to determine the empirical relationship curves providing reliable estimates of cloudiness for each of the three above-mentioned cloud classes. Using these cloudiness estimates, the downwelling long-wave radiation measurements (obtained as differences between the downward fluxes of total and short-wave radiation) were examined to evaluate the downwelling long-wave radiation flux normalised to totally overcast sky conditions. Calculations of the long-wave radiation flux were performed with the MODTRAN 3.7 code [Kneizys, F.X., Abreu, L.W., Anderson, G.P., Chetwynd, J.H., Shettle, E.P., Berk, A., Bernstein, L.S., Robertson, D.C., Acharya, P., Rothman, L.S., Selby, J.E.A., Gallery, W.O., Clough, S.A., 1996. In: Abreu, L.W., Anderson, G.P. (Eds.), The MODTRAN 2/3 Report and LOWTRAN 7 MODEL. Contract F19628-91-C.0132, Phillips Laboratory, Geophysics Directorate, PL/GPOS, Hanscom AFB, MA, 261 pp.] for both clear-sky and cloudy-sky conditions, considering various cloud types characterised by different cloud base altitudes and vertical thicknesses. From these evaluations, best-fit curves of the downwelling long-wave radiation flux were defined as a function of the cloud base height for the three polar cloud classes. Using these relationship curves, average estimates of the cloud base height were obtained from the three corresponding sub-sets of long-wave radiation measurements. The relative frequency histograms of the cloud base height defined by examining these three sub-sets were found to present median values of 4.7, 1.7 and 3.6 km for cirrus, cirrostratus/altostratus and cumulus/altocumulus, respectively, while median values of 6.5, 1.8 and 2.9 km were correspondingly determined by analysing only the measurements taken together with simultaneous cloud observations.     

A review of the shelf-slope circulation along Australia’s southern shelves: Cape Leeuwin to Portland

A review is presented of the ocean circulation along Australia’s southern shelves and slope. Uniquely, the long, zonal shelf is subject to an equatorward Sverdrup transport that gives rise to the Flinders Current - a small sister to the world’s major Western Boundary Currents. The Flinders Current is strongest near the 600 m isobath where the current speeds can reach 20 cm/s and the bottom boundary layer is upwelling favourable. It is larger in the west but likely intermittent in both space and time due to possibly opposing winds, thermohaline circulation and mesoscale eddies. The Flinders Current may be important to deep upwelling within the ubiquitous canyons of the region.During winter, the Leeuwin Current and local winds act to drive eastward currents that average up to 20-30 cm/s. The currents associated with the intense coastal-trapped wave-field (6-12 day band) are of order 25-30 cm/s and can peak at 80-90 cm/s. Wintertime winds and cooling also lead to downwelling to depths of 200 m or more and the formation of dense coastal water within the Great Australian Bight and the South Australian Sea. Within the Great Australian Bight, the thermohaline circulation associated with this dense water is unknown, but may enhance the eastward shelf-edge, South Australian Current. The dense salty water formed within Spencer Gulf is known to cascade as a gravity current to depths of 200 m off Kangaroo Island. This dense water outflow and meanders in the shelf circulation also fix the locations of a sequence of quasi-permanent mesoscale eddies between the Eyre Peninsula and Portland.During summer, the average coastal winds reverse and surface heating leads to the formation of warm water in the western Great Australian Bight and the South Australian Sea. No significant exchange of shelf water and gulf water appears to occur due to the presence of a dense, nutrient-rich (sub-surface) pool that is upwelled off Kangaroo Island. The winds lead to weak average coastal currents (<10 cm/s) that flow to the north-west. In the Great Australian Bight, the wind stress curl can lead to an anticyclonic circulation gyre that can result in shelf-break downwelling in the western Great Australian Bight and the formation of the eastward, South Australian Current. In the east, upwelling favourable winds and coastal-trapped waves can lead to deep upwelling events off Kangaroo Island and the Bonney Coast that occur over 3-10 days and some 2-4 times a season. The alongshore currents here can be large (∼40 cm/s) and the vertical scales of upwelling are of order 150 m (off Kangaroo Island) and 250 m (off the Bonney Coast).Increasing evidence suggests that El Nino events (4-7 year period) can have a major impact on the winter and summer circulation. These events propagate from the Pacific Ocean and around the shelf-slope wave-guide of West Australia and into the Great Australian Bight. During winter El Nino events, the average shelf currents may be largely shut-down. During summer, the thermocline may be raised by up to 150 m. The nature and role of tides and surface waves is also discussed along with uncertainties in the general circulation and future research.