Mesoscale structure of the central South China Sea detected by SCSMEX Buoy and Argo float |
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Authors: | Lili Zeng Dongxiao Wang Yan Du Ping Shi |
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Institution: | (1) LEGOS-UMR5566, 18 av Edouard Belin, 31401 Toulouse, cedex 9, France;(2) Department of Oceanography, OSB 435, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-4320, USA |
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Abstract: | We addressed the mesoscale structure variation of the central South China Sea (SCS) with the measurements by a long-lived
Argo float and a high-resolution ATLAS buoy during 1998–2002. T-S diagram indicates cooling and freshening events in 2000
and 2001 with lower salinity (0.5–0.8) and lower temperature (1–1.7°C). Significant decrease in the net heat flux and increase
in the precipitation suggest that the cooling and freshening is due to extra forcing by the atmosphere. Additional to large
year-to-year changes, intraseasonal variability is moderate in the research area. The axis of the maximum intraseasonal temperature
and salinity signals are mainly located on the thermocline. Typically, amplitude and period of intraseasonal temperature is
about 2°C and 40–60 days, and that of salinity is 0.3–0.5 and 35–60 days. Rapidly-changing winds, heat flux, and precipitation
are critical in controlling the intraseasonal fluctuations of the mixed layer of the area. Studies on heat and freshwater
balance in the mixed-layer further suggest that horizontal advection plays an important role in intraseasonal fluctuation
in the upper ocean. In addition, the energetic mesoscale propagation radiated from the east boundary is linked to the intraseasonal
variability in winter. |
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