Characteristics of the surface mixed layer depths in the northern South China Sea in spring

The nature and characteristics of the mixed layer depth (MLD) remain uncertain in the northern South China Sea. Using in situ data, we examined the quality of different MLD definitions, investigated the spatial and diurnal variation in the MLD, and examined the mechanisms of mixed layer development during March 23–31, 2014. We made distinct calculations of the MLD; of which two are (a) the depths between two different temperatures (0.2, 0.6 °C) and (b) the depths between two density differences (0.125, 0.25 kg/m³); and the fifth calculation is a depth derived from the optimal linear fitness method. We found that the optimal linear fitness MLD was the best definition for our study region ,and that it deepened from the shelf to the slope. Twenty-four-hour diurnal variation in the MLDs and mixing layers was observed when the ship was moored. Mixing layers were characterized by turbulent dissipation rates. We found that the mixed layer underwent a ‘stable-decaying–developing’ process. During the stable period, the MLD was close to that of the mixing layer, but during the decay/development periods, the MLDs were larger/smaller than those of the mixing layers. We suggest that both velocity shear and buoyancy flux were important in mixed layer development. We quantitatively examined the mechanisms of mixing in the shelf region, with air–sea net heat flux determined to be the major factor, rather than wind speed or current velocity.