SST intraseasonal oscillation and atmospheric forcing system of the South China Sea

This study used National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) reanalysis data to confirm that the variance of sea surface temperature (SST) in the South China Sea (SCS) has pronounced intraseasonal oscillations characterized by quasi standing waves; and was aimed to document how intraseasonal time scale SST formed and developed in the SCS. The results derived from the composite analysis indicated the existence of a local low level atmospheric dynamic forcing system over the SCS. The main formation mechanism of SST intraseasonal oscillation is the low level rotational atmospheric circulation forcing over the SCS on intraseasonal time scales and the solar radiation variations caused by cloud amount changes.