Variability of the carbonate system parameters in the coast-shelf zone of the East Siberian Sea during the autumn season

The publication presents the results of the studies on the carbonate system of the waters of the East Siberian Sea performed aboard R/V Ivan Kireev in September 2003–2004. It is shown that the aquatic area considered may be subdivided into two biohydrochemical provinces. The western part of the sea is a CO₂ supplier to the atmosphere, while its eastern part is a sink for CO₂. This is caused by the fact that the western part of the East Siberian Sea was affected by the waters of the southeastern part of the Laptev Sea, which were desalinated by riverine runoff, turbid, and enriched in the bioactive organic matter supplied into the water due to the coastal (and bottom) erosion. In the eastern part, cold waters of Pacific origin prevailed (saline, transparent, and productive), which caused a pronounced decrease in the partial pressure of CO₂(pCO₂) in the surface layer. In the frontal zone delimiting the desalinated shelf waters and those of the Pacific origin, the direction of the CO₂ flux between the atmosphere and the sea changed (from evasion to invasion). The interannual variability of the carbonate system parameters in the coastal-shelf zone of the East Siberian Sea was determined by the intensity of the propagation of the waters of different origins over the sea aquatic area caused by the atmospheric circulation, as well as by the riverine runoff intensity and the dynamics of erosion processes.     

东海营养盐结构的时空分布及其对浮游植物的限制

本文根据2013年东海海域(120°—128°E、25°—33°N)春、夏、秋、冬的4个航次调查资料,分析了营养盐结构的时空分布并探讨其对浮游植物生长限制的情况。结果表明:(1)东海DIN(无机氮)/P(磷)、Si(硅)/DIN及Si/P比值受各种水团及浮游植物生长周期的影响较为明显,长江冲淡水与沿岸水的交汇作用控制着全航次DIN/P比值,基本呈近岸高、远海低的分布规律,而Si/DIN比值的分布则相反。春、夏季Si/P高值区主要分布在近岸,而秋、冬季则开始由中部海域向远海扩展。(2)研究海域浮游植物的生长主要受到N和P的限制,126°E以西的近岸及中部海域以P限制为主,而126°E以东的黑潮区受N限制;在季节变化上又以夏季受到营养盐的限制最明显。(3)与2001—2010年同期历史资料相比,2013年夏季航次受P限制站位数量比过往10年有所增加,限制范围由28°—32°N、123°E以西的长江口及浙北沿岸海域扩展到了126°E以西的东海中部及近岸水域;受N限制站位基本集中在126°—127°E以东黑潮区海域,但空间范围比十年前增大。     

New type of pycnostad in the western subtropical-subarctic transition region of the North Pacific: Transition Region Mode Water

A new type of pycnostad has been identified in the western subtropical-subarctic transition region of the North Pacific, based on the intensive hydrographic survey carried out in July, 2002. The potential density, temperature and salinity of the pycnostad were found to be 26.5–26.7 σ _θ , 5°–7°C and 33.5–33.9 psu respectively. The pycnostad is denser, colder and fresher than those of the North Pacific Central Mode Water and different from those of other known mode waters in the North Pacific. The thickness of the pycnostad is comparable to that of other mode waters, spreading over an area of at least 650 × 500 km around 43°N and 160°E in the western transition region. Hence, we refer to the pycnostad as Transition Region Mode Water (TRMW). Oxygen data, geostrophic current speed and climatology of mixed layer depth in the winter suggest that the TRMW is formed regularly in the deep winter mixed layer near the region where it was observed. Analysis of surface heat flux also supports the idea and suggests that there is significant interannual variability in the property of the TRMW. The TRMW is consistently distributed between the Subarctic Boundary and the Subarctic Front. It is also characterized by a wide T-S range with similar density, which is the characteristic of such a transition region between subtropical and subarctic water masses, which forms a density-compensating temperature and salinity front. The frontal nature also tends to cause isopycnal intrusions within the pycnostad of the TRMW.     

Ocean variability North of New Guinea derived from TRITON buoy data

We investigated variability in the ocean surface-subsurface layer north of New Guinea using Triangle Trans-Ocean Buoy Network (TRITON) buoys at 2°N, 138°E and 0°N, 138°E during the period from October 1999 to July 2004. Both North and South Pacific waters were observed below the subsurface at these stations. The variability in the subsurface waters was particularly high at 2°N, 138°E. Clear interannual variability occurred near the surface; the water type differed before and after onset of the 2002–03 El Niño. Before summer 2001, water that appeared to be advected from the central equatorial Pacific occupied the near surface layer. After autumn 2001, waters advected by the New Guinea Coastal Current were observed near the surface. Intraseasonal and seasonal variations were also observed below the subsurface. With regard to seasonal variability, the salinity of the subsurface saline water, the South Pacific Tropical Water, was generally high during the boreal summer-autumn, when the New Guinea Coastal Undercurrent was strong. Intraseasonal fluctuations on a scale of 20 to 60 days were also seen and may have been associated with intrinsic oceanic variability, such as ocean eddies, near the stations. Ocean variability in the thermocline layer between 100 and 200 m greatly affects the surface dynamic height variability; water variability before 2001 and variability in the pycnocline depth after 2002 are important factors affecting the thermocline.     

基于WOA13数据的海区位置对北大西洋声波导影响分析

应用WOA13季节平均数据和BELLHOP模型,在季节、声源频率等因素确定的情况下,分10 m表面声源和250 m水下声源,分析北大西洋冬季东、西部海区的声波导情况。在给出不同海区位置的声速场和声波导具体信息的基础上,研究其规律:最小声速值和声道轴深度由直布罗陀海峡向外递减扩散,表层声速值和声速梯度由南向北递减,声跃层存在于低纬度海区,混合层在低纬度通常在100 m以内,在高纬度增加至100 m以上。10 m深度表面声源的汇聚区反转深度随纬度增加逐渐减少,西部海区深于东部海区;西部海区的汇聚区跨度大于东部海区,东西部跨度最大值出现在25°N和15°N,传播损失基本一致。250 m水下声源的汇聚区反转深度浅于10 m深度表面声源时,同样是西部海区大于东部海区,汇聚区跨度呈低-高-低规律,东西部跨度最大值出现在35°N和25°N;东部海区25°N以南、西部海区15°N以南,不同接收深度上的传播损失差异较大,以北差异较小。同时简要叙述了声影区对目标探测的影响。     

Anomalous hydrographic and biological conditions in the northern South China Sea during the 1997–1998 El Niño and comparisons with the equatorial Pacific

It is demonstrated that weakened wind mixing and strengthened water column stratification resulted in the anomalously low sea surface chlorophyll in the northern South China Sea during the 1997–1998 El Niño event. Remotely sensed sea surface temperature, wind and chlorophyll, which were validated by shipboard observations at the SouthEast Asian Time-series Study (SEATS) station (18°N, 116°E) in the northern South China Sea (SCS) provided the basis for this study. During the 1997–1998 winter at the SEATS station, the sea surface temperature was elevated by about 2 °C above the climatological mean, while the wind speed of the northeast monsoon was reduced from a climatological mean of 9.4 to 6.8 m/s. The concentration of surface chlorophyll-a dropped from 0.2 to 0.1 mg/m³. The monthly area-averaged integrated primary production estimated for the northern SCS area (112–119°E, 15–21°N) was reduced by about 40% of the normal winter value. Under the anomalously high sea surface temperature and weak monsoon, the mixed-layer depth would have been reduced from an average of 65 to 45 m and the nutrients in the mixed layer would have been reduced by half, according to observations at the SEATS station in more recent years. During the 1997–1998 El Niño event, the onset of warming in the northern SCS lagged behind that in the eastern equatorial Pacific by about 5 months and lingered for 11 months. This course of change resembled that of the western Pacific warm pool region. However, contrary to the northern SCS, the sea surface chlorophyll was enhanced in the warm pool region during the event, probably mainly because of the uplifted nutricline. Unlike the eastern equatorial Pacific, the dramatic recovery of biological production did not happen in the SCS in the summer of 1998. These distinctive biogeochemical responses reflect fundamental differences between the SCS and the equatorial Pacific in terms of upper water column dynamics.     

The long-term trend of the sea surface wind speed and the wave height (wind wave, swell, mixed wave)in global ocean during the last 44 a

Utilizing the 45 a European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts(ECMWF)reanalysis wave data(ERA-40),the long-term trend of the sea surface wind speed and(wind wave,swell,mixed wave)wave height in the global ocean at grid point 1.5×1.5 during the last 44 a is analyzed.It is discovered that a majority of global ocean swell wave height exhibits a significant linear increasing trend(2–8 cm/decade),the distribution of annual linear trend of the significant wave height(SWH)has good consistency with that of the swell wave height.The sea surface wind speed shows an annually linear increasing trend mainly concentrated in the most waters of Southern Hemisphere westerlies,high latitude of the North Pacific,Indian Ocean north of 30 S,the waters near the western equatorial Pacific and low latitudes of the Atlantic waters,and the annually linear decreasing mainly in central and eastern equator of the Pacific,Juan.Fernandez Archipelago,the waters near South Georgia Island in the Atlantic waters.The linear variational distribution characteristic of the wind wave height is similar to that of the sea surface wind speed.Another find is that the swell is dominant in the mixed wave,the swell index in the central ocean is generally greater than that in the offshore,and the swell index in the eastern ocean coast is greater than that in the western ocean inshore,and in year-round hemisphere westerlies the swell index is relatively low.     

Suggested mechanism for the chronic pollution by oil of beaches east of Cape Agulhas,South Africa

The distribution of tar balls over the Agulhas Bank during 1977 and 1978, although variable, was consistent with the oceanography of the region. Mesoscale patches of tar-ball concentrations appeared to move onto the Agulhas Bank from the south between 20 and 21°E, under the influence of prevailing winds and currents. Substantial concentrations were observed inshore and offshore in the region east of Cape Agulhas. Data of a hydrological and meteorological nature, on ship's drift and from drift cards have shown the existence of a zone of surface divergence extending southwards from Cape Agulhas. Surface water east of Cape Agulhas (20°E) tends to move slowly eastwards and northwards and water west of the same longitude has a predominantly westerly component. The surface currents east of Cape Agulhas would tend to move the tar balls, which accumulate in eddies in the area, on shore, whereas west of Cape Agulhas on-shore flow is less pronounced. The residence time of tar balls on the Agulhas Bank appears to be substantial, in the range 2—8 weeks. It is concluded that the beaches between Cape Agulhas and Mossel Bay are highly susceptible to pollution by oil and tar balls.     

Iron and manganese in the wake of the Kerguelen Islands (Southern Ocean)

As part of the ANTARES 3/F-JGOFS cruise, the distributions of dissolved iron and manganese were measured in October 1995 in the north–east wake of the Kerguelen archipelago (48°40′–49°40′S, 68°70′–70°50′E), an area that shows high phytoplankton biomass (CZCS and SeaWiFS data) in the middle of the High Nutrient Low Chlorophyll (HNLC) Southern Ocean. The study area (about 25,000 km²) comprised a branch of the Polar Front with Antarctic surface water (AASW) intruding northward, shouldering the shelf break of the Kerguelen Plateau. The coastal zone was clearly affected by material of lithogenic origin (riverine discharges, soil leaching by rain waters, aeolian inputs), as well as by inputs from the sediments (effluxes from the sediment–water interface, resuspension from the sediments), its near surface waters showing considerable enrichment in dissolved iron (5.3–12.6 nM) and in dissolved manganese (2.9–8.6 nM). The offshore waters, although less enriched in trace-metals, were also affected by trace-metal inputs from coastal and continental shelf origin. Dissolved iron and manganese concentrations in these waters were 0.46–0.71 and 0.68–1.3 nM, i.e. far over typical antarctic open ocean surface water concentrations of 0.16 nM for iron [Martin, J.H., Gordon, R.M., Fitzwater, S.E., 1990. Iron in Antarctic waters. Nature, 345: 156–158.] and around 0.1 nM for manganese [Martin, J.H., Gordon, R.M., Fitzwater, S.E., 1990. Iron in Antarctic waters. Nature, 345: 156–158; Sedwick, P.N., Edwards, P.R., Mackey, D.J., Griffiths, F.B., Parslow, J.S., 1997. Iron and manganese in surface waters of the Australian subantarctic region. Deep-Sea Res., 44: 1239–1253.]. The dissolved iron enrichment in coastal waters of the Kerguelen Islands is much more important (about 10 times for dissolved iron) than for the Galapagos Islands, another oasis in the HNLC Equatorial oceanic system, where the concentration increase in dissolved iron in the surface waters around the islands is mostly driven by upwelling of the Equatorial Under Current (EUC) as it reaches the Galapagos Platform.     

Spawning of the frostfish,Lepidopus caudatus (Pisces: Trichiuridae), in New Zealand waters

Frostfish spawning, as indicated by the presence of planktonic eggs, was observed mainly in north‐eastern, but also in south‐western, New Zealand waters in spring to autumn. Spawning takes place in the afternoon in outer shelf waters 50–200 m deep, with surface temperatures and salinities between 17.5 and 22.0°C and 35.3 and 35.6‰ respectively. Egg and oil droplet diameters ranged from 1.65 to 1.75 mm and 0.40 to 0.43 mm respectively.     

Intermediate Waters in the East/Japan Sea

Properties of the intermediate layer in the East/Japan Sea are examined by using CREAMS data taken mainly in summer of 1995. Vertical profiles of potential temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen and relationships between these physical and chemical properties show that the dissolved oxygen concentration of 250 μmol/l, roughly corresponding to 0.6°C at the depth of about 400 db, makes a boundary between intermediate and deep waters. Water colder than 0.6°C has a very stable relationship between potential temperature and salinity while salinity of the water warmer than 0.6°C is lower in the western Japan Basin than that in the eastern Japan Basin. The low salinity water with high oxygen corresponds to the East Sea Intermediate Water (ESIW; <34.06 psu, >250 μmol/l and >1.0°C) which was previously identified by Kim and Chung (1984) and the high salinity water with high oxygen found in eastern Japan Basin is named as the High Salinity Intermediate Water (HSIW; >34.07 psu, >250 μmol/l and >0.6°C). Spatial distribution of salinity and acceleration potential on the surface of σ_ϑ = 27.2 kg/m³ shows that the ESIW prevailing in the western Japan Basin is transported eastward by a zonal flow along the polar front near 40°N and a cyclonic gyre in the eastern Japan Basin is closely related to the HSIW. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Pathway and variability of deep circulation around 40°N in the northwest Pacific Ocean

To clarify the global deep-water circulation in the northwest Pacific, we conducted current observations with seven moorings at 40°N east of Japan from May 2007 to October 2008, together with hydrographic observations. By analyzing the data, while taking into consideration that the deep circulation has a northward component in this region and carries low-silica, high-dissolved-oxygen water, we clarified that the deep circulation flows within the region between 144°30′ and 146°10′E at 40°N on and east of the eastern slope of the Japan Trench with marked variability; the deep circulation flows partly on the eastern slope of the trench and mainly to the east during P1 (10 May–24 November 2007), is confined to the eastern slope of the trench during P2 (25 November 2007–20 May 2008), and flows on and to the immediate east of the eastern slope of the trench during P3 (21 May–15 October 2008). Previous studies have identified two branches of the deep circulation at lower latitudes in the western North Pacific; one flows off the western trenches and the other detours near the Shatsky Rise. It was thus concluded that the eastern branch flows westward at 38°N and then northward to the east of the trench, finally joining the western branch around 40°N during P1 and P3, whereas the eastern branch passes westward south of 38°N, joins the western branch around 38°N, and flows northward on the eastern slope of the trench during P2.     

Meridional asymmetric distribution of the primary production in the Atlantic Sector of the Southern Ocean in the austral spring and summer

The spatial distribution of the phytoplankton productivity was investigated in the Atlantic Sector of the Southern Ocean in the austral summer of 2009?C2010 and the spring of 2010 on the basis of field measurements. In October?CNovember, the average integrated primary production and the concentration of surface and integrated (photosynthetic layer) chlorophyll ??a?? in the Subantarctic waters of the Drake Passage exceeded the similar values along the Greenwich meridian by 3, 2, and 1.5 times, respectively. Similar primary production was observed in December?CJanuary for the water column in the eastern and western sectors of the studied area. The chlorophyll ??a?? concentration in the surface water layer was higher by 1.7 times for the Greenwich meridian area compared to the deep layers, but the concentrations of this pigment in the deeper layers did not differ. During the spring, the average primary production in the water column (the chlorophyll ??a?? concentration in the surface and in the photosynthetic layer) differed in the Drake Passage and along the Greenwich meridian by 2.3, 1.6, and 1.7 times, respectively. The opposite pattern was observed during the summer period, when the parameters listed above were higher for the Greenwich meridian area by 1.9, 2.5, and 1.7 times, respectively. Therefore, the western Antarctic areas in the spring are characterized by higher production than the eastern ones, and an opposite pattern is observed in the summer. The possible reasons for the meridional zonation of the chlorophyll ??a?? and the primary production are discussed in regard to different seasons.     

南极普里兹湾及其邻近海域表层水镭同位素的分布及应用

中国第27次南极科学考察期间(2010年12月30日至2011年1月16日),对普里兹湾及其邻近海域表层海水进行了226Ra和228Ra的分析,结果表明:226Ra和228Ra比活度的变化范围分别为1.47—2.43Bq/m3和0.17—0.45Bq/m3,平均值分别为2.13Bq/m3和0.29Bq/m3,228Ra/226Ra)A.R.(228Ra与226Ra的活度比)的变化范围为0.08—0.20,平均值为0.14。根据盐度和226Ra的质量平衡方程,计算出研究海域表层水中冰融水、南极夏季表层水和普里兹湾中深层水的份额。研究海域表层水中温度、盐度、226Ra、228Ra、228Ra/226Ra)A.R.和冰融水份额的空间分布显示,在埃默里冰架前沿海域,西侧海域较东侧海域具有低温、高盐、高226Ra、低228Ra、低228Ra/226Ra)A.R.、低冰融水份额的特征,证实埃默里冰架下水体东进西出的运动规律。根据埃默里冰架前沿东、西侧水体228Ra/226Ra)A.R.的差异,估算出埃默里冰架下表层水体东进西出所经历的时间为1.85a。此外,在普里兹湾湾口中部海域(66.5—67.5°S,72°—74°E),观察到次表层水的上升通风作用,该区域较高的228Ra含量和228Ra/226Ra)A.R.证明这些表层水体并非来自湾外绕极深层水的上涌,而可能来自湾内埃默里冰架输出水体。     

2004年秋季南海北部浮游植物组成及其数量分布特征

根据2004年9月18日—10月2日南海北部航次所获得的表层浮游植物群数据, 对其组成及数量分布进行了探讨分析。该次调查鉴定浮游植物共53属152种(含变种和变型), 分别属于硅藻门35属88种、甲藻门15属60种、蓝藻门1属2种及金藻门1属1种等; 优势种中分布较广泛的有柔弱伪菱形藻Pseudo-nitzschia delicatissima、反曲原甲藻Prorocentrum sigmoides、微小原甲藻P. mininum、锥状施克里普藻Scrippsiella trochoidea和红海束毛藻Trichodesmium erythraeum等; 浮游植物细胞丰度的数量范围为(0.11—23.61)×106cells•m-3, 呈现近岸区域高于远岸区域的平面分布格局, 最大值和最小值分别出现在海南岛东北部海域的E506站和海南岛东南部海域的B3站; 浮游植物物种丰富度也是近岸的站点较高, 以靠近珠江口E708站的51种为最多。硅藻类细胞丰度范围为(0.02—8.13)×106cells•m-3, 主要分布在高盐的外海水域, 其中产二甲基磺酸丙酯(DMSP)的小环藻Cyclotella spp.在多个站点出现; 甲藻类以近岸水域居多, 细胞丰度最高达15.67×106cells•m-3(E506站), 其中数量较多的赤潮种类主要有锥状施克里普藻、反曲原甲藻、微小原甲藻、环沟藻Gyrodinium spp.等; 固氮的红海束毛藻在调查海域广泛分布, 但主要集中于东部, 以E206站最多, 高达1.8×107cells•m-3。结合水文资料和其他层次的浮游植物资料进行对比分析, 结果表明, 红海束毛藻的分布与黑潮水的入侵存在一定关系, 其分布受水团和海流的影响。     

Impact of mesoscale eddies on particulate organic carbon flux in the western subarctic North Pacific

The mechanism that controls particulate organic carbon (POC) flux in the deep sea differs depending on the season and sea. The POC produced in the western subarctic North Pacific are known to be transported to the deep sea efficiently, but the direct relationship between the POC flux and physical processes is still unclear. In this study, we evaluated the effect of mesoscale eddies on POC flux in the western subarctic North Pacific. The seasonal and interannual variabilities of POC flux were investigated using data from a time-series sediment trap deployed at 4810 m at station K2 (47°N, 160°E) from 2005 to 2018. POC flux was high during May–November, appearing to reflect spring and fall blooms at the ocean surface. POC flux also showed interannual variability, with twelve peaks that were mostly affected by enhanced bloom just before the peak. Nine peaks of the twelve peaks were affected by mesoscale eddies, which enhanced bloom around K2 by extending the area with a high chlorophyll-a concentration along the coastal region into the offshore region, suggesting that mesoscale eddies strongly impact the interannual variability of POC flux at K2.

     

Changes in subtidal assemblages in a scenario of warming: Proliferations of ephemeral benthic algae in the Canary Islands (eastern Atlantic Ocean)

The present work analysed the main changes in subtidal algal assemblages in the last decade in an oceanic archipelago (Canary Islands – eastern Atlantic Ocean). Changes result from increases in cover of ephemeral benthic algae, such as the non-native chlorophyte Pseudotetraspora marina and the native cyanophytes Blennothrix lyngbyacea, Schizothrix calcicola and Schizothrix mexicana. Ephemeral algae overgrow subtidal assemblages which are extensively dominated by Lobophora variegata, but competitively do not exclude other species. Increases in the abundance of species coincided with a warming of about 2 °C in surface seawater temperature (SST) linked to the weakening of the Cold Canary Current and the Northwestern African upwelling. Shifts in the distribution and cover of ephemeral species follow the SST gradient from warmer waters in the western islands to colder waters in the eastern ones. While in the warmest western islands, species have spread quickly colonizing all type of substrates in just a few years (2005–2008), the occurrence of ephemerals towards the coldest eastern islands is yet inconspicuous.     

春、秋季南黄海浮游纤毛虫丰度及生物量的分布差异

Seasonal variation of marine plankton spatial distribution is important in understanding the biological processes in the ocean.In this study,we studied spatial distribution of planktonic ciliate abundance and biomass in the central deep area(station depth greater than 60 m) and the coastal shallow area(station depth less than 60 m) of the southern Yellow Sea(32°–36.5°N,121°–125°E) in spring(April) and autumn(October–November) of 2006.Our results showed that both ciliate abundance and biomass in the surface waters were higher in spring((1 490±2 336)ind./L;(4.11±7.81) μg/L) than in autumn((972±823) ind./L;(1.11±1.18) μg/L,calculated by carbon).Ciliate abundance and biomass in the surface waters of the coastal shallow area were similar in spring and autumn.However,in the central deep area,those values were much higher in spring((1 878±2 893) ind./L;(5.99±10.10)μg/L) than in autumn((738±373) ind./L;(0.74±0.76) μg/L).High values of ciliate abundance and biomass occurred in the central deep area in spring and in the coastal shallow area in autumn.Mixotrophic ciliate Laboea strobila was abundant in the central deep area in spring,when a phytoplankton bloom occurred.However,in autumn,L.strobila was abundant in the coastal shallow area.Boreal tintinnid Ptychocyli obtusa was found in spring.Both L.strobila and P.obtusa were concentrated in the surface waters when their abundance was more than 1 000 ind./L.Peaks of these species were in the subsurface waters when their abundance was less than 400 ind./L.This study showed that both high abundance and biomass of ciliates occurred in different areas in southern Yellow Sea seasonally.     

Thickness of the mixed bottom layer in the Northern Atlantic

The thickness of the mixed bottom boundary layer (BBL) has been analyzed based on the CTD data at transoceanic sections in abyssal waters of the Northern Atlantic. The measurements were carried out at two transoceanic sections approximately along 48° N (ASV-99) and 5° N (AI-2000) in 1999 and 2000. These data, and the WOCE data obtained at four zonal sections (AR7E and AR12 along 57° N, AR01 along 24.5° S, and A06 along 7.5° N), were used for the calculation of the statistical characteristics of the BBL??s thickness H _B . The probability distribution function F(H _B ) was close to lognormal. The mean value ??H _B ?? at different latitudes was in the range from 30 to 60 m. The averaged BBL thickness = 46.1 m. The BBL??s thickness was about 1% of the ocean??s depth D; the ratio H _B /D was the minimum (0.8%) near the equator and increased up to 1.6% in the polar latitudes.     

Abnormality of thermal structure and current in the upper western tropical Pacific Ocean and its effect on subtropical high

-Mainly on the basis of the data obtained during PRC/US bilateral TOGA cruises, abnormal variation occurred during the 1986/1987 El Nino is shown in this paper about the thermal structure and circulation of the upper western tropical Pacific Ocean. The effects of the abmormal variation on the subtropical high over the Northwest Pacific Ocean are discussed. During the El Nino: (1) In the east part of the western tropical Pacific Ocean (the subsurface temperature data on the 165° E section are taken as an example), the water wanner than 29 C in the upper layer spread on the longitudinal section and positive temperature anormalies appeared in a large area of the sea surface. (2) In the west part of the western tropical Pacific Ocean (the subsurface temperature data on the 137°E section are representative ), the cross section occupied by the upper layer warmer water ( T >28 ℃ ) became shrunk, and the sea surface temperature showed negative amomalies. (3) The eastward flows in the upper layer of the 165°