A Lagrangian study of the near-surface intrusion of Pacific water into the South China Sea

Satellite-tracked Lagrangian drifters are used to investigate the transport pathways of near-surface water around the Luzon Strait. Particular attention is paid to the intrusion of Pacific water into the South China Sea(SCS).Results from drifter observations suggest that except for the Kuroshio water, other Pacific water that carried by zonal jets, Ekman currents or eddies, can also intrude into the SCS. Motivated by this origin problem of the intrusion water, numerous simulated trajectories are constructed by altimeter-based velocities. Quantitative estimates from simulated trajectories suggest that the contribution of other Pacific water to the total intrusion flux in the Luzon Strait is approximately 13% on average, much smaller than that of Kuroshio water. Even so, over multiple years and many individual intrusion events, the contribution from other Pacific water is quite considerable. The interannual signal in the intrusion flux of these Pacific water might be closely related to variations in a wintertime westward current and eddy activities east of the Luzon Strait. We also found that Ekman drift could significantly contribute to the intrusion of Pacific water and could affect the spreading of intrusion water in the SCS. A case study of an eddy-related intrusion is presented to show the detailed processes of the intrusion of Pacific water and the eddy-Kuroshio interaction.     

Interannual variability of the Kuroshio intrusion in the South China Sea

The interannual variability of intrusions of the Kuroshio into the South China Sea (SCS) is investigated using satellite remote sensing data supported by in-situ measurements. The mesoscale circulation of the SCS is predominantly wind-forced by the northeast winter and southwest summer monsoons. Although the region has been studied extensively, considerable uncertainty remains about the annual and interannual mesoscale nature of the circulation. The frequency and characteristics of Kuroshio intrusions and their effect on circulation patterns in the northeast SCS are also not well understood. Satellite observations of Sea Surface Temperature (SST) from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) and the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) and Sea Surface Height Anomalies (SSHA) from TOPEX/ Poseidon for the period 1997–2005 are used here to analyze the annual and interannual variability in Kuroshio intrusions and their effects on the region. Analysis of SST and SSHA shows the formation and characteristics of intrusions vary considerably each year. Typically, the intrusion occurs in the central region of Luzon Strait and results in an anticyclonic circulation in the northeastern SCS. However, in some years, the intrusion is located in the northern portion of Luzon Strait and a cyclonic intrusion results. Wind stress and wind stress curl derived from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) QuikSCAT satellite scatterometer are used to evaluate the relationship between wind stress or wind stress curl and the presence of winter Kuroshio intrusions into the SCS.     

黑潮入侵优化对南海北部中尺度涡旋模拟的影响

基于高分辨率海洋环流模式,通过比较吕宋海峡处地形优化后的黑潮入侵形态和强度不同的试验,我们研究了黑潮入侵优化后对南海中尺度涡模拟的影响。我们发现黑潮入侵的减弱导致了涡旋活动的减弱,这使得模式结果与观测结果更为相近。在这种情况下,模式模拟的吕宋海峡西部及北部陆坡区域的涡动动能明显减弱。模式涡动动能的减弱与模式反气旋式涡数量的减少和气旋式涡强度的减弱有关。涡动动能收支的分析进一步表明,黑潮入侵的优化将通过改变水平速度切变和温跃层斜率来改变涡动动能,而这两个参数分别与正压和斜压不稳定性有关。前者在模式涡动动能减弱中起着更为重要的作用,而黑潮入侵导致的涡动动能的水平输送对吕宋海峡西部区域的能量收支同样起着重要的作用。     

A Review on the Currents in the South China Sea: Seasonal Circulation, South China Sea Warm Current and Kuroshio Intrusion

Researches on the currents in the South China Sea (SCS) and the interaction between the SCS and its adjacent seas are reviewed. Overall seasonal circulation in the SCS is cyclonic in winter and anticyclonic in summer with a few stable eddies. The seasonal circulation is mostly driven by monsoon winds, and is related to water exchange between the SCS and the East China Sea through the Taiwan Strait, and between the SCS and the Kuroshio through the Luzon Strait. Seasonal characteristics of the South China Sea Warm Current in the northern SCS and the Kuroshio intrusion to the SCS are summarized in terms of the interaction between the SCS and its adjacent seas.     

黑潮入侵对南海东北部浮游植物群落结构的影响

To further understand the effect of Kuroshio intrusion on phytoplankton community structure in the northeastern South China Sea(NSCS, 14°–23°N, 114°–124°E), one targeted cruise was carried out from July to August, 2017. A total of 79 genera and 287 species were identified, mainly including Bacillariophyta(129 species), Pyrrophyta(150 species), Cyanophyta(4 species), Chrysophyta(3 species) and Haptophyta(1 species). The average abundance of phytoplankton was 2.14×10~3 cells/L, and Cyanobacterium was dominant species accounting for 86.84% of total phytoplankton abundance. The abundance and distribution of dominant Cyanobacterium were obviously various along the flow of the Kuroshio, indicating the Cyanobacterium was profoundly influenced by the physical process of the Kuroshio. Therefore, Cyanobacterium could be used to indicate the influence of Kuroshio intrusion. In addition, the key controlling factors of the phytoplankton community were nitrogen, silicate, phosphate and temperature, according to Canonical Correspondence Analysis. However, the variability of these chemical parameters in the study water was similarly induced by the physical process of circulations. Based on the cluster analysis, the similarity of phytoplankton community is surprisingly divided by the regional influence of the Kuroshio intrusion, which indicated Kuroshio intrusion regulates phytoplankton community in the NSCS.     

Kuroshio intrusion into the South China Sea with an anticyclonic eddy: evidence from underwater glider observation

In this study, high-resolution temperature and salinity data obtained from three Sea-Wing underwater gliders were used together with satellite altimeter data to track the vertical thermohaline structure of an anticyclonic eddy that originated from the loop current of the Kuroshio southwest of Taiwan, China. One of the gliders crossed the entire eddy and it observed a remarkable warm anomaly of as much as 3.9℃ extending to 500 dbar from the base of the mixed layer. Conversely, a positive salinity anomaly was found to be above 200 dbar only in the anticyclonic eddy, with a maximum value of >0.5 in the mixed layer. Below the mixed layer, water of higher salinity (>34.7) was found, which could have been preserved through constrained vertical mixing within the anticyclonic eddy. The salinity in the upper layer of the anticyclonic eddy was much similar to that of the northwestern Pacific Ocean than the northern South China Sea, reflecting Kuroshio intrusion with anticyclonic eddy shedding from the loop current.     

Study on interaction between the coastal water, shelf water and Kuroshio water in the Huanghai Sea and East China Sea

The main processes of interaction between the coastal water, shelf water and Kuroshiowater in the Huanghai Sea (HS) and East China Sea (ECS) are analyzed based on the observation and study results in recent years. These processes include the intrusion of the Kuroshio water into the shelf area of the ECS, the entrainment of the shelf water into the Kuroshio, the seasonal process in the southern shelf area of the ECS controlled alternatively by the Taiwan Strait water and the Kuroshio water intruding into the shelf area, the interaction between the Kuroshio branch water, shelf mixed water and modified coastal water in the northeastern ECS, the water-exchange between the HS and ECS and the spread of the Changjiang diluted water.     

1992年东海黑潮的变异

基于1992年4个航次的水文调查资料,运用改进逆方法计算了东海黑潮的流速、流量和热通量．计算结果表明：（1）PN断面黑潮在春季和秋季都有两个流核,冬季和夏季则只有一个流核．主核心皆位于坡折处．Vmax值春季最大,冬季和夏季次之,而秋季最小．黑潮以东及以下都存在逆流．（2）TK断面黑潮在冬季为两核,春、夏季为3核．海峡南端及海峡深处存在西向逆流．（3）通过A断面的对马暖流Vmax值在秋季最大,冬季最小．黄海暖流位于其西侧,相对较弱．（4）通过PN断面净北向流量夏季最大,秋季最小,而冬、春季介于上述二者之间,1992年四季平均值为28．0×106m3/s;TK断面的净东向流量也是在夏季最大;A断面净北向流量则在秋季最大．（5）PN断面4个航次的平均热通量为2．03×1015W．TK断面3个航次的平均热通量为2．00×1015W．（6）在计算海区,冬、春和秋季都是由海洋向大气放热;夏季则从大气吸热．冬季海面上热交换率最大,而夏季热交换率最小．关键词##4东海;;黑潮;;季节变化     

涡分辨率海洋模式及其海气耦合模式中吕宋海峡处的黑潮入侵

比较了准全球涡分辨率海洋模式（简记为LICOMH）及其海气耦合模式（简记为LICOMHC）中的黑潮入侵南海与观测中黑潮入侵的差异。我们发现在单独海洋模式中黑潮入侵与观测相比过强,而在其海气耦合模式中这一差异得到了改善。冬季的吕宋海峡输送（LST）在LICOMH中为-8.8×10⁶ m³s^-1,而在LICOMHC中则下降到-6.0×10⁶ m³s^-1 。进一步的研究表明是大尺度风场,局地风应力和吕宋海峡以东中尺度涡旋的共同作用导致了黑潮入侵在两个模式中的不同。LICOMH中吕宋岛东北部相对较强的气旋导致了较弱的黑潮输送及吕宋海峡处较强的黑潮入侵。以上三者共同作用造成的LST差异大约是2.0×10⁶ m³s^-1,与两个模式间的LST差异大小基本相当。进一步对LICOMH与LICOMHC中的EKE收支进行分析表明,LICOMH中更强的EKE输送及斜压转换项导致了黑潮以东存在更强的气旋,而海表风场对两个模式中的涡旋差异贡献极小。     

进入中国南海的黑潮脱落中尺度涡的特征——基于OFES模式数据

自黑潮脱落并由吕宋海峡进入中国南海的中尺度涡(简称脱落涡旋)对黑潮与南海的水体交换、热量及物质输送等过程均有十分重要的作用.基于1993—2013年OFES(OGCM for the Earth Simulator)模式数据产品,分析研究了脱落涡旋的统计特征及其温盐流三维结构,并与卫星观测结果进行对比分析.OFES模式...     

Impact of Kuroshio on the dissolved oxygen in the East China Sea region

A marine survey was conducted from 18 May to 13 June 2014 in the East China Sea (ECS) and its adjacent Kuroshio Current to examine the spatial distribution and biogeochemical characteristics of dissolved oxygen (DO) in spring. Waters were sampled at 10?25 m intervals within 100 m depth, and at 25?500 m beyond 100 m. The depth, temperature, salinity, and density (sigma- t ) were measured in situ with a conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) sensor. DO concentrations were determined on board using traditional Winkler titration method. The results show that in the Kuroshio Current, DO content was the highest in the euphotic layer, then decreased sharply with depth to about 1 000 m, and increased with depth gradually thereafter. While in the ECS continental shelf area, DO content had high values in the coastal surface water and low values in the near-bottom water. In addition, a low-DO zone off the Changjiang (Yangtze) River estuary was found in spring 2014, and it was formed under the combined influence of many factors, including water stratification, high primary productivity in the euphotic layers, high accumulation/ sedimentation of organic matter below the euphotic layers, and mixing/transport of oceanic current waters on the shelf. Most notable among these is the Kuroshio intruded water, an oceanic current water which carried rich dissolved oxygen onto the continental shelf and alleviated the oxygen deficit phenomenon in the ECS, could impact the position, range, and intensity, thus the formation/destruction of the ECS Hypoxia Zone.     

吕宋海峡及南海北部海域的水团分析

根据1992年3月和1994年9月台湾海峡两岸科学家对南海北部两次协同调查的CTD资料以及由此计算的重力势资料,对吕宋海峡及南海北部400m以上海水的温盐性质进行分析。结果发现,调查海区基本可划分为两种水团,即黑潮水和南海水。黑潮水主要从吕宋海峡中部和北部进入南海,侵入的黑潮水向西北方向扩展,受到台湾海峡海底地形的阻挡而大部分集中于台湾西南海域,向西的范围基本不超过119°E。虽然两次观测所处的季节不同（分别为春初和夏末）,但黑潮入侵南海的差异并不明显。另外,在二次调查的部分层次上,南海北部陆坡边缘都发现有一团水平尺度约百公里的黑潮性质水。配合重力势的水平分布形式,可以用地转流场的结构解释水团分析的结果。     

Role of Kuroshio frontal eddy in exchange between shelf water and Kuroshio water in East China Sea

Basic patterns of the reversal of the Kuroshio water toward the shelf, intrusion of the shelf mixed waterinto the Kuroshio and uplifting of the near-bottom nutrient-rich water into the upper layer by the pumping of the frontal eddy are analyzed on the basis of satellite infrared images and hydrologic, chemical and biological observations. Results show that the Kuroshio frontal eddies play a very important role in the exchange between the shelf water and the Kuroshio water. The estimation of the average volume transports for three frontal eddy events indicates that the shelf mixed water entrained by an eddy into Kuroshio is 0.44×10~6 m3/s and the reversal Kuroshio water onto the shelf region only 0.04×10~6 m3/s. Along the whole shelf edge, the volume transport of the shelf mixed water entrained by the eddies into the Kuroshio is 1.8×10~6 m3/s. The nutrient (NO3-N) flux pumped to the euphotic zone and input to the continental shelf through a column with 1 m wide is 974 μmol/(s·m) when there is frontal eddy and only 79 μmol/(s·m) in the case of no frontal eddy. Yearly nutrient (NO3-N) flux input to the shelf area caused by the frontal eddy is 1.7×10~5 t/a.     

Intrusion of less saline shelf water into the Kuroshio subsurface layer in the East China Sea

The possible origin and cause of the less saline shelf water detected in the Kuroshio subsurface layer around the shelf edge of the East China Sea are investigated using observational results obtained in May 1998–2001 in conjunction with a dataset archived by Japan Oceanographic Data Center and a numerical model. The observations show that subsurface intrusions of less saline water are always detected in May in layers above 24.5σθ isopycnal surface, and that salinity inversions (i.e., areas in which the less saline water lies beneath the saline water) are detected around the trough of the Kuroshio frontal eddy (or wave). Analyses of the archived dataset reveal that the isopycnal surface of 24.5σθ is the deepest layer of the Kuroshio pycnocline outcropping to the sea surface on the shallow shelf in early spring. Outcropping isopycnals above 24.5σθ encounter a less saline water plume originating from the Changjiang, especially in the western East China Sea. Thereafter, the less saline water moves along isopycnal layers and reaches the Kuroshio front around the shelf edge. Numerical models demonstrate that, when the frontal wave captures the less saline water, the shelf water takes the form of a salinity inversion in the trough because isohalines in the frontal wave have a phase lag between the upper and lower layers in consequence of the baroclinic instability.     

Distributions of nutrients in the East China Sea and the South China Sea connection

Surface maps of nitrate, phosphate and silicate of the East China Sea (ECS) have been constructed and are described. Reports on exchanges of material between the ECS and the South China Sea (SCS) through the Taiwan Strait are reviewed. Recent advances seem to have reversed the earlier view that the SCS exports nutrients to the ECS through the Taiwan Strait. This is because the northward flow of seawater in the summer carries little nutrient. On the other hand, the waters flowing southward along the coast of China in winter carry orders of magnitude higher nutrient concentrations. The outflow of subsurface waters from the SCS, however, is the major source of new nutrients to the ECS continental shelves because these subsurface waters flow out of the Luzon Strait, join the northwardly flowing Kuroshio and enter the Okinawa trough. Around 10% of the nutrients exported from the SCS through the Luzon Strait upwell onto the ECS shelf. These inputs are larger than the aggregate of all the rivers that empty into the ECS, contributing 49% of the externally sourced nitrogen, 71% of the phosphorous, and 54% of the silica for the ECS.     

西北太平洋黑潮源区沉积特征及黑潮输入对东海沉积物的影响

在对海流和地质背景分析的基础上将源区黑潮划分为3个区域,即北赤道流区、吕宋岛以东海区和台湾东部黑潮主干区,归纳总结了其沉积物矿物组成、元素组分特征和物源研究结论,探讨了黑潮输入对东海沉积物的影响。总体看来,黑潮源区沉积物的主要外来源是菲律宾群岛、菲律宾岛弧、台湾河流输入和亚洲大陆风尘的输入。黑潮源区沉积物矿物分布受菲律宾海沟的阻隔、北赤道流与黑潮的营力作用、海底火山热液活动和水深影响较大,常量元素组成主要与海底地形和水深有关,稀土元素组成表现出具有明显陆源输入的边缘海沉积特征,Sr、Nd同位素组成的研究在该区主要用于追踪亚洲风尘输入。由于黑潮入侵东海多分支的复杂性,东海黑潮对陆架沉积物的影响尚需深入研究。进一步研究应在台湾东部沉积物物源分析、黑潮输入对东海沉积物影响的历史变化、多指标整合的综合分析方法、有效物源识别端元的构建等方面展开。深入研究黑潮源区沉积特征及物源可有效揭示黑潮流域变化、构造活动和气候变化等,且探明黑潮输入对东海陆架沉积物分布的影响有利于揭示东海生态环境变化和海洋资源环境的可持续利用。     

台湾东北部黑潮表层水入侵东海陆架的季节变化规律

基于1998～2011 年进入台湾东北部的WOCE-SVP(World Ocean Circulation Experiment -Surface Velocity Programme)计划的Argos 浮标运行轨道数据, 分析了台湾东北部的环流特征、黑潮表层水入侵东海陆架的季节变化规律。结果表明: 在春夏季, 黑潮表层水入侵仅限于陆架外缘, 而在秋冬季, 黑潮表层水可深入东海陆架或进入台湾海峡。自黑潮区入侵至100 m 和150 m 等深线的浮标数量在秋冬季较多, 春夏季较少。台湾海峡的浮标轨迹在春夏季几乎皆为北向, 在秋冬季皆为南向。在秋季, 东海中部和南部陆架会在黑潮西侧出现逆流和涡旋。可见, 台湾东北部环流具有显著的季节特征; 黑潮表层水入侵东海陆架在秋冬季较强, 春夏季较弱。本研究采用最新的Argos 浮标数据, 揭示了台湾东北部黑潮入侵东海陆架的季节变化规律。     

Intrusion of Kuroshio water onto the continental shelf of the East China Sea

As a fundamental study to evaluate the contribution of the Kuroshio to primary production in the East China Sea (ECS), we investigated the seasonal pattern of the intrusion from the Kuroshio onto the continental shelf of the ECS and the behavior of the intruded Kuroshio water, using the RIAM Ocean Model (RIAMOM). The total intruded volume transport across the 200m isobath line was evaluated as 2.74 Sv in winter and 2.47 Sv in summer, while the intruded transport below 80m was estimated to be 1.32 Sv in winter and 1.64 Sv in summer. Passive tracer experiments revealed that the main intrusion from the Kuroshio to the shelf area of the ECS, shallower than 80m, takes place through the lower layer northeast of Taiwan in summer, with a volume transport of 0.19 Sv. Comparative studies show several components affecting the intrusion of the Kuroshio across the 200 m isobath line. The Kuroshio water intruded less onto the shelf compared with a case without consideration of tide-induced bottom friction, especially northeast of Taiwan. The variations of the transport from the Taiwan Strait and the east of Taiwan have considerable effects on the intrusion of the Kuroshio onto the shelf.     

Seasonal characteristics and forcing mechanisms of the surface Kuroshio branch intrusion into the South China Sea

Using observational data of Argos satellite-tracked drifters from 1988 to 2012, we analyzed seasonal characteristics of the surface Kuroshio branch(KB) intrusion into the South China Sea(SCS). The analysis results are as follows.The surface KB originates from the southern Balintang Channel(BLTC) and Babuyan Channel(BBYC). It begins in late September, reaches peak strength in November–December, and declines at the end of March. The mean speed of drifters along the KB path during their traverse of the Luzon Strait(LS) was 43% faster than during the two days before entering the LS for the flow originating from the southern BLTC, but there was a 24% increase in speed for the flow from the BBYC. The observations show that in winter, monthly-mean sea-level anomalies(SLAs) were positive southwest of Taiwan Island and extended to the northern LS. The SLAs were negative northwest of Luzon Island and extended to the southern LS, which acted like a pump, forcing a part of Kuroshio water westward into the SCS. The condition under which the KB forms was solved by a set of simplified motion equations. The results indicate that whether the KB can form depends upon the sea-level gradient at the central LS and region to the west, as well as the location, speed and direction of Kuroshio surface water when it enters the LS.     

The relative contributions of unicellular and filamentous diazotrophs to N2 fixation in the South China Sea and the upstream Kuroshio

We studied the seasonal, diel, and vertical distribution of phytoplankton N₂ fixation to understand the relative contributions of unicellular and filamentous nitrogen fixers (diazotrophs) to N₂ fixation and nitrogen recycling in the northern South China Sea (SCS) and the neighboring upstream Kuroshio. N₂-fixation rates were measured by the ¹⁵N₂ tracer technique (addition by bubble) on unicellular (<10 or 20 µm) and the filamentous diazotrophs (>10 or 20 µm, mostly Trichodesmium and Richelia) fractionated by 10- or 20-µm mesh sizes. The mean depth-integrated total (unicellular+filamentous) N₂-fixation rates in the SCS (51.7±6.2 µmol N m⁻² d⁻¹) averaged 1/3 of that in the Kuroshio (142.7±29.6 µmol N m⁻² d⁻¹), with higher rates in the winter than in other seasons in the SCS and the opposite seasonal pattern in the Kuroshio. Unicellular diazotrophs contributed 65% of the total N₂ fixation in the SCS, which were negatively correlated with surface temperature and, as for total N₂ fixation, were higher in the winter when Trichodesmium spp. were scarce. In comparison, the unicellular diazotrophs contributed 50% of total N₂ fixation in the Kuroshio, and their contributions were not significantly correlated with surface temperature. In both the SCS and the Kuroshio, the unicellular N₂ fixation was more important during the night than during the day, and in the deep euphotic layer than in the surface layer, even in the daytime. Our results show that the unicellular diazotrophs were important N₂ fixers and contributed significantly to N₂ fixation in the tropical marginal seas, more so in the SCS than the Kuroshio.