Numerical modelling of Lagrangian residual current in the Bohai Strait

The Bohai Strait is the only passage-way of the semienclosed Bohai Sea into the outer ocean. The various dynamical processes have great effects on both sides of the strait, especially on the Bohai Sea. Tidal current dominates in the strait, and among the tida! components the M, component tide is prevailing.The seawater in the strait is homogeneous vertically almost the whole year because of strong tidal mixing. The M, component tide was simulated numerically using two dimensional barotropical model, and the Eulerian tide-induced residual currents were also deduced. The results showed that the tidal currents were dominated by the coastal line and topography. There exist many eddies in the tide-induced residual current fields, particularly near the northern coast.On the basis of the simulation of the tidal currents, the movements of the water particles in the strait were tracked by means of Lagrangian techniques. Consequently the Lagrangian residual currents were obtained. Somewhat similar to the Eulerian     

Calculation of current in the Taiwan Strait during summer Ⅱ.Three-dimensional semidiagnostic and prognostic calculations

INTRoDUCTIONAdiagnosticmodel(WangandYuan,1997)hasbeenusedtocalculatethecurrentintheTaiwanStrait(TS)duringsummer.Astothesemidiagnosticmodel,SarkisyanandYu(1983)firstlysetupasemidiagnosticmodel,whichisalsocalledanadjustablem0del,andtheyusedittocalculatethecirculati0n0vertheAtlanticOcean.YuanandPan(l995)alsodevelopedathree-di-mensi0nalsemidiagnosticmodelandcalculatedthecirculationovertheEastChinaSea.Theprog-mpticm0dlfortheoceans,whichissimilartothesemidiagnosticmodel,wasstudiedearlierby…     

Tidal transport through the Tsugaru Strait — part I: Characteristics of the major tidal flow and its residual current

The potential role of the tide-induced time-mean flow (the tidal residual current) in determining transport through the Tsugaru Strait (located between the East/Japan Sea and the North Pacific) is investigated using a high-resolution numerical barotropic model. The calculated K₁, O₁, M₂, and S₂ tidal fields agree well with available observational records derived from both tide gauge and current meter measurements in the strait and the adjacent seas. The tidal residual current speed reaches 0.3 ms⁻¹ in two narrow “neck” areas where topographic sills are located. This result suggests that tides should be taken into account in estimating the long-term water mass and nutrient transport through narrow regions between the East/Japan Sea and the North Pacific. An interesting aspect of the tidal residual current field is the prediction of several active eddy zones in which sequences of eddy triplets develop in the vicinity of capes. Our vorticity analysis reveals that the interplay of topographic effects arising from both the headland and the sill around capes plays a critical role in the formation of these triple eddy patterns.     

Direct measurements of deep current at 162°E south of the equator in the Melanesian Basin: a trial to detect a cross-equatorial deep western boundary current

We conducted 1-year-long mooring observations four times below 2000?m, slightly south of the equator (2°39?? to 4°35??S) at 162°E in the Melanesian Basin in order to detect the southward deep western boundary return current crossing the equator. Contrary to our initial expectation of the deep flow scheme in the equatorial western boundary region, the observed results indicated a fairly complicated flow configuration. We analyzed the results with the help of a high-resolution model simulation. The ensemble average of the horizontal flow at each level near the deep western boundary indicates a significant westward flow at 2000 and 2250?m, with an insignificant southward component at 2500 and 2750?m. The annual mean meridional transports are very small (>1?Sv) and insignificant, with an ensemble-averaged value of 0.3?Sv (southward) ±0.4?Sv at most. Combining this with high-resolution model results, it is deduced that the southward transport of the deep western boundary current (DWBC) leaving the equator may be smaller than those obtained by low-resolution models, because of trapping of its fairly large fraction in the equatorial zone. Annual-scale flow patterns are classified into several categories, mainly based on the meridional-flow dominating or the zonal-flow dominating pattern. A case of the meridional-flow dominating patterns may possibly capture an annual-scale variability of DWBC, because its meridional transport variation, though somewhat weak, is consistent with that simulated. The zonal-flow dominating regime includes two types: long-lasting, almost steady westward flows and long-term zonal flow oscillations. The former seems to comprise well-known zonally elongated and meridionally narrow structures of the zonal flow beneath the thermocline in the equatorial region. The ensemble-averaged flow mentioned above is dominated by this type at the upper two levels 2000 and 2250?m, with total westward transport of 1.6?±?0.7?Sv. The latter type seems to be a manifestation of the vertically propagating equatorial annual Rossby waves.     

Satellite altimeter observations of nonlinear Rossby eddy–Kuroshio interaction at the Luzon Strait

Satellite altimeter sea level data from 1993 to 2008 are used to analyze the interaction of nonlinear Rossby eddies with the Kuroshio at the Luzon Strait (LS). The sea level anomaly data show that the west Pacific (WP) is a source of nonlinear Rossby eddies, and the South China Sea (SCS) is a sink. The LS serves as a gateway between the two. The scale analysis indicates that eddies with a radius larger than 150 km are strong enough to significantly alter the Kuroshio and are able to modify the local circulation pattern. Statistical analysis indicates that the probability for eddies to penetrate through the Kuroshio may reach at least 60%. A case study of an anticyclonic mesoscale eddy passing through the LS in June–July 2004 indicates that the Kuroshio behaves as an unsteady flow with its stream path frequently modified, in a way of cutting off, meandering and branching during its interaction with the eddy. We therefore suggest that nonlinear Rossby eddies may play a significant role in modification of the local circulation system near the LS and in exchanges of the mass, momentum and energy between the WP and the SCS.     

Dynamics of DOC of euphotic layer in the Taiwan Strait——Diurnal variation of large range

ThisstudywassupportedbytheStateEducationalCommittee(SEC)ofChina.INTRODUCTIONThedissolvedorganiccarbon(DOC),ordissolvedorganicmatter(DOM),isoneofthemostimPortantorganiccarbonreservoiroftheworld,whichmayaffectthecontentofCO2intheatmospherewithatime-scaleof1OOO~1OOOOyears(Hedges,1992).Theratesofproduction,degradationortransPortationofDOCareseveralmaindynamicalparametersofDOCintheeu-photiclayer.Inthispaper,wefocusonthediurnalvariationsofDOCinordertoestimatetheseparameters.METso…     

Pockmarks on either side of the Strait of Gibraltar: formation from overpressured shallow contourite gas reservoirs and internal wave action during the last glacial sea-level lowstand?

Integrating novel and published swath bathymetry (3,980 km²), as well as chirp and high-resolution 2D seismic reflection profiles (2,190 km), this study presents the mapping of 436 pockmarks at water depths varying widely between 370 and 1,020 m on either side of the Strait of Gibraltar. On the Atlantic side in the south-eastern Gulf of Cádiz near the Camarinal Sill, 198 newly discovered pockmarks occur in three well localized and separated fields: on the upper slope (n=14), in the main channel of the Mediterranean outflow water (MOW, n=160), and on the huge contourite levee of the MOW main channel (n=24) near the well-known TASYO field. These pockmarks vary in diameter from 60 to 919 m, and are sub-circular to irregularly elongated or lobate in shape. Their slope angles on average range from 3° to 25°. On the Mediterranean side of the strait on the Ceuta Drift of the western Alborán Basin, where pockmarks were already known to occur, 238 pockmarks were identified and grouped into three interconnected fields, i.e. a northern (n=34), a central (n=61) and a southern field (n=143). In the latter two fields the pockmarks are mainly sub-circular, ranging from 130 to 400 m in diameter with slope angles averaging 1.5° to 15°. In the northern sector, by contrast, they are elongated up to 1,430 m, probably reflecting MOW activity. Based on seismo-stratigraphic interpretation, it is inferred that most pockmarks formed during and shortly after the last glacial sea-level lowstand, as they are related to the final erosional discontinuity sealed by Holocene transgressive deposits. Combining these findings with other existing knowledge, it is proposed that pockmark formation on either side of the Strait of Gibraltar resulted from gas and/or sediment pore-water venting from overpressured shallow gas reservoirs entrapped in coarse-grained contourites of levee deposits and Pleistocene palaeochannel infillings. Venting was either triggered or promoted by hydraulic pumping associated with topographically forced internal waves. This mechanism is analogous to the long-known effect of tidal pumping on the dynamics of unit pockmarks observed along the Norwegian continental margin.     

A fuzzy distinguishability on species composition similarities of pelagic fishes in different years in the southern Taiwan Strait

I\rnooUcrIoxThe drpdric fish species cor-npositlon is an imPOrtant element 1n the study of fish ecologyand plays an important guiding role ln fishery preduction and roouLrces rnanagement. Lin(l988) and Zhang (1994 and l995) have studied the simi1drities of mpulation COtwsition ofame s1ngle species of different yea-rs including hairtail Trichuras haumee and yellDw cndertwinena cmi. But no rePOrt is available on the discridrination of the sidrildrities amongmuLlt1ple sPecies composition of…     

Study on short-range numerical forecasting of ocean current in the East China Sea——Ⅰ Basic problems of ocean current forecasting and structure of the models

Ocean current forecasting is still in explorative stage of study. In the study, we face some problems that have not been met before. The solving of these problems has become fundamental premise for realizing the ocean current forecasting. In the present paper are discussed in depth the physical essence for such basic problems as the predictability of ocean current, the predictable currents, the dynamical basis for studying respectively the tidal current and circulation, the necessity of boundary model, the models on regions with different scales and their link. The foundations and plans to solve the problems are demonstrated. Finally a set of operational numerical forecasting system for ocean current is proposed.     

Characteristics of metals in atmosphere over the western Taiwan Strait Ⅱ. Sources and fluxes

I~IOWDuceetal.(1980)calculatedthattheair-seaexchangeprocesscouldsupply80%--90%ofthediforedironinputtothephotcrzoneoftheSargassoAsfromairand16%--76%tothecentralNorthPacific.CuisessentialtotheTnarineorganisms,butexcessiveCuistoxictOtheOrganisms.CdandPh...     

Eddies and a mesoscale deflection of the slope current in the Faroe–Shetland Channel

The mesoscale dynamics of the Scottish side of the Faroe–Shetland Channel have been investigated using synoptic in situ and remote sensing observations. A cold core cyclonic eddy, identified from an AVHRR image, had a diameter of about 50 km and surface current speeds of up to 50 cm s^-1; it appeared to be attached to the 800 m isobath as it moved north-eastward along the edge of the channel at about 8 cm s^-1. Speeds in the slope current were about 50 cm s^-1 but increased to 70 cm s^-1 where the current was compressed by the eddy. Offshore, over the 1000 m isobath in the cooler water, speeds in the current were slower (ca. 20 cm s^-1). North-west of the Shetlands the offshore edge of the slope current was deflected across the channel for a distance of about 70 km from the shelf edge. The speed of drifters in the slope current increased to over 60 cm s^-1 as they moved anti-cyclonically around this deflection. CTD profiles suggest that the movement of the surface waters was mirrored in the deep water of the channel. The deflection carried a very large quantity of North Atlantic Water into the central part of the channel; its cause and ultimate fate are not known, although it is likely to have had a significant impact on the dynamics of the channel.     

Paleoceanographic records and sea ice extension history on the slope of the northern Bering Sea over the last 100 ka B.P.

1Introduction TheBeringSea,locatedinthesub-arcticNorth Pacific,playsanimportantroleininfluencingtheevo- lutionaryprocessoftheglobalclimaticsystembecause itsseasonalseaiceisformedinrelativelowerlatitudes (Takahashi,1999).ItisalsoasinkofatmosphericCO2, whichisoriginatedfromtheeffectivebiologicalpump inthissea.Particulatefluxdatameasuredinthesea overthelast10aindicatethattheorganic/inorganic carbonratiowasalwaysgreaterthan1,whichexplains thattheBeingSeaoccupiesasignificantpositionin theproces…     

Variability of the volume transport through the Korea/Tsushima Strait as inferred from the shipborne acoustic Doppler current profiler observations in 1997–2007

The 10-year series of observations of currents directed along the Korea/Tsushima Strait, which were measured with an acoustic Doppler current profiler aboard a ferry boat that cruised several times a week between the Hakata (Japan) and Pusan (South Korea) ports, is analyzed. Robust estimation methods are used to separate the tidal signal from the inhomogeneous series of the current data in the problem of the harmonic analysis. The MU2, NO1, PHI1, and J1 constituents have been estimated in addition to the MSF, MF, Q1, O1, P1, K1, N2, M2, S2, and K2 tidal harmonics detected previously. The annual variations in the amplitude of the M2 fundamental harmonic have also been taken into account. The current series cleared from the tidal signal has been processed in order to analyze the spatio-temporal variability of the volume transport through the Korea Strait. The normal annual velocity of the water inflow into the Japan Sea through the Korea Strait was 2.77 × 10⁶ m³ s^?1. The ratio of the flow rates in the eastern and western zones of the strait separated by the Tsushima Islands was 2/3. Considerable seasonal variations in the discharge are observed in the western strait zone: the flow rate annual maximum in October is 1.75 times as high as the minimum in February. An insignificant (not more than 0.1 × 10⁶ m³ s^?1 on average) southward flow can cross the eastern channel. Mesoscale vortices are generated in the lee of the Tsushima Islands when the northeastern current flows around them. The energy spectrum of the total nonseasonal flow rate through the Korea Strait has been constructed in the frequency range of 8–500 days. The spectrum has three significant maximums near periods of 10, 19, and 64 days. It has been indicated that this spectrum flattens at low frequencies (<0.1 day^?1) in the vicinity of the formation of mesoscale vortices behind the Tsushima Islands.     

A survey on Hydroidomedusae from the upwelling region of southern part of the Taiwan Strait of ChinaⅠ.On new species and records of Anthomedusae

Through the examination of 377 samples of the Anthomedusae, eight new species and one new record are described.     

Chemical characteristics and estimation on the vertical flux of N, P, Si in upwelling area of Taiwan Strait

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A survey on Hydroidomedusae from the upwelling region of southern part of the Taiwan Strait of ChinaⅠ.On new species and records of Anthomedusae

Through the examination of 377 samples of the Anthomedusae,eight new species and one new record are described.     

Primary production processes in the Taiwan Strait——Spatial and temporal variations of phytoplankton biomass and productivity

INTRODUCTIONAsthefundamentalbasisofthewholebiogeOChemicalcyclingofcarbon,primaryproduction.TIsWOrkwassupportedbyfUndsfmtheStateEducation~ssboandFujianaudienceFOUndstion.processesswitchontheflowofmaterialsandenergyintheoceanicecosystem,supportlargeamountoffisheryproductiononwhichourhumanbeingsrelyonfacesupply.Althoughconsistingonly8%oftheglobaloceanarea,coastalregionssupply26%oftheglobaloceanicbiologicalproductsand2/3--3/4oftotalfisheryresources.Therefore,theinvestigationsonphytoplank…     

Wavenumber–frequency analysis of the landslide-generated tsunamis at a conical island

In this paper we investigate the propagation of tsunamis generated by landslides around the coast of an island to understand the propagation and trapping mechanisms of the waves. Records of shoreline displacement have been processed using the wavenumber–frequency analysis (k–f). We identify the dispersion relation followed by the waves that propagate alongshore. It appears that the 0th-order edge wave mode is the only one relevant for shoreline run-up. Furthermore, it is shown that the edge wave dispersion relation is a quantitative tool to estimate the phase and group wave celerities. A very good agreement is found when comparing the wave celerities as calculated from the experimental records, against those predicted by the edge wave theory. Furthermore the analysis of the tsunami around the island has been carried out by means of the two-dimensional k–f. Using as input data a high-space resolution dataset of free surface elevations it is found that other modes, both trapped (1st-order edge waves) and non-trapped (free radiating waves), occur during the propagation.