Velocity structures and transports of the Kuroshio and the Ryukyu current during fall of 2000 estimated by an inverse technique

An inverse calculation using hydrographic section data collected from October to December 2000 yields velocity structure and transports of the Kuroshio in the Okinawa Trough region of the East China Sea (ECS) and south of central Japan, and of the Ryukyu Current (RC) southeast of the Ryukyu Islands. The results show the Kuroshio flowing from the ECS, through the Tokara Strait (TK), with a subsurface maximum velocity of 89 cm s⁻¹ at 460 dbar. In a section (TI) southeast of Kyushu, a subsurface maximum velocity of 92 cm s⁻¹ at 250 dbar is found. The results also show the RC flowing over the continental slope from the region southeast of Okinawa (OS) to the region east of Amami-Ohshima (AE) with a subsurface maximum velocity of 67 cm s⁻¹ at 400 dbar, before joining the Kuroshio southeast of Kyushu (TI). The volume transport around the subsurface velocity maximum southeast of Kyushu (TI) balances well with the sum of those in TK and AE. The temperature-salinity relationships found around these velocity cores are very similar, indicating that the same water mass is involved. These results help demonstrate the joining of the RC with the Kuroshio southeast of Kyushu. The net volume transport of the Kuroshio south of central Japan is estimated to be 64∼79 Sv (1 Sv ≡ 10⁶ m³s⁻¹), of which 27 Sv are supplied by the Kuroshio from the ECS and 13 Sv are supplied by the RC from OS. The balance (about 24∼39 Sv) is presumably supplied by the Kuroshio recirculation south of Shikoku, Japan.     

东海黑潮区莹虾类的初步研究

1984年6月和1985年12月,对东海进行了首次黑潮实验性调查.整个调查区涉及到东海及东海黑潮区。作为综合调查项目其中之一的生物调查,在全调查区进行了取样:冬、夏两航次共采集浮游动物样品115份,经分析共鉴定出莹虾类4种。夏季(6月)出现中型莹虾 Luciferintermedius、正型莹虾 Lucifer typus、刷状莹虾 Lnckfer penicillifer、东方莹虾 Lucifer oriental-is;冬季(12月)出现中型莹虾 Lucifer intermedius、正型莹虾 Lucifer typus,可以明显地看出莹虾类的数量分布和种类分布与水温、营养盐、水团、流系等之间有密切的关系。并且莹虾类的数量分布与渔场的位置也有一定关系。据本次调查及资料分析,夏季可将中型莹虾作为东海混合水的指标种;正型莹虾可作为黑潮水的指标种;刷状莹虾可作为台湾暖流的指标种,为水文的调查提供较有价值的参考.     

Predicting the capability-polar-plots for dynamic positioning systems for offshore platforms using artificial neural networks

As the capability of polar plots becomes better understood, improved dynamic positioning (DP) systems are possible as the control algorithms greatly depend on the accuracy of the aerodynamic and hydrodynamic models. The measurements and estimation of the environmental disturbances have an important role in the optimal design and selection of a DP system for offshore platforms. The main objective of this work is to present a new method of predicting the Capability-Polar-Plots for offshore platforms using the combination of the artificial neural networks (NNs) and the capability polar plots program (CPPP). The estimated results from a case study for a scientific drilling vessel are presented. A trained artificial NN is designed in this work and is able to predict the maximum wind speed at which the DP thrusters are able to maintain the offshore platform in a station-keeping mode in the field site. This prediction for the maximum wind speed will be a helpful tool for DP operators in managing station-keeping for offshore platforms in an emergency situation where the automation of the DP systems is disabled. It is obvious from the obtained results that the developed technique has potential for the estimation of the capability-polar-plots for offshore platforms. This tool would be suitable for DP operators to predict the maximum wind speed and direction in a very short period of time.     

Spatial and Temporal Variability in a Vertical Section Across the Alaskan Stream and Subarctic Current

In the central North Pacific Subarctic Gyre, CTD hydrographic measurements were carried out yearly in late June from 1990 to 1998 at 9 stations along 180° meridian from 48°N to 51.2°N. Vertical sections of 9-year means, anomalies for each year and others of potential temperature, salinity, potential density and geostrophic velocity (referred to 3000 m) were calculated based on this data set. Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) analysis was adopted in the investigation of spatial characteristics and its temporal variation in vertical sections. The spatial distribution of the 1st mode EOF of velocity shows the westward Alaskan Stream and the eastward Subarctic Current. This mode explains 37.6% of the total variance. Two positive maxims appear in its amplitude in 1991 and 1997, which is similar to the variation in volume transport of the eastward Subarctic Current. These variations are closely related to the vertical movement of Ridge Domain deep water.     

Structure and Transport of the Agulhas Current and Its Temporal Variability

Using a year-long moored array of current meters and well-sampled synoptic sections, we define the variability and mean structure and transport of the Agulhas current. Nineteen current meter records indicate that time scales for the temporal variability in the alongshore and offshore velocities are 10.2 and 5.4 days, respectively. Good vertical correlation exists between the alongshore or onshore velocity fluctuations, excluding the Agulhas Undercurrent. The lateral scale for the thermocline Agulhas current is about 60 km and the onshore velocity correlations are positive throughout the Agulhas Current system. Mean velocities from the array determine that the offshore edge of the Agulhas Current lies at 203 km and the penetration depth is 2200 m offshore of the Undercurrent. Hence, daily averaged velocity sections, determined by interpolation and extrapolation of current meter locations, for a 267-day period, from the surface to 2400 m depth and from the coast out to 203 km offshore encompass the main features of the Agulhas Current system. The Agulhas current is generally found close to the continental slope, within 31 km of the coast for 211 of 267 days. There are only five days when the core of the current is found offshore at 150 km. Total transport is always poleward, varying from −121 to −9 Sv, with maximum transport occurring when the core is 62 km from the coast. Average total transport for the 267 day period is −69.7 Sv; the standard deviation in daily transport values is 21.5 Sv; and the mean transport has an estimated standard error of 4.3 Sv. The Agulhas Undercurrent, which hugs the continental slope below the zero velocity isotach, has an average equatorward transport of 4.2 Sv, standard deviation of 2.9 Sv and an estimated standard error of 0.4 Sv. Transports from the moored array are in reasonable agreement with transport results from synoptic sections. Based on time series measurements at about 30° latitude in each ocean basin, the Agulhas Current is the largest western boundary current in the world ocean.     

近55年东北冷涡与辽西地区降水关系分析

利用1961—2015年辽宁省西部地区18个测站月降水量资料和东北地区209个测站1961—2015年月平均气温资料、NOAA重建的月平均海表温度资料以及88项大气环流指数、26项海温指数资料定义了适用于辽西地区的夏季标准化东北冷涡强度指数(NECVI)和冷涡降水预报因子,并对东北冷涡和辽西冷涡降水进行详细分析,结果表明:近55年,辽西地区冷涡降水夏季和年贡献率整体趋势较稳定,无明显变化,表现出18年左右的显著振荡周期。东北冷涡偏强年,NECVI指数偏大,标准化降水指数(SPI)偏高,对应辽西地区降水偏多;反之,东北冷涡偏弱年,NECVI指数偏小,SPI指数偏低,对应辽西地区降水偏少。前期3月Nino 3区海表温度距平指数、5月黑潮区海温指数、3月西太平洋副高强度指数均与辽西冷涡降水显著相关,具有较好的指示意义,可作为冷涡降水的预报因子,为辽西夏季气候预测和人工影响天气工作的开展提供参考。     

A two-layers model for the summer circulation of the East China Sea

Ａｔｗｏ－ｌａｙｅｒｓｍｏｄｅｌｆｏｒｔｈｅｓｕｍｍｅｒｃｉｒｃｕｌａｔｉｏｎｏｆｔｈｅＥａｓｔＣｈｉｎａＳｅａ￥ＬｉａｎｇＸｉａｎｇｓａｎａｎｄＳｕＪｉｌａｎ（ＳｅｃｏｎｄＩｎｓｔｉｔｕｔｅｏｆＯｃｅａｎｏｇｒａｐｈｙ，ＳｔａｔｅＯｃｅａｎｉｃＡｄ...     

Uncertainty Reduction of Estimated Geostrophic Volume Transports with Altimeter Observations East of Taiwan

The common geostrophic estimation of ocean current velocity uses only water temperature and conductivity profiles. The geostrophic volume transport of a western boundary current, like the Taiwan Current (Kuroshio east of Taiwan), between the coast and its eastern boundary can be easily estimated based on hydrographic survey data. But the eastern boundary of the Taiwan Current is very uncertain due to extremely variable hydrographic conditions. This uncertainty is strongly correlated with the propagating mesoscale eddies originating from the interior of the western North Pacific Ocean. The uncertainty of estimated transport can be greatly reduced if eddy distribution is considered when determining the integration boundaries with the assistance of satellite altimeter measurements. Eight hydrographic surveys east of Taiwan between November 1992 and June 1996 are demonstrated in this study. The average geostrophic transport of the Taiwan Current with a reference set to 1000 dbar at 22°N between the east coast of Taiwan and 124°E is 22.9 ±14.2 Sv and changes to 22.1 ± 8.3 Sv, the uncertainty of which is nearly halved after taking account of the eddy distribution. The estimation uncertainty is insensitive to vertical displacements of the reference level within the depth range between 800 and 2000 dbar. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Seasonal Variations in the Sea off Sanriku Coast, Japan

The temperature and salinity data obtained by the Iwate Fisheries Technology Center for the 25-year period from 1971 to 1995 were analyzed to clarify the seasonal variations in the sea off Sanriku, Japan. The variations of three typical waters found in this region, the Tsugaru Current water, the Oyashio water, and the Kuroshio water are discussed in terms, of a T-S scatter diagram referring to the water mass classification proposed by Hanawa and Mitsudera (1986). The mean temperature and salinity fields averaged for each month show clear seasonal variation. Distributions of the Tsugaru Current water and the Oyashio water can barely be distinguished in the fields deeper than 200 m since the Tsugaru Current has a shallow structure; however, the fields at 100 m depth indicate remarkable seasonal variation in the area of the Tsugaru Current. At 100 m depth, the temperature and salinity fronts between the Tsugaru Current water and the Oyashio water gradually disappear in January through April, appear again in May, then become clearest in September. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.