A long-term volume transport time series estimated by combining in situ observation and satellite altimeter data in the northern South China Sea

Zhu, Xiaohua; Zhao, Ruixiang; Guo, Xinyu; Yu, Lushan; Ma, Yun-Long; Fan, Xiaopeng

doi:10.1007/s10872-015-0305-5

Cited by 26 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…The VT data [Zhu et al, 2015] of the SCSWBC were estimated using in situ observations from five pressurerecording inverted echo sounders (PIES) deployed from October 2012 to July 2014 in the northern SCS between Hainan Island and the Xisha Islands (Figure 1b). The deployment track was the same as that for TOPEX/Poseidon and Jason 1 and 2.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The velocity structure and the volume transport (28.1 Sv) agree quite well with the ADCP survey (with VT of 28.4 Sv). A more detailed description of above method is documented in Zhu et al [2015]. The close empirical relationship with sea surface height anomaly difference across the PIES section (r > 0.9) enabled us to monitor the real-time VT variation of the SCSWBC.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We only analyzed years after 1993 in order to be consistent with the period of our latest VT time series. According to above criteria, eight El Niño events were identified: 1994-1995, 1997-1998, 2002-2003-2005, 2006-2007, 2009, 2014-2015, and 2015-2016and nine La Niña events were identified: 1995, 1998-1999, 1999-2000, 2000, 2005-2006, 2007-2008, 2008-2009-2011, and 2011-2012…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Figures 2d and 2e show the winters of 2006-2007 and 2015-2016, referred to as Dmax and Dmin, respectively. The surface absolute geostrophic current is appropriate for indicating the strength of the SCSWBC because the SCSWBC is a surfaceintensified flow [Guo et al, 1985;Zhou et al, 2010;Zhu et al, 2015]. The SSHA pattern in Dmean ( Figure 2c) shows a large low-SSHA region oriented northeast-southwest in the central SCS that forms a cyclonic gyre.…”

Section: Figures 2c-2ementioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, its interannual variability is still not fully understood owing to the short time periods covered by the observations. Recently, Zhu et al [2015] achieved real-time estimation of its volume transport (VT) by establishing a close empirical relationship between the satellite-derived sea surface height anomaly difference of the section's ends and in situ VT estimated from an array of pressure-recording inverted echo sounders (PIES). The VT data are published online and are updated regularly (http://www.scs-data.icoc.cc/).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Weakest winter South China Sea western boundary current caused by the 2015–2016 El Niño event

Zhao

Zhu

2016

JGR Oceans

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During the winter of 2015–2016, the strongest El Niño event of the twenty‐first century occurred. At the same time, volume transport (VT) time series of the South China Sea western boundary current (SCSWBC) exhibited a minimum value of 3.7 Sv (1 Sv = 1 × 106 m3 s−1) toward the southwest, indicating the weakest strength ever recorded in boreal winter (from November to February). The South China Sea (SCS) cyclonic gyre, inferred from the satellite‐derived surface absolute geostrophic current, was significantly reduced. It was considered that the weakened wind stress curl (negative anomaly) over the SCS resulting from an anticyclone over the Philippine Sea played an essential role. The anticyclone arose from a Rossby‐wave response to a negative sea surface temperature anomaly in the northwest Pacific. This idea is further supported by composite analysis, which shows that during El Niño (La Niña) winter, negative (positive) wind stress curl anomalies prevail in the Philippine Sea and the SCS; thus, the wind stress curl over the SCS is reduced (strengthened), leading to a weaker (stronger) SCS cyclonic gyre and SCSWBC. The mean VT of SCSWBC is 4.7 Sv (5.6 Sv), which is smaller (larger) than 5.2 Sv in normal years. This study provides robust observational evidence from long‐term in situ volume transport monitoring that El Niño can have a significant impact on the SCSWBC through an atmosphere‐bridged teleconnection.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%