Surface Pattern of the South China Sea Western Boundary Current in Winter

He, Zhongshi; Wang, Dongxiao

doi:10.1142/9789812836168_0008

Cited by 7 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…Recently, drifting buoys have been widely used to measure the surface current using Lagrangian description, which can provide the flow field when there are enough data samples. Using 2003-2006 satellite-tracked surface drifting buoy data, He and Wang [28] studied the surface characters, including path, pattern, and variation of the SCSWBC in winter (Figure 1). They pointed out that the SCSWBC flows southwestward originated from the northern SCS, becomes narrow, and strengthens after reaching to Vietnam coast.…”

Section: Observationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Progress of regional oceanography study associated with western boundary current in the South China Sea

et al. 2013

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Recent progress of physical oceanography in the South China Sea (SCS) associated with the western boundary current (WBC) and eddies is reviewed in this paper. It includes Argo observations of the WBC, eddy detection in the WBC based on satellite images, cross-continental shelf exchange in the WBC, eddy-current interaction, interannual variability of the WBC, air-sea interaction, the SCS throughflow (SCSTF), among others. The WBC in the SCS is strong, and its structure, variability and dynamic processes on seasonal and interannual time scales are yet to be fully understood. In this paper, we summarize progresses on the variability of the WBC, eddy-current interaction, air-sea interaction, and the SCSTF achieved in the past few years. Firstly, using the drifting buoy observations, we point out that the WBC becomes stronger and narrower after it reaches the central Vietnam coast. The possible mechanisms influencing the ocean circulation in the northern SCS are discussed, and the dynamic mechanisms that induce the countercurrent in the region of northern branch of WBC in winter are also studied quantitatively using momentum balance. The geostropic component of the WBC was diagnosed using the ship observation along 18°N, and we found that the WBC changed significantly on interannual time scale. Secondly, using the ship observations, two anti-cyclonic eddies in the winter of 2003/2004 in the northern SCS, and three anti-cyclonic eddies in the summer of 2007 along 18°N were studied. The results show that the two anti-cyclonic eddies can propagate southwestward along the continental shelf at the speed of first Rossby wave (~0.1 m s 1 ) in winter, and the interaction between the three anti-cyclonic eddies in summer and the WBC in the SCS is preliminarily revealed. Eddies on the continental shelf of northern SCS propagated southeastward with a maximum speed of 0.09 m s 1 , and those to the east of Vietnam coast had the largest kinetic energy, both of which imply strong interaction between eddy activity and WBC in the SCS. Thirdly, strong intraseasonal variability (ISV) of sea surface temperature (SST) near the WBC regions was found, and the ISV signal of SST in winter weakens the ISV signal of latent heat flux by 20%. Fourthly, the long-term change of SCSTF volume transport and its connection with the ocean circulation in the Pacific were discussed.South China Sea, western boundary current, eddy, eddy-current interaction, intraseasonal variability, South China Sea thoughflow Citation:Wang D X, Liu Q Y, Xie Q, et al. Progress of regional oceanography study associated with western boundary current in

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Section: Observationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Progress of regional oceanography study associated with western boundary current in the South China Sea

et al. 2013

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“…This study focuses on the SCS WBC in winter, which is mainly attributed to the monsoon and Kuroshio intrusion (Chen & Xue, 2014). Many studies have investigated its pattern and interannual variability (Fang et al, 2012;He & Sui, 2010;He & Wang, 2007;Li et al, 2018;Quan et al, 2016;Wang et al, 2013;Zhao & Zhu, 2016;Zu et al, 2018). Based on drifter observations, He and Wang (2007) found that the winter SCS WBC is supplied by two branches: westward current from the eastern boundary of the SCS basin and Kuroshio intrusion, and the maximum velocity of the WBC occurs along the western slope in the SCS (Figure 1).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many studies have investigated its pattern and interannual variability (Fang et al, 2012;He & Sui, 2010;He & Wang, 2007;Li et al, 2018;Quan et al, 2016;Wang et al, 2013;Zhao & Zhu, 2016;Zu et al, 2018). Based on drifter observations, He and Wang (2007) found that the winter SCS WBC is supplied by two branches: westward current from the eastern boundary of the SCS basin and Kuroshio intrusion, and the maximum velocity of the WBC occurs along the western slope in the SCS (Figure 1). Using a new reanalysis dataset of the SCS, Quan et al (2016) concluded that wind forcing makes a primary contribution to the interannual variability of the winter SCS WBC, whereas the influence of Kuroshio intrusion is secondary.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Buoyancy Effect on the Winter South China Sea Western Boundary Current

et al. 2019

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The month‐to‐month variation of the winter South China Sea (SCS) western boundary current (WBC) along the western slope is examined using drifter observations, satellite altimetry data, and an ocean reanalysis. The most surprising phenomenon is that the WBC velocity at the sea surface reaches the maxima in November–December, which cannot be explained by wind forcing and Kuroshio intrusion alone. Analysis results demonstrate that buoyancy effect should be considered to explain the month‐to‐month variation besides wind‐Kuroshio effects. In winter, cold‐and‐salty advection by the WBC from the north decreases/reverses the zonal density gradient in the seasonal pycnocline induced by wind forcing and Kuroshio intrusion and therefore weakens wind‐Kuroshio‐induced WBC. Buoyancy effect on the winter SCS WBC is opposite to wind‐Kuroshio effects. In addition, buoyancy effect reaches the maximum in January, which is concurrent with wind‐Kuroshio effects. As a result of their competition, the zonal density gradient in the seasonal pycnocline is maximum in November–December, resulting in the maximum surface velocity along the western slope occurring in November‐December. This study demonstrates the importance of buoyancy forcing to the winter SCS WBC.

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Overview of the Atmosphere and Hydrological Environment of the South China Sea

Wang

2022

Ocean Circulation and Air-Sea Interaction in the South China Sea

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Surface Pattern of the South China Sea Western Boundary Current in Winter

Cited by 7 publications

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Progress of regional oceanography study associated with western boundary current in the South China Sea

Progress of regional oceanography study associated with western boundary current in the South China Sea

Buoyancy Effect on the Winter South China Sea Western Boundary Current

Overview of the Atmosphere and Hydrological Environment of the South China Sea

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