Mesoscale eddies have been suggested to have an impact on biological carbon fixation in the South China Sea （SCS）. However, their overall contribution to primary production during the spring inter-monsoon pe riod is...Mesoscale eddies have been suggested to have an impact on biological carbon fixation in the South China Sea （SCS）. However, their overall contribution to primary production during the spring inter-monsoon pe riod is still unknown. Based on large-scale biological and environmental in situ observations and synchro nous remote sensing data, the distribution patterns of phytoplankton biomass and the primary production, and the role of mesoscale eddies in regulating primary production in different eddy-controlled waters were investigated. The results suggested that the surface chlorophyll a concentrations and water column inte grated primary production （IPP） are significantly higher in cyclonic eddies and lower in the anticyclonic eddies as compared to that in non-eddy waters. Although eddies could affect various environmental factors, such as nutrients, temperature and light availability, nutrient supply is suggested to be the most important one through which mesoscale eddies regulated the distribution patterns of phytoplankton biomass and pri mary production. The estimated IPP in cyclonic and anticyclonic eddies are about 29.5% higher and 16.6% lower than the total average in the whole study area, respectively, indicating that the promotion effect of mesoscale cold eddies on the primary production was much stronger than the inhibition effect of the warm eddies per unit area. Overall, mesoscale eddies are crucial physical processes that affect the biological car bon fixation and the distribution pattern of primary production in the SCS open sea, especially during the spring inter-monsoon period.展开更多
Owing to lack of observational data and accurate definition,it is difficult to distinguish the Kuroshio intrusion water from the Pacific Ocean into the South China Sea（SCS）.By using a passive tracer to identify the ...Owing to lack of observational data and accurate definition,it is difficult to distinguish the Kuroshio intrusion water from the Pacific Ocean into the South China Sea（SCS）.By using a passive tracer to identify the Kuroshio water based on an observation-validated three-dimensional numerical model MITgcm,the spatio-temporal variation of the Kuroshio intrusion water into the SCS has been investigated.Our result shows the Kuroshio intrusion is of distinct seasonal variation in both horizontal and vertical directions.In winter,the intruding Kuroshio water reaches the farthest,almost occupying the area from 18°N to 23°N and 114°E to 121°E,with a small branch flowing towards the Taiwan Strait.The intrusion region of the Kuroshio water decreases with depth gradually.However,in summer,the Kuroshio water is confined to the east of 118°E without any branch reaching the Taiwan Strait; meanwhile the intrusion region of the Kuroshio water increases from the surface to the depth about 205 m,then it decreases with depth.The estimated annual mean of Kuroshio Intrusion Transport（KIT） via the Luzon Strait is westward to the SCS in an amount of –3.86×106 m3/s,which is larger than the annual mean of Luzon Strait Transport（LST） of –3.15×106 m3/s.The KIT above 250 m accounts for 60%–80% of the LST throughout the entire water column.By analyzing interannual variation of the Kuroshio intrusion from the year 2003 to 2012,we find that the Kuroshio branch flowing into the Taiwan Strait is the weaker in winter of La Ni？a years than those in El Ni？o and normal years,which may be attributed to the wind stress curl off the southeast China then.Furthermore,the KIT correlates the Ni？o 3.4 index from 2003 to 2012 with a correlation coefficient of 0.41,which is lower than that of the LST with the Ni？o 3.4 index,i.e.,0.78.展开更多
Based on the EOF analyses of Absolute Dynamic Topography satellite data, it is found that, in summer, the northern South China Sea （SCS） is dominated by an anticyclonic gyre whilst by a cyclonic one in winter. A con...Based on the EOF analyses of Absolute Dynamic Topography satellite data, it is found that, in summer, the northern South China Sea （SCS） is dominated by an anticyclonic gyre whilst by a cyclonic one in winter. A connected single-layer and two-layer model is employed here to investigate the dynamic mechanism of the circulation in the northern SCS. Numerical experi- ments show that the nonlinear term, the pressure torque and the planetary vorticity adveetion play important roles in the circulation of the northern SCS, whilst the contribution by seasonal wind stress curl is local and limited. Only a small part of the Kuroshio water intrudes into the SCS, it then induces a positive vorticity band extending southwestward from the west of the Luzon Strait （LS） and a negative vorticity band along the 200 m isobath of the northern basin. The positive vorticity field induced by the local summer wind stress curl is weaker than that induced in winter in the northern SCS. Besides the Kuroshio intrusion and monsoon, the water trans- ports via the Sunda Shelf and the Sibutu Passage are also important to the circulation in the northern SCS, and the induced vorticity field in summer is almost contrary to that in winter. The strength variations of these three key factors （Kuroshio, monsoon and the water transports via the Sunda Shelf and the Sibutu Passage） determine the seasonal variations of the vorticity and eddy fields in the northern SCS. As for the water exchange via the LS, the Kuroshio intrusion brings about a net inflow into the SCS, and the monsoon has a less effect, whilst the water transports via the Sunda Shelf and the Sibutu Passage are the most important influencing factors, thus, the water exchange of the SCS with the Pacific via the LS changes dramatically from an outflow of the SCS in summer to an inflow into the SCS in winter.展开更多
基金The CAS Strategic Pilot Science and Technology of China under contract Nos XDA11020205 and XDA05030403the National Project of Basic Sciences and Technology of China under contract Nos 2012FY112400 and 2013FY111200+1 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract Nos 41276162,41130855,41276161 and 40906057the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province of China under contract No.S2011040000151
文摘Mesoscale eddies have been suggested to have an impact on biological carbon fixation in the South China Sea （SCS）. However, their overall contribution to primary production during the spring inter-monsoon pe riod is still unknown. Based on large-scale biological and environmental in situ observations and synchro nous remote sensing data, the distribution patterns of phytoplankton biomass and the primary production, and the role of mesoscale eddies in regulating primary production in different eddy-controlled waters were investigated. The results suggested that the surface chlorophyll a concentrations and water column inte grated primary production （IPP） are significantly higher in cyclonic eddies and lower in the anticyclonic eddies as compared to that in non-eddy waters. Although eddies could affect various environmental factors, such as nutrients, temperature and light availability, nutrient supply is suggested to be the most important one through which mesoscale eddies regulated the distribution patterns of phytoplankton biomass and pri mary production. The estimated IPP in cyclonic and anticyclonic eddies are about 29.5% higher and 16.6% lower than the total average in the whole study area, respectively, indicating that the promotion effect of mesoscale cold eddies on the primary production was much stronger than the inhibition effect of the warm eddies per unit area. Overall, mesoscale eddies are crucial physical processes that affect the biological car bon fixation and the distribution pattern of primary production in the SCS open sea, especially during the spring inter-monsoon period.
基金The Special Fund of Strategic Leading Science and Technology from Chinese Academy of Sciences under contract Nos XDA11020305 and XDA13030103the National Basic Research Program of China under contract No.2013CB956101+1 种基金the National Science Foundation Council Grant of China under contract Nos 41206009,41430964 and 41521005the Chinese Academy of Sciences/State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs International Partnership Program for Creative Research Teams under contract No.20140491532
文摘Owing to lack of observational data and accurate definition,it is difficult to distinguish the Kuroshio intrusion water from the Pacific Ocean into the South China Sea（SCS）.By using a passive tracer to identify the Kuroshio water based on an observation-validated three-dimensional numerical model MITgcm,the spatio-temporal variation of the Kuroshio intrusion water into the SCS has been investigated.Our result shows the Kuroshio intrusion is of distinct seasonal variation in both horizontal and vertical directions.In winter,the intruding Kuroshio water reaches the farthest,almost occupying the area from 18°N to 23°N and 114°E to 121°E,with a small branch flowing towards the Taiwan Strait.The intrusion region of the Kuroshio water decreases with depth gradually.However,in summer,the Kuroshio water is confined to the east of 118°E without any branch reaching the Taiwan Strait; meanwhile the intrusion region of the Kuroshio water increases from the surface to the depth about 205 m,then it decreases with depth.The estimated annual mean of Kuroshio Intrusion Transport（KIT） via the Luzon Strait is westward to the SCS in an amount of –3.86×106 m3/s,which is larger than the annual mean of Luzon Strait Transport（LST） of –3.15×106 m3/s.The KIT above 250 m accounts for 60%–80% of the LST throughout the entire water column.By analyzing interannual variation of the Kuroshio intrusion from the year 2003 to 2012,we find that the Kuroshio branch flowing into the Taiwan Strait is the weaker in winter of La Ni？a years than those in El Ni？o and normal years,which may be attributed to the wind stress curl off the southeast China then.Furthermore,the KIT correlates the Ni？o 3.4 index from 2003 to 2012 with a correlation coefficient of 0.41,which is lower than that of the LST with the Ni？o 3.4 index,i.e.,0.78.
基金supported by theNational Natural Foundation of China (NSFC) Grants Nos. 41025019,40976009 and 41206009
文摘Based on the EOF analyses of Absolute Dynamic Topography satellite data, it is found that, in summer, the northern South China Sea （SCS） is dominated by an anticyclonic gyre whilst by a cyclonic one in winter. A connected single-layer and two-layer model is employed here to investigate the dynamic mechanism of the circulation in the northern SCS. Numerical experi- ments show that the nonlinear term, the pressure torque and the planetary vorticity adveetion play important roles in the circulation of the northern SCS, whilst the contribution by seasonal wind stress curl is local and limited. Only a small part of the Kuroshio water intrudes into the SCS, it then induces a positive vorticity band extending southwestward from the west of the Luzon Strait （LS） and a negative vorticity band along the 200 m isobath of the northern basin. The positive vorticity field induced by the local summer wind stress curl is weaker than that induced in winter in the northern SCS. Besides the Kuroshio intrusion and monsoon, the water trans- ports via the Sunda Shelf and the Sibutu Passage are also important to the circulation in the northern SCS, and the induced vorticity field in summer is almost contrary to that in winter. The strength variations of these three key factors （Kuroshio, monsoon and the water transports via the Sunda Shelf and the Sibutu Passage） determine the seasonal variations of the vorticity and eddy fields in the northern SCS. As for the water exchange via the LS, the Kuroshio intrusion brings about a net inflow into the SCS, and the monsoon has a less effect, whilst the water transports via the Sunda Shelf and the Sibutu Passage are the most important influencing factors, thus, the water exchange of the SCS with the Pacific via the LS changes dramatically from an outflow of the SCS in summer to an inflow into the SCS in winter.
