Hydrographic data, ADCP velocity and sea level anomaly derived from the satellite altimeter have been jointly analyzed in the southeast lndian Ocean. Results show the locations and orientations of the major oceanic fr...Hydrographic data, ADCP velocity and sea level anomaly derived from the satellite altimeter have been jointly analyzed in the southeast lndian Ocean. Results show the locations and orientations of the major oceanic fronts as well as the characteristics of the currents within these fronts in the area. Double subtropical fronts are observed in the section along 120°E, which conflicts with the frontal structure frequently observed before the North Subtropical Front （NSTF） and South Subtropical Front （SSTF） merge into a single STF between 110°-115°E. The Subantarctic Front （SAF）, influenced by the out-of-phase double eddies, runs across 48°S three times between 120° and 127°E. The surface current within the SAF is strengthened up to 105.4 cm/s by the geostrophic effect of these eddies. Furthermore eddies may cause the strong current to split up into two branches within the SAF. The SAF and the primary polar front （PFI） can be identified individually in the ADCP data with a separation distance of about 0.3° at latitude between 140° and 145°E, although they cannot be identified separately in the low-resolution hydrographic data. The different thcrmohaline characteristics of Circumpolar Deep Water （CDW） and Modified Circumpolar Deep Water （MCDW） result in the formation of Southern Antarctic Circumpolar Current Front （SACCF） in the southeast Indian Ocean. It consistently turns northward along the east flank of the Kerguclen Plateau after it runs through the Princess Elizabeth Trough and turns southward sharply north of 60°S with a little seasonal variations. It is shown that the locations and orientations of the SAK the primary PF and SACCF in the ACC of the southeast Indian Ocean can be identified more precisely by the current distribution derived from ADCP data than by hydrographic data, because these fronts are usually accompanied by strong currents. However, the locations and orientations of the STF and the secondary PF are more difficult to be identified through current data, since these two fronts are usually not accompanied by any jet. The STF the and the secondary PF are usually confined in the first few hundred meters of the upper ocean and the latter is often determined by the northern terminus of 2 ℃ isothermal.展开更多
Automated identification and tracking of mesoscale ocean eddies has recently become one research hotspot in physical oceanography. Several methods have been developed and applied to survey the general kinetic and geom...Automated identification and tracking of mesoscale ocean eddies has recently become one research hotspot in physical oceanography. Several methods have been developed and applied to survey the general kinetic and geometric characteristics of the ocean eddies in the South China Sea（SCS）. However, very few studies attempt to examine eddies＇ internal evolution processes. In this study, we reported a hybrid method to trace eddies＇ propagation in the SCS based on their internal structures, which are characterized by eddy centers, footprint borders, and composite borders. Eddy identification and tracking results were represented by a GIS-based spatiotemporal model. Information on instant states, dynamic evolution processes, and events of disappearance, reappearance, split, and mergence is stored in a GIS database. Results were validated by comparing against the ten Dongsha Cyclonic Eddies（DCEs） and the three long-lived anticyclonic eddies（ACEs） in the northern SCS, which were reported in previous literature. Our study confirmed the development of these eddies. Furthermore, we found more DCE-like and ACE-like eddies in these areas from 2005 to 2012 in our database. Spatial distribution analysis of disappearing, reappearing, splitting, and merging activities shows that eddies in the SCS tend to cluster to the northwest of Luzon Island, southwest of Luzon Strait, and around the marginal sea of Vietnam. Kuroshio intrusions and the complex sea floor topography in these areas are the possible factors that lead to these spatial clusters.展开更多
Altimeter and in situ data are used to estimate the mean surface zonal geostrophic current in the section along 115°E in the southern Indian Ocean,and the variation of strong currents in relation to the major fro...Altimeter and in situ data are used to estimate the mean surface zonal geostrophic current in the section along 115°E in the southern Indian Ocean,and the variation of strong currents in relation to the major fronts is studied.The results show that,in average,the flow in the core of Antarctic Circumpolar Current（ACC） along the section is composed of two parts,one corresponds to the jet of Subantarctic Front（SAF） and the other is the flow in the Polar Front Zone（PFZ）,with a westward flow between them.The mean surface zonal geostrophic current corresponding to the SAF is up to 49 cm · s^-1 at 46°S,which is the maximal velocity in the section.The eastward flow in the PFZ has a width of about 4.3 degrees in latitudes.The mean surface zonal geostrophic current corresponding to the Southern Antarctic Circumpolar Current Front（SACCF） is located at 59.7 °S with velocity less than 20 cm · s^-1.The location of zonal geostrophic jet corresponding to the SAF is quite stable during the study period.In contrast,the eastward jets in the PFZ exhibit various patterns,i.e.,the primary Polar Front（PF1） shows its strong meridional shift and the secondary Polar Front（PF2） does not always coincide with jet.The surface zonal geostrophic current corresponding to SAF has the significant periods of annual,semi-annual and four-month.The geostrophic current of the PFZ also shows significant periods of semi-annual and four-month,but is out of phase with the periods of the SAF,which results in no notable semi-annual and fourmonth periods in the surface zonal geostrophic current in the core of the ACC.In terms of annual cycle,the mean surface zonal geostrophic current in the core of the ACC shows its maximal velocity in June.展开更多
A recurring spring mesoscale eddy in the western South China Sea （SCS） is studied using remote sensing data and historical in situ observations. The feature first appears east of the central Vietnam coast in Febru- ...A recurring spring mesoscale eddy in the western South China Sea （SCS） is studied using remote sensing data and historical in situ observations. The feature first appears east of the central Vietnam coast in Febru- ary as a high sea-level anomaly, grows rapidly to a well-developed anticyclonic eddy by March, matures in April, and decays in May. Besides the warm-core feature, it also has an inherent low-salinity property, so it is named ＂spring mesoscale high （SMH）＂. Though with clear interannual variation in terms of intensity and spatial coverage, the SMH always emerges in the region between ll0~E and l14~E and between 12~N and 16~N. The formation of SMH is ascribed to the combined effects of wind forcing and releasing of po- tential energy set up by winter monsoon. In particular, the wind-stress curl plays an important role in its development, maintenance, and dissipation.展开更多
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China undrer contract Nos 40376009, 40231013 ,49836010 the Ministry of Science and Technology of China under contract Nos 2003DIB4J135 , 2005DIB3J114the National Science Foundation of USA under contract No. 0PP0230284.
文摘Hydrographic data, ADCP velocity and sea level anomaly derived from the satellite altimeter have been jointly analyzed in the southeast lndian Ocean. Results show the locations and orientations of the major oceanic fronts as well as the characteristics of the currents within these fronts in the area. Double subtropical fronts are observed in the section along 120°E, which conflicts with the frontal structure frequently observed before the North Subtropical Front （NSTF） and South Subtropical Front （SSTF） merge into a single STF between 110°-115°E. The Subantarctic Front （SAF）, influenced by the out-of-phase double eddies, runs across 48°S three times between 120° and 127°E. The surface current within the SAF is strengthened up to 105.4 cm/s by the geostrophic effect of these eddies. Furthermore eddies may cause the strong current to split up into two branches within the SAF. The SAF and the primary polar front （PFI） can be identified individually in the ADCP data with a separation distance of about 0.3° at latitude between 140° and 145°E, although they cannot be identified separately in the low-resolution hydrographic data. The different thcrmohaline characteristics of Circumpolar Deep Water （CDW） and Modified Circumpolar Deep Water （MCDW） result in the formation of Southern Antarctic Circumpolar Current Front （SACCF） in the southeast Indian Ocean. It consistently turns northward along the east flank of the Kerguclen Plateau after it runs through the Princess Elizabeth Trough and turns southward sharply north of 60°S with a little seasonal variations. It is shown that the locations and orientations of the SAK the primary PF and SACCF in the ACC of the southeast Indian Ocean can be identified more precisely by the current distribution derived from ADCP data than by hydrographic data, because these fronts are usually accompanied by strong currents. However, the locations and orientations of the STF and the secondary PF are more difficult to be identified through current data, since these two fronts are usually not accompanied by any jet. The STF the and the secondary PF are usually confined in the first few hundred meters of the upper ocean and the latter is often determined by the northern terminus of 2 ℃ isothermal.
基金The National Science Foundation of China under contract Nos 41071250 and 41371378the Innovation Projects of the State Key Laboratory of Resource and Environment Information System,Chinese Academy of Sciences,under contract No.088RA500TA
文摘Automated identification and tracking of mesoscale ocean eddies has recently become one research hotspot in physical oceanography. Several methods have been developed and applied to survey the general kinetic and geometric characteristics of the ocean eddies in the South China Sea（SCS）. However, very few studies attempt to examine eddies＇ internal evolution processes. In this study, we reported a hybrid method to trace eddies＇ propagation in the SCS based on their internal structures, which are characterized by eddy centers, footprint borders, and composite borders. Eddy identification and tracking results were represented by a GIS-based spatiotemporal model. Information on instant states, dynamic evolution processes, and events of disappearance, reappearance, split, and mergence is stored in a GIS database. Results were validated by comparing against the ten Dongsha Cyclonic Eddies（DCEs） and the three long-lived anticyclonic eddies（ACEs） in the northern SCS, which were reported in previous literature. Our study confirmed the development of these eddies. Furthermore, we found more DCE-like and ACE-like eddies in these areas from 2005 to 2012 in our database. Spatial distribution analysis of disappearing, reappearing, splitting, and merging activities shows that eddies in the SCS tend to cluster to the northwest of Luzon Island, southwest of Luzon Strait, and around the marginal sea of Vietnam. Kuroshio intrusions and the complex sea floor topography in these areas are the possible factors that lead to these spatial clusters.
基金The Ministry of Science and Technology,China grant Nos. 2006BAB18B02 and 2008DFA20420the National Natural Science Foundation of China grant No. 40376009
文摘Altimeter and in situ data are used to estimate the mean surface zonal geostrophic current in the section along 115°E in the southern Indian Ocean,and the variation of strong currents in relation to the major fronts is studied.The results show that,in average,the flow in the core of Antarctic Circumpolar Current（ACC） along the section is composed of two parts,one corresponds to the jet of Subantarctic Front（SAF） and the other is the flow in the Polar Front Zone（PFZ）,with a westward flow between them.The mean surface zonal geostrophic current corresponding to the SAF is up to 49 cm · s^-1 at 46°S,which is the maximal velocity in the section.The eastward flow in the PFZ has a width of about 4.3 degrees in latitudes.The mean surface zonal geostrophic current corresponding to the Southern Antarctic Circumpolar Current Front（SACCF） is located at 59.7 °S with velocity less than 20 cm · s^-1.The location of zonal geostrophic jet corresponding to the SAF is quite stable during the study period.In contrast,the eastward jets in the PFZ exhibit various patterns,i.e.,the primary Polar Front（PF1） shows its strong meridional shift and the secondary Polar Front（PF2） does not always coincide with jet.The surface zonal geostrophic current corresponding to SAF has the significant periods of annual,semi-annual and four-month.The geostrophic current of the PFZ also shows significant periods of semi-annual and four-month,but is out of phase with the periods of the SAF,which results in no notable semi-annual and fourmonth periods in the surface zonal geostrophic current in the core of the ACC.In terms of annual cycle,the mean surface zonal geostrophic current in the core of the ACC shows its maximal velocity in June.
基金The National Basic Research Program of China(973 Program)under contract No.2011CB403504the National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract No.41071250the Marine Science Foundation for Young Scientists of State Oceanic Administration of China under contract No.2012221
文摘A recurring spring mesoscale eddy in the western South China Sea （SCS） is studied using remote sensing data and historical in situ observations. The feature first appears east of the central Vietnam coast in Febru- ary as a high sea-level anomaly, grows rapidly to a well-developed anticyclonic eddy by March, matures in April, and decays in May. Besides the warm-core feature, it also has an inherent low-salinity property, so it is named ＂spring mesoscale high （SMH）＂. Though with clear interannual variation in terms of intensity and spatial coverage, the SMH always emerges in the region between ll0~E and l14~E and between 12~N and 16~N. The formation of SMH is ascribed to the combined effects of wind forcing and releasing of po- tential energy set up by winter monsoon. In particular, the wind-stress curl plays an important role in its development, maintenance, and dissipation.
