Three-dimensional circulation in northern South China Sea during early summer of 2015

Using the hydrographic data obtained during two nearly simultaneous surveys in June 2015,we carried out semi-diagnostic calculations with the help of a finite element model and a modified inverse method,to study the circulation in the northern South China Sea(NSCS)during the early summer of 2015.A number of new circulation features were found.(1)In most of the observation region,a large,basin-scale anticyclonic gyre appeared south of the 50-m isobath,which contained anticyclonic eddies.One anticyclonic eddy existed from the sea surface to 50-m depth,whose center showed no tilt,while the center of another eddy tilted eastward from the sea surface to 500-m depth.In the eastern part of the observation region,which is west of the Dongsha Islands,there was a sub-basin-scale cyclonic gyre containing a cyclonic eddy whose center tilted southward from the sea surface to 200-m depth.(2)There was a cross-continental slope current(CCSC)in the area southwest of the Dongsha Islands.Its volume transport was about 2.0×10^(6) m^(3)/s.(3)From the estimated order of magnitude of the stream function equation,the joint effect term of the baroclinity and relief(JEBAR)andβ-effect term are two important dynamic mechanisms affecting the variation of the circulation in the NSCS.(4)The JEBAR,as a transport-generating term,resulted in the dynamic mechanism determining the pattern of the depth-averaged flow across the contours of potential vorticity fH–1.Furthermore,we show that the negative values of the JEBAR were the most dominant dynamic mechanism,causing the CCSC southwest of the Dongsha Islands to deflect from the isobaths and veer toward the deep water.The CCSC around the Dongsha Islands was located further southwest during the early summer of 2015 than during the fall of 2005(revealed by a published study),which suggests that the location of the CCSC around the Dongsha Islands may vary with season.

Seasonal Difference of the Deep Currents in the Luzon Strait during October 2008-January 2009 and July-August 2009

Based on direct current measurements from two separated cruises in October 2008-January 2009 and July-August 2009, we obtained a valuable deep current observation of the Luzon Strait (LS). Rectified wavelet power spectra analysis (RWPSA) and the geostrophic current calculation are used to study the deep current. We find that the deep current differs in different seasons. The current is strongest in autumn (October-November) and weaker in summer (July-August) and in winter (December-January). The cyclonic and anti-cyclonic meander with different subtidal current directions plays an important role in the seasonal difference of the deep current in the LS. The observed seasonal difference of the deep current in the LS is connected with the deep current observed at the western boundary of the northern Philippine Basin and is also linked with the overflow near the central Bashi Channel and Luzon Trough. The RWPSA of the long observation suggests the dominant periods of 8 d, 19 d in the deep current. The dynamical cause of the resulting velocity distribution at 1850 and 1760 m is the pressure field and bottom topography steering. The observed deep current agrees well with the geostrophic current calculation.