A numerical study of the South China Sea Warm Current during winter monsoon relaxation

Using a Finite-Volume Community Ocean Model, we investigated the dynamic mechanism of the South China Sea Warm Current(SCSWC) in the northern South China Sea(NSCS) during winter monsoon relaxation. The model reproduces the mean surface circulation of the NSCS during winter, while model-simulated subtidal currents generally capture its current pattern. The model shows that the current over the continental shelf is generally southwestward, under a strong winter monsoon condition, but a northeastward counter-wind current usually develops between 50-and 100-m isobaths, when the monsoon relaxes. Model experiments, focusing on the wind relaxation process, show that sea level is elevated in the northwestern South China Sea(SCS), related to the persistent northeasterly monsoon. Following wind relaxation, a high sea level band builds up along the mid-shelf, and a northeastward current develops, having an obvious vertical barotropic structure. Momentum balance analysis indicates that an along-shelf pressure gradient provides the initial driving force for the SCSWC during the first few days following wind relaxation. The SCSWC subsequently reaches a steady quasi-geostrophic balance in the cross-shelf direction, mainly linked to sea level adjustment over the shelf. Lagrangian particle tracking experiments show that both the southwestward coastal current and slope current contribute to the northeastward movement of the SCSWC during winter monsoon relaxation.

NUMERICAL STUDY ON THE FORMATION OF THE SOUTH CHINA SEA WARM CURRENT I. BAROTROPIC CASE

In this work, Princeton Ocean Model (POM) was used to study the formation of the South China Sea Warm Current (SCSWC) in the barotropic case. Monthly averaged wind stress and the inflow/outflow transports in January were used in the numerical simulation which reproduced the SCSWC. The effects of wind stress and inflow/outflow were studied separately. Numerical experiments showed that the Kuroshio intrusion through the Luzon Strait and the slope shelf in the northern SCS are necessary conditions for the formation of the SCSWC. In a flat bottom topography experiment, the wind stress driven northeast current in the northern SCS is a compensatory current.

NUMERICAL STUDY ON THE FORMATION OF THE SOUTH CHINA SEA WARM CURRENT II. BAROCLINIC CASE

In this part, Levitus’ climatological temperature and salinity are incorporated in the numerical model developed in Part I. Diagnostic and prognostic experiment on the thermohaline circulation were conducted. The smooth Levitus’ data do not include any information on the South China Sea Warm Current (SCSWC), so it is not in the model produced diagnostic thermohaline circulation. Although the SCSWC does not appear in the wind driven circulation in the barotropic case, it appears in the prognostic wind driven circulation in the baroclinic case. This implies that the differing circulation patterns between barotropic case and baroclinic case are due to the stratification. The prognostic thermohaline circulation with wind stress and inflow/outflow transports at open boundaries are also discussed. Coupling of density and dynamic forces makes the circulation pattern more complicated. Even though the stratification is not always a direct cause of the formation of the SCSWC, it is at least an indirect cause.

Origin of the springtime South China Sea Warm Current in the southwestern Taiwan Strait: Evidence from seawater oxygen isotope

Oxygen isotope(δ^18O)of seawater is an excellent proxy for tracing the origins of water masses and their mixing processes.Combining with hydrographic observation,hybrid coordinate ocean model(HYCOM)analysis data,and seawater oxygen isotope,we investigated the source of the South China Sea Warm Current(SCSWC)in the southwestern Taiwan Strait and its underlying mechanism.Results show that the Kuroshio subsurface water(KSSW)can intrude the continental slope in the southwestern Taiwan Strait,and thereby climb up the continental slope coupled with upwelling.Theδ^18O-salinity relationship further indicates that in spring,the SCSWC in the southwestern Taiwan Strait originates from the upslope deflection of the slope current formed by the KSSW intrusion into the South China Sea,rather than from the west segment of the SCSWC formed to the east of Hainan Island.In addition,the southward flowing Zhe-Min Coastal Current(ZMCC)can reach as far as the Taiwan Bank(TB)and deflects offshore over the western TB at approximately 23.5°N,to some extent affecting the SCSWC.Moreover,this study reveals that seawaterδ^18O is exquisitely sensitive to the determination of the origin and transport of water masses as compared with traditional potential temperature-salinity plot(θ-S)and HYCOM analysis data.In addition,their coupling can more reliably interpret the mixing processes of shelf water masses.

Seasonal variation and formation mechanism of the South China Sea warm water

The South China Sea warm water (SCSWW) is identified as the warm water body withtemperature no less than 28*. There are three stages in the seasonal variation of the SCSWW. The SCSWW expands rapidly and deepens quickly in the developing stage. The warm water thickness decreases near the coast of Vietnam and increases near Palawan Island in the steady stage. The SCSWW flinches southward while its thickness off Palawan Island remains no less than 50 m in the flinching stage. The maximum thickness of the SCSWW is always located near the southeastern SCS. The seasonal variation of the SCSWW has a close relationship with seasonal variation of the thermocline. According to the analysis of the numerical experiment results from the Princeton Ocean Model (POM), the mechanism of the seasonal variation of the SCSWW can be interpreted as: (1) in the developing stage, the rapidly expanding and thickening feature of the SCSWW is mainly due to buoyancy flux effect (67% contribution). The weak wind and anticyclonic wind stress curl (22% contribution) present an environment which facilitates the accumulation of warm water; (2) in the steady stage, the decrease feature near the Vietnam coast and increase eature in southeast of the SCSWW thickness are mainly caused by wind stress (70% contribution); (3) in the flinching stage, the thickness reduction of the SCSWW is mainly due to upwelling and enhanced turbulent mixing caused by wind stress (accounts for 60%).

Distribution characteristics of delta reservoirs reshaped by bottom currents:A case study from the second member of the Yinggehai Formation in the DF1-1 gas field,Yinggehai Basin,South China Sea

The Dongfang1-1 gas field(DF1-1)in the Yinggehai Basin is currently the largest offshore self-developed gas field in China and is rich in oil and gas resources.The second member of the Pliocene Yinggehai Formation(YGHF)is the main gas-producing formation and is composed of various sedimentary types;however,a clear understanding of the sedimentary types and development patterns is lacking.Here,typical lithofacies,logging facies and seismic facies types and characteristics of the YGHF are identified based on high-precision 3D seismic data combined with drilling,logging,analysis and testing data.Based on 3D seismic interpretation and attribute analysis,the origin of high-amplitude reflections is clarified,and the main types and evolution characteristics of sedimentary facies are identified.Taking gas formation upper II(IIU)as an example,the plane distribution of the delta front and bottom current channel is determined;finally,a comprehensive sedimentary model of the YGHF second member is established.This second member is a shallowly buried“bright spot”gas reservoir with weak compaction.The velocity of sandstone is slightly lower than that of mudstone,and the reflection has medium amplitude when there is no gas.The velocity of sandstone decreases considerably after gas accumulation,resulting in an increase in the wave impedance difference and high-amplitude(bright spot)reflection between sandstone and mudstone;the range of high amplitudes is consistent with that of gas-bearing traps.The distribution of gas reservoirs is obviously controlled by dome-shaped diapir structural traps,and diapir faults are channels through which natural gas from underlying Miocene source rocks can enter traps.The study area is a delta front deposit developed on a shallow sea shelf.The lithologies of the reservoir are mainly composed of very fine sand and coarse silt,and a variety of sedimentary structural types reflect a shallow sea delta environment;upward thickening funnel type,strong toothed bell type and toothed funnel type logging facies are developed.In total,4 stages of delta front sand bodies(corresponding to progradational reflection seismic facies)derived from the Red River and Blue River in Vietnam have developed in the second member of the YGHF;these sand bodies are dated to 1.5 Ma and correspond to four gas formations.During sedimentation,many bottom current channels(corresponding to channel fill seismic facies)formed,which interacted with the superposed progradational reflections.When the provenance supply was strong in the northwest,the area was dominated by a large set of delta front deposits.In the period of relative sea level rise,surface bottom currents parallel to the coastline were dominant,and undercutting erosion was obvious,forming multistage superimposed erosion troughs.Three large bottom current channels that developed in the late sedimentary period of gas formation IIU are the most typical.

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.

A reduced thermodynamic model on the formation of the Nansha warm water

A reduced vertically integrated upper mixed layer model is set up to numerically study the thermodynamic process of the formation of the 'Nansha warm water'(NWW) in the Nansha Islands sea areas in spring. According to the numerical experiments, it is shown that, in spring, the formation of the NWW is mainly due to the sea surface net heat flux and the local weak current strength; the contribution from temperature advection transport and warm water exchange with the outer seas (Sulu Sea or south of Sunda shelf) is very little. In the sea areas where the current is strong, the advection may also play an important role in the temperature field.

Numerical study of the tides and residual currents in the Qiongzhou Strait

Based on the three-dimensional ECOM model,the tide,tide-induced residual current,wind-driven and density currents in the Beibu (Tonkin) Gulf and Qiongzhou Strait are diagnostically computed in fine grid.The tides and tidal currents in the Beibu Gulf and Qiongzhou Strait are well reproduced.The model results show that the semidiurnal tidal wave propagates eastward from the Beibu Gulf through Qiongzhou Strait,while diurnal tidal waves enter the strait from both the eastern and western sides and interact on the southeast coast of the strait.The formation processes of the residual currents in Qiongzhou Strait in summer (August) and winter (January) are mainly discussed.It is shown that the total residual currents (coupling effect of wind,tide and density) in the strait are westward in both summer and winter.The water volume transported from the east to west into the Beibu Gulf is 0.026 Sv in summer and 0.116 Sv in winter.Numerical experiments indicate that the dominant factor affecting the residual currents in the strait is not the wind stress but the tidal rectification.The westward tide-induced residual current,driven by the tidal rectification,is rather strong in the strait with water volume transport of 0.063 Sv.The wind in summer only reduces the westward tide-induced residual current to a certain extent,and the wind in winter approximately doubles the westward tide-induced residual current through the strait.The density current contributes little to the total residual current in both summer and winter.

Diagnostic analysis on the northern South China Sea winter counter-wind current

The winter counter-wind current (also named the South China Sea Warm Current (SCSWC)) in the northern South China Sea (SCS) has been known well for decades, but its mass and momentum origination have not be quantitatively evaluated before. In this paper, the high resolution three-dimensional ocean circulation model is adopted to reproduce the circulation in the northern SCS. The diagnostic analyses are performed to investigate the momentum budget in the northern SCS continental shelf/slope and the momentum propulsion of the SCSWC. It is indicated that the across-shelf pressure gradient and the across-shelf transport are responsible for the formation of the SCSWC, while the along-shelf pressure gradient is balanced by the surface stress, bottom stress, and Coriolis force. The magnitude of the terms in the along-shelf momentum equation is smaller than that in the across-shelf one. The analysis on the momentum budget in the northern SCS will benefit the marine environmental prediction in the future.

Spring upper warm water of the Nansha Islands sea area in the South China Sea and the numerical study on its dynamic mechanism

According to the satellite remote sensing monthly mean sea surface temperature data and in situ observational Conductivity-Temperature-Depth data, it is shown that in spring, at the upper layer to the west of Palawan Island, there exists a relatively weak warm water tongue which is distinctly different from the cold water southeast of the Balabac Strait. The relative temperature difference between the warm and cold water reduces gradually from winter to spring. P-vector method is employed to calculate the current field based on the in situ observational data, which shows that the warm water is within an anti-cyclonic meander. Based on the remote sensing wind stress during the observational period, a coupled single-layer/two-layer model is employed to study the dynamic mechanism of this anticyclonic meander current field corresponding to the warm water tongue. According to the numerical results, it is suggested that this anticyclonic meander could be mainly the residue of the winter anticyclonic eddy, rather than formed by the inflow water from the Sulu Sea via the Balabac Strait.

KUROSHIO INTRUSION INTO THE SOUTH CHINA SEA

In this article, the circulation of the South China Sea （SCS）, which is idealized as the rectangular basin with constant depth, is studied under Kuroshio boundary forces. Starting from the linearly quasi-geostrophic vorticity equation, the solution of the SCS circulation is given in the form of corrected Fourier series under proper boundary conditions. The results show that the intruded current flows westward and separates into the northward branch and the southward branch before arriving at the western boundary. The southward branch flows out of the SCS through the southwestern passage, at the same time, the induced cyclonic （anti-clockwise） ring almost occupies the middle and southern parts, and concomitant anti-cyclonic （clockwise） vortex appears between the cyclone and the western boundary. While the northward branch outflows through the northeastern passage, the anti-cyclonic （clockwise） ring is triggered at the northern part of the SCS. The above two vortexes are both intensified if the south-entering and the north-leaving current loop intrusion are superposed. The outer flow of the northern vortex flows westward, then northward, and then eastward, and it is very similar to the configuration of the SCS Warm Current （SCSWC） at the northern part of the SCS, thus, a kind of generating mechanism of the SCSWC is presented.

三维斜压模式对冬季南海环流的数值计算

用一个三维、自由表面、原始方程模式对南海环流进行了计算 .计算结果表明 :黑潮在巴士海峡以西呈一反气旋弯曲流动路径 ,有一相对高温高盐的水舌从巴士海峡伸入南海 ,表明有部分黑潮水侵入南海 .冬季南海的一些观测事实在模式结果里得到了很好的反映 ,像冬季逆风向东北方向流动的“南海暖流”和一些中尺度涡旋 .同时还分析了巴士海峡沿 1 2 0 75°E断面的流速和盐度的垂直结构 ,并同观测结果进行了比较 .根据模式结果 ,我们还进一步讨论了“南海暖流”的形成和驱动机制 .

“东、南海陆架暖流”的初步探讨

根据南海北部及东海陆架区的表层、10m层及近底层的海流实测资料,分析指出,在表层以下,尤其是近底层或深层,南海暖流、(台湾)海峡暖流和台湾暖流,三者为一脉相连成片,构成一个体系,故提出“东、南海陆架暖流“的见解,它由三段组成:南段——南海暖流;中段——(台湾)海峡暖流;北段——台湾暖流.并对该海流的去向也作了初浅说明.

南海暖水的季节变化特征及数值模拟

根据Levitus资料 ,对具有立体结构的南海暖水给出了定义 ,分析发现 :南海暖水的季节变化过程可分为发展、维持、退缩和消失 4个阶段 ;就气候平均而言 ,南海暖水在季节变化中始终保持西北部浅、东南部深的特点 ;南海暖水的深度与同期温跃层上界的深度在空间分布特征与季节变化趋势上都基本类似。采用“intermediate”模式模拟了南海暖水的范围和厚度 ,结果表明发展阶段的南海暖水范围和厚度的增长主要是因为南海地区受到的局地加热。维持阶段南海暖水的厚度主要由湍流混合作用和Ekman效应来维持 ;退缩阶段南海混合层顶部的降温和冷水从底部的卷入都是南海暖水消失的主要原因。

2012年10月和12月南海北部海流的观测研究

基于2012年10月和12月两次南海北部走航ADCP和站位CTD等资料,分析了南海北部海流的流速结构和温盐特征。通过校正ADCP失准角,将ADCP流速测量精度控制在5 cm/s,并得到两个航次7个断面的流速数据。走航ADCP成功地观测到了南海西边界流和南海暖流,其中西边界流流幅和厚度分别为120 km和200 m,顺风流向西南,最大流速和流量范围分别为30～67 cm/s和0.74～9.70 Sv（1 Sv=106m3/s）;而暖流流幅和厚度分别为40 km和600 m,呈带状结构,逆风流向东北,最大流速和流量范围分别为12～18 cm/s和0.14～1.13 Sv。对海南岛东部同一断面不同时间的两次观测表明,海流的流速结构发生了一定的变化,10月观测时西边界流和暖流分别位于陆架附近的表层和陆坡附近200 m以深的次表层,而12月观测时暖流出现在陆架附近表层到800 m以深的全深度范围,西边界流则分布于暖流南北两侧。在海南岛南部17.1°N、109.9°E附近观测到有暖流通过,此暖流的位置是迄今为止所有报道中的最西侧。

南海海洋环流研究综述

综述了近二十年来南海海洋环流的主要研究成果，指出太阳辐射、季风和地形是影响南海环流的主要因素；提出了南海环流研究中应特别注意的几个关键问题，即南海环流的平均状态、南海暖流、南海中的局地涡旋、南海暖池、黑潮与南海水的交换、地形对南海环流的作用以及南海水温变化与ＥＮＳＯ的关系等；最后就目前研究中存在的困难提出了相应的对策。

基于FVCOM的南海北部海域潮汐潮流数值模拟

基于非结构三角形网格的FVCOM(finite-volume coastal ocean model)数值模型,对南海北部海域的潮汐、潮流进行了精细化数值模拟研究,并根据模拟结果详细分析了M2,S2,K1,O1分潮的潮汐和潮流特征。研究结果表明:神泉港到甲子港海域表现为正规全日潮性质,珠江口附近海区潮汐以不正规半日潮为主,其他海域主要表现为不规则全日潮;陆架海域和深水海域主要表现为往复流,陆架坡折区存在较强的旋转流,陆架坡折区为不规则半日潮流和不规则全日潮流的分界线;东沙群岛附近海域以不规则全日潮流为主,旋转方向为顺时针;整个海域的最大流速分布与等深线基本平行,东沙群岛附近速度明显变大,最大值出现在台湾浅滩附近,最大值超过70 cm/s;南海潮波系统以巴士海峡传入的大洋潮波为主,分为三支潮流,以不同的形式进出南海北部海域;余流在台湾浅滩附近达到最大,超过6 cm/s,自南向北进入台湾海峡,近岸余流自东向西沿岸流动。本研究在东沙群岛周边的模拟结果与前人基于实测资料的分析吻合较好,并且由于采用了高精度的三角网格,本文对东沙群岛周边海域的潮汐潮流结构和性质的刻画和分析是迄今为止较为精细的,同时本研究还提高了对沿岸验潮站调和常数的模拟精度。

南海海域海-气耦合模式及其数值模拟试验

在NCAR区域气候模式RegCM2和普林斯顿海洋模式POM基础上发展了适用于区域海 -气相互作用研究的区域海 -气耦合模式。模式采用同步耦合 ,海洋模式将海表温度提供给大气模式 ,大气模式为海洋模式提供太阳短波辐射、感热通量、潜热通量。海洋与大气模式每 1 5min交换一次通量。耦合过程没有使用通量校正。使用该模式对中国南海区域1 995年 5～ 7月大气和海洋进行了模拟试验 ,将模拟结果与COADS通量强迫的模拟结果进行了比较表明 ,该模式可以较好地模拟南海海洋环流和中尺度海 -气相互作用过程 ,可以用于区域海 -气相互作用的研究。

海洋环流模式的发展和应用 Ⅱ.近海和区域环流模式

回顾了近20年来中国科学院大气物理研究所大气科学和地球流体动力学数值模拟国家重点实验室近海和区域海洋环流模式发展和应用的历程。介绍了正压区域海流模式在中国近海海流数值模拟研究当中的应用以及一个24层、最高水平分辨率为0.25°×0.25°的三重嵌套的中国近海环流模式及其应用。在嵌套模式基础上,基于变分原理,建立了一个中国近海环流的资料同化分析系统。初步结果表明,资料同化提高了模式计算的真实性,所揭示的黑潮的强度和流幅、夏季黄海冷水团的位置等都更接近观测结果。