Mazu Culture Links the Two Sides of the Taiwan Straits

THE goddess Mazu has been held in great esteem by emperors since the Song Dynasty (960-1279). Wherever the Chinese live, in Asia, Africa, South America and North America, there are worshipers of Mazu. According to statistics, there are more than 1,500 Mazu temples and more than 200 million Mazu devotees in the world. Mazu culture, with its unique style, affects people and promotes friendly relations of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits.

Fuzzy cluster analysis of water mass in the western Taiwan Strait in spring 2019

The classification of the springtime water mass has an important influence on the hydrography,regional climate change and fishery in the Taiwan Strait.Based on 58 stations of CTD profiling data collected in the western and southwestern Taiwan Strait during the spring cruise of 2019,we analyze the spatial distributions of temperature(T)and salinity(S)in the investigation area.Then by using the fuzzy cluster method combined with the T-S similarity number,we classify the investigation area into 5 water masses:the Minzhe Coastal Water(MZCW),the Taiwan Strait Mixed Water(TSMW),the South China Sea Surface Water(SCSSW),the South China Sea Subsurface Water(SCSUW)and the Kuroshio Branch Water(KBW).The MZCW appears in the near surface layer along the western coast of Taiwan Strait,showing low-salinity(<32.0)tongues near the Minjiang River Estuary and the Xiamen Bay mouth.The TSMW covers most upper layer of the investigation area.The SCSSW is mainly distributed in the upper layer of the southwestern Taiwan Strait,beneath which is the SCSUW.The KBW is a high temperature(core value of 26.36℃)and high salinity(core value of 34.62)water mass located southeast of the Taiwan Bank and partially in the central Taiwan Strait.

Two new species of Ectopleura from the Taiwan Strait,China (Cnidaria,Hydroidomedusae)

Two new species of genus Ectopleura, i.e., Ectopleura elongata sp. nov. and E. triangularis sp. nov. are described in the present paper based on type specimens from the Taiwan Strait. The types are deposited in the Third Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Xiamen, China.

Relation Between Both Sides of the Taiwan StraitsIn Anticipation of the Trends of Its Development

In the issue of January, 2002, the magazine "Relation Between Both Sides of the Taiwan Straits" published by the Association of the Relation Between the Both Sides of the Taiwan Straits, a signed essay was carried out, stating that the development of the relation between the both sides last year, anticipates the trends of such relation in the future.

A survey on Hydroidomedusae from the upwelling region of southern part of the Taiwan Strait of ChinaⅠ.On new species and records of Anthomedusae

Fhrough the examination of 377 samples of the Anthomedusae, eight new species and one new record are described.

Species composition and distribution of marine nematode community in the North Taiwan Strait

Marine free-living nematodes were investigated at 13 sampling stations divided into three transects in the northern Taiwan Strait in February 1998. One hundred species of marine nematodes belonging to 91 Genera 28 Families 3 Orders were identified and were first recorded in the northern Taiwan Strait. The dominant species were Vasostoma sp., Sabatieria sp. 1, Linhystera sp. 1, Spilophorella sp., Daptonema sp., Halalaimus sp. and Dorylaimopsis variabilis. Their main densities were all over 4 950 ind./m2. According to mean density at transects, marine nematode density decreased from coastal Weitou to off Minjiang Estuary, which was similar to polychaete distribution in northern Taiwan Strait. The selective deposit feeder (1A) was the dominant food type of marine nematodes in the northern Taiwan Strait, but non-selective deposit feeders (1B) and epigrowth feeders (2A) occupied high proportion, indicating diverse feeding types of marine nematodes in the northern Taiwan Strait. Some environmental factors such as currents are discussed.

Three-dimensional structure of a low salinity tongue in the southern Taiwan Strait observed in the summer of 2005

Cruise observations with CTD （conductivity-temperature-depth） profiler were carried out in the southern Taiwan Strait in the summer of 2005. Using the cruise data, two-dimensional maps of salinity and temperature distributions at depths of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 m were generated. The maps show a low salinity tongue sandwiched by low temperature and high salinity waters on the shallow water side and high temperature and high salinity waters on the deep water side. The further analysis indicates that the low salinity water has a nature of river-diluted water. A possible source of the diluted water is the Zhujiang （Pearl） Estuary. Meanwhile, the summer monsoon is judged as a possible driving force for this northeastward jet-like current. The coastal upwelling and the South China Sea Warm Current confine the low salinity water to flow along the central line of the strait. Previous investigations and a numerical model are used to verify that the upstream of the low salinity current is the Zhujiang Estuary. Thus, the low salinity tongue is produced by four major elements： Zhujinag Estuary diluted water, monsoon wind driving, coastal upwelling and South China Sea Warm Current modifications.

The spatio-temporal variation of wintertime subtidal currents in the western Taiwan Strait

A new data set of observations by six cruises of ship-mounted acoustic doppler current profiler（SADCP） and three 40 d long bottom-mounted ADCPs（BADCPs） is employed to reveal the spatiotemporal variability of tidal and subtidal currents in the western Taiwan Strait（TWS） during winter season. The results confirm the existence of intense cotidal lines for M2 tidal current, which is located north of 25°N. In this case, no existence of an amphidromic point can be identified. It is also revealed that the counter-wind current（CWC） can extend through the whole western TWS and even occupy the entire water column during winter monsoon relaxation. However,this CWC is observed to be thoroughly overwhelmed by the downwind China coastal current（CCC） during the two big monsoon bloom events in the winter of 2007, and the CCC consequently extends southward throughout the western TWS instead. Most importantly, the variation of the spatial extent for the CWC and the CCC in the western TWS is found to be well explained by the first two modes of the vector empirical orthogonal function（VEOF） analysis, that is, it is mainly controlled by a wind-driven quasi barotropic current as the first mode and slightly modulated by a relatively weak background current with a first-order baroclinic structure as the second mode.

Evolution of a coastal upwelling event during summer 2004 in the southern Taiwan Strait

A coastal upwelling event in the southern Taiwan Strait （STWS） was investigated using intensive cruise surveys （four repeated transects in a month） and satellite data in July and early August 2004. The extensive upwelling-associated surface cold water was first observed in early July （-2.0×10a km2） along the STWS coast. Then, the cold surface water reduced in size by -50% with decreased chlorophyll concentrations after 15 days, indicating the weakening of the upwelling event. At the end of July, the cold surface water disappeared. The temporal variations of the surface cold water and the 3-D hydrography around Dongshan Island are thought to be mainly attributed to the weakened upwelling-favorable southwestern wind, the asymmetric spatial structure of the wind field and the intrusion of warm water from the northern South China Sea.

Spatial and temporal variability of colored dissolved organic matter absorption properties in the Taiwan Strait

Spatial and temporal variability of the absorption properties of colored dissolved organic matter （CDOM） in the Taiwan Strait was investigated in summer （July to August of 2006） and winter （from December 2006 to January of 2007） seasons. The CDOM absorption coefficient at 280 nm （a 280 ） showed a decreasing trend from nearshore to offshore areas while the spectral slope coefficient parameter calculated between wavelengths 275–295 nm （S 275 295 ） showed an increase, indicative of decreasing aromaticity and molecular weight of the CDOM. The average a 280 in winter （1.47 ± 0.50 m ^-1 ） was significantly higher than in summer （1.10 ± 0.41 m ^-1 ）, while the average S 275 295 in winter （26.7 ± 5.2 μm^- 1 ） was significantly lower than in summer （30.6 ± 5.5 μm^- 1 ）, demonstrating clear seasonal variation in CDOM abundance and properties in the Taiwan Strait. A three-end- member conservative mixing model showed that local terrestrial CDOM inputs from several rivers along the western coast were small （〈5%）. However, the distribution of CDOM in the Taiwan Strait is mainly controlled by water mass movement [i.e., the Zhe-min Coastal Current （ZCC） and the Kuroshio Branch Current （KBC） in winter and the South China Sea Water （SCSW） in summer]. Biological activity was also an important factor affecting the distribution of CDOM in the offshore region in summer months.

Analysis on Features of Temperature and Salinity in the Northern Taiwan Straits During February-March, 1998

The distributional features of temperature and salinity in the northern Taiwan Straits have been analyzed based on the CTD data during February-March, 1998. The characteristics of temperature and salinity are summarized as follows: (1) there exists a coastal water along the western coast of the Taiwan Straits, with low temperature and low salinity at the upper layer; (2) a high temperature and high salinity water tongue extends northeastward along the eastern coast of the Taiwan Strait.

Spatial structure and seasonal changes of nekton assemblages in the Taiwan Strait

The Taiwan Strait is a transition zone between the East China Sea and the South China Sea with unique hydrology and a geographical environment that creates special marine community features.To analyze the spatial structure and seasonal changes of the nekton assemblages in the Taiwan Strait,seasonal experimental trawl surveys were conducted during 2006-2007.The results showed that there were two assemblages in the area with different sets of species,and the average similarity within each group varies between 39.38% and 74.20%.By using multivariate statistical analysis and analyzing the distribution of dominant species,we found that the structures of the assemblages had obvious seasonal variation.The middle region from the Putian transect to the Xiamen transect could be considered a mixing area for the two assemblages.The analysis of the relationship between species assemblages and environmental factors indicated that temperature was the most important factor affecting the community structure in cold seasons,and 22.5°C and 17°C could be considered dividing lines for spring and winter,respectively.In warm seasons,the most important factor was water depth,but the relationship with depth was not as significant,with a correlation between 0.264 and 0.399.The seasonal changes of nekton assemblages basically reflected the dynamic currents in the Taiwan Strait.The south coastal assemblage extended to nearly the entire area of the Taiwan Strait along with a strong and intense warm current that shrinks in spring and winter when the southward intrusion of the cold Zhejiang-Fujian coastal current becomes stronger.The impact of shortterm and long-term environmental changes,such as extreme weather,global warming and human activity on nekton assemblages,had been recognized but need further research.Our study on nekton assemblages could be used as a baseline for measuring future changes.

The impact of Kuroshio water on the source water of the southeastern Taiwan Strait:numerical results

Model output from a Pacific basin-wide three-dimensional physical-biogeochemical model during the period of 1991 to 2008 was used to investigate the impact of Kuroshio water on the source water of the southeastern Taiwan Strait. Based on the characteristic salinities of both Kuroshio water and the South China Sea water, a Kuroshio impact index （KII） was designed to measure the degree of impact. The KII correlates significantly with the northeast-southwest component of wind stress, but the former lags the latter by approximately two months. The correlation coefficient between them increases from 0.267 4 to 0.852 9, with a lag time increasing from 0 to 63 days. The impact of Kuroshio Water is greater in winter and spring than in summer and autumn. At the interannual time scale, E1 Nifio and La Nifia events play an important role in impacting the KII. During E1 Nifio events, more Kuroshio water contributes to the source water of the southeastern Taiwan Strait. Conversely, during La Nifia events, less Kuroshio water contributes to the source water.

Sectional distribution of salinity and its indication of Kuroshio'sintrusion in the southern Taiwan Strait and northeastern South China Sea late summer, 1994

Using the CTD data investigated at about 330 stations in the southern Taiwan Strait, the northeastern South China Sea and their adjacent seas in August and September of 1994, this paper anayses the sectional distributions of salinity in 10 selected sections and discusses the possibility of the Kuroshio's intrusion into the northeastern South China Sea and the southern Taiwan Strait. The results show that: as the main stream of Kuroshio passes by the northern Luzon Strait during the survey period, the 'Kuroshio-influenced water' with some hydrological features of the Kuroshio may extend through the Luzon Strait to the sea areas near both the Dongsha Islands and the Taiwan Shoal of the southern Taiwan Strait.

The cluster analysis of the water masses in western Taiwan Strait from hydrologic And chemical factors

On the basis of mixture theory of concentration of Helland-Hansen (Mao et al, 1964; Helland-Hansen, 1916), this paper takes salinity as a conservative factor in the process of dilution and mixture and selects by relating analysis the bydrological and chemical factors which are closely related to salinity. Then making use of the Q type multi-dimensions cluster analysis, we get the results that the water masses in the western Taiwan Strait include the follying: the coastal water along Fujian, Zhejiang and Guangdong Provinces, the diluted fresh water of Minjiang, Jiulong and Hanjiang Rivers; the mixing water in the Taiwan Strait; upwelling cold/warm water to the northwest of the Taiwan Shoal and the upwelling water to the east of Guangdong. The mixing weter in the Taiwan Strait during spring and summer is composed of a Kuroshio branch, the surface weter of the South China Sea, outal wier along Fujian, Zhejiang and Guangdong Provinces. While in autunm and winter, it is mixed up from Kuroshio branch, the shelf weter in the East China Sea, and the coastal water along Fujian, Zhejiang and Guangdong. There is an obvious seasonal change of growth and decline in these water masses.

Coastal Erosion Along the West Coast of the Taiwan Strait and It’s Influencing Factors

Based on the field surveys and repeated cross-profile observations combined with the comparison of many years’ topog-raphic maps,this study shows the spatial variability and varying patterns of coastal erosion along the west coast of the Taiwan Strait.Regional differentiation in the Meso-Cenozoic coastal tectonics determined the irregular coastline and geological background for large-scale coastal erosion distribution.The intensity of coastal erosion on the west side of the Taiwan Strait is mild in the northern region,severe in the central region and modest in the southern region.The beaches along the coast are mainly backed by dunes,sea-walls or cliffs.The dunes and beaches show periodic erosion and recovery along the coast adjacent to river mouths,while persistent retreat of frontal dunes and beaches tends to occur in other areas.The beach erosion occurs mainly in front of seawalls.Due to the low strength of the unconsolidated sediment the soft cliffs suffer the severest coastline recession.Sea level rise and river sediment discharge reduction are main causes of coastal erosion.Storm surge is common in the studied area and plays an important role in the progress of coastal erosion.Human activities including coastal constructions and sand mining also tend to interfere strongly with the balance of sediment budget in some coastal cells.

Distributional features of temperature and salinity in the southern Taiwan Strait and its adjacent sea areas in late summer, 1994

Based on the CTD data obtained in the southern Taiwan Strait and its adjacent areas in August and September of 1994, the distributional features of the temperature and salinity in the studied area have been analyzed in detail. The results are as follows: (1) There are two low temperature and high salinity regions in the nearshore area between Dongshan and Shantou and in the southeastern Taiwan Shoal, respectively, which may be caused by upwellings. (2) There exists a cold eddy in the northwestern sea area and a warm eddy with two high temperature cores in the eastern sea area of the Dongsha Islands, which are related to the anti-cyclonic turning of the seawater near the Dongsha Islands. (3) A westward high temperature and high salinity water tongue extends through the northern Luzon Strait and reaches the sea areas near the Dengsha Islands and southern Taiwan Strait.

DISTRIBUTIONS OF CHEMICAL ELEMENTS WITH RELATION TO MAJOR WATER CIRCULATIONS IN THE CENTRAL AND NORTHERN PARTS OF THE TAIWAN STRAIT

Data obtained from a comprehensive multidisciplinary oceanographic survey in the central and northern parts of the Taiwan Strait, 24°20′-26°00′N, 118°45°-121°00′E by the Fujian Institute of Oceanology during the period May, 1983 through May, 1984, showed that the distributions of dissolved oxygen (DO), nitrate, dissolved inorganic phosphate and silicate concentrations here had obvious areal and seasonal characteristics that were mainly influenced by the seasonal circulation ofthree major water systems in the Taiwan Strait-- the Taiwan Strait Warm Water (TSWW), theZhejiang-Fujian Coastal Water (ZFCW), and the Northeastern Strait Warm Water (NESWW).

Characteristics of metals in atmosphereover the western Taiwan StraitⅡ. Sources and fluxes

Atmospheric metals the over t he western Taiwan Siral t are studied and t heir sources are identified. Al and Feare mainly from crustal soil. A little amount of Fe is from pollution. Pb and Cd are banly from pollution sources. Alittlee zmount of Pb is from crustal soil and recycled sea spray. Na is mostly from seawater and a little amonut of Na isfrom crustal soil or encondary aerosol Particles. Cu is mainly from crustal soil, Partly from pollutants, and a littleamount from recycled sea spray. Comparing the total inputs of the atmospheric deposition of the metals to the TaiwanStrait waters with the inputs from the rivers shaws that the input of Cu from the atmosphere is lower than that from the rivers, and the input of Ph is higher than that from the rivers; the input of Cd is a little higher than that from therivere.