Vorticity Budget Study on the Seasonal Upper Circulation in the Northern South China Sea from Altimetry Data and a Numerical Model

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.

A numerical study of the South China Sea deep circulation and its relation to the Luzon Strait transport

A fine-resolution MOM code is used to study the South China Sea basin-scale circulationand its relation to the mass transport through the Luzon Strait. The model domain includes the South China Sea, part of the East China Sea, and part of the Philippine Sea so that the currents in the vicinity of the Luzon Strait are free to evolve. In addition, all channels between the South China Sea and the Indonesian seas are closed so that the focus is on the Luzon Strait transport. The model is driven by specified Philippine Sea currents and by surface heat and salt flux conditions. For simplicity, no wind-stress is applied at the surface.The simulated Luzon Strait transport and the South China Sea circulation feature a sandwich vertical structure from the surface to the bottom. The Philippine Sea water is simulated to enter the South China Sea at the surface and in the deep ocean and is carried to the southern basin by western boundary currents. At the intermediate depth, the net Luzon Strait transport is out of the South China Sea and is fed by a western boundary current flowing to the north at the base of the thermocline. Corresponding to the western boundary currents, the basin circulation of the South China Sea is cyclonic gyres at the surface and in the abyss but an anti-cyclonic gyre at the intermediate depth. The vorticity balance of the gyre circulation is between the vortex stretching and the meridional change of the planetary vorticity. Based on these facts, it is hypothesized that the Luzon Strait transports are determined by the diapycnal mixing inside the entire South China Sea. The South China Sea plays the role of a 'mixing mill' that mixes the surface and deep waters to return them to the Luzon Strait at the intermediate depth. The gyre structures are consistent with the Stommel and Arons theory (1960), which suggests that the mixing-induced circulation inside the South China Sea should be cyclonic gyres at the surface and at the bottom but an anti-cyclonic gyre at the intermediate depth. The simulated gyre circulation at the intermediate depth has been confirmed by the dynamic height calculation based on the Levitus hydrography data. The sandwich transports in the Luzon Strait are consistent with recent hydrographical observations.Model results suggest that the Kuroshio tends to form a loop current in the northeastern South China Sea. The simulated Kuroshio Loop Current is generated by the pressure head at the Pacific side of the Luzon Strait and is enhanced by the β-plane effects. The β - plane appears to be of paramount importance to the South China Sea circulation and to the Luzon Strait transports. Without the β-plane, theLuzon Strait transports would be greatly reduced and the South China Sea circulation would be complete-ly different.

Low-frequency variability of the shallow meridional overturning circulation in the South China Sea

The low-frequency variability of the shallow meridional overturning circulation（MOC） in the South China Sea（SCS） is investigated using a Simple Ocean Data Assimilation（SODA） product for the period of 1900-2010. A dynamical decomposition method is used in which the MOC is decomposed into the Ekman, external mode, and vertical shear components. Results show that all the three dynamical components contribute to the formation of the seasonal and annual mean shallow MOC in the SCS. The shallow MOC in the SCS consists of two cells： a clockwise cell in the south and an anticlockwise cell in the north; the former is controlled by the Ekman flow and the latter is dominated by the external barotropic flow, with the contribution of the vertical shear being to reduce the magnitude of both cells. In addition, the strength of the MOC in the south is found to have a falling trend over the past century, due mainly to a weakening of the Luzon Strait transport（LST） that reduces the transport of the external component. Further analysis suggests that the weakening of the LST is closely related to a weakening of the westerly wind anomalies over the equatorial Pacific, which leads to a southward shift of the North Equatorial Current（NEC） bifurcation and thus a stronger transport of the Kuroshio east of Luzon.

Study on circulation and meso-scale eddies in the South China Sea in summer of 1998

By using wide scope ADCP data which were got during SCSMEX (South China Sea Monsoon Experiment) period in the summer of 1998, and comparing these data with numerical modelling result, the distribution and variation characteristics of the circulation and meso-scale eddies in the South China Sea (SCS) were studied. The results show that: (1) in the SCS, 18 different scale eddies or motion systems with characteristics similar to meso-scale eddy were found during the investigation; (2) a strong westward current was found in the south of the Taiwan Shoal; (3) the energy of those eddies west of 114°E was much stronger than that of the east;(4) and there exist many powerful meso-scale eddies in the Nansha region south of 12°N. The distributions of numerous eddies reflect the complexity of the circulation in the SCS. It seems that the formation of those eddies should be caused by joint work of wind, coast feature, bottom topography, water density, inertial force and continental shelf waves.

A 3-dimensional baroclinic circulation model of the South China Sea

The summer and winter circulations in the South China Sea (SCS) including the surface elevation and water temperature are simulated using the model described by Cai and Li (1996) with the monthly mean wind stress and air temperature field at the 1000 mb level from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts as inputs. The boundary conditions at Bashi Channel and Taiwan Strait are taken from the simulation results of the Kuroshio using the same numerical model with a grid size of 0.5°×0.5° and the results of Cai and Li (1996) as boundary conditions. The computational domain for the present paper is between 100°E and 123°E and between 4.5°N and 27°N. The horizontal resolution is 0.25°×0.25° and the vertical variations of the velocity components are resolved by 6 layers The computed steady flow, temperature and elevation fields are consistent with the corresponding fields observed. In particular, the temperature and elevation fields of the South China Sea Warm Current (SCSWC) have been successfully simulated. The paths of the branch of the Kuroshio entering the South China Sea (SCSBK) through Bashi Channel in winter and summer are discussed It is found that the SCSBK flows southward to the southern SCS from the coast of the Guangdong Province. A portion of the SCSBK returns to the Bashi Channel and subdivides again in deep waters in winter with a branch flows to the south along the coast of the Philippines instead of flowing back to the Pacific In addition, our results confirm the existence of a eastward current to the northeast of Dongsha in summer with the Kuroshio as its source as suggested by Huang et al. Since the value of the eddy viscosity adopted for the simulation of the Kuroshio is on the high side, resulting in a weaker west boundary current in the western Pacific as the boundary conditions for the present simulations, some deviations from the actual situations are expected although the results are in general consistent with observations.

Progress of studies in China from July 2010 to May 2015 on the influence of the Kuroshio on neighboring Chinese seas and the Ryukyu Current

The influence of the Kuroshio on neighboring Chinese seas and the Ryukyu Current is a very important subject of interest in physical oceanography. To deeply explain the research progress made by Chinese scientists from July2010 to May 2015, the following three aspects are reviewed in this paper. The first concerns the Kuroshio intrusion into the South China Sea（SCS） and its circulation around the Luzon Strait. There are two very important points to be explained： the seasonal and inter-annual variation of the Kuroshio intrusion and the mechanisms of the Kuroshio intrusion and the influence of the Kuroshio on currents in the Luzon Strait and circulation in the northern SCS. The second concerns the variability of the Kuroshio and its interaction with the East China Sea（ECS）. There are following four interesting topics to be explained： an overview of studies on the Kuroshio in the ECS; the Kuroshio intrusion into the ECS, water exchange, and dynamic impacts; the downstream increase of nutrient transport by the Kuroshio; and the application of satellite remote sensing on terrestrial material transport by the Kuroshio intrusion into the ECS. Third, the interaction between the Ryukyu Current and Kuroshio in the ECS are also discussed. Finally, the main results are summarized and areas of further study are simply discussed.

Progress on shelf and slope circulation in the northern South China Sea

Influenced by the seasonally reversed monsoons, water exchange through straits, and topography, the shelf and slope circulation in the northern South China Sea(NSCS) is complex and changeable. The typical current system in the NSCS consists of the slope current, South China Sea warm current(SCSWC), coastal current, and associated upwelling(in summer) and downwelling(in winter). This paper reviews recent advances in the study of NSCS shelf and slope circulation since the 1990 s,and summarizes the roles of Kuroshio intrusion, the monsoons, topography, and the buoyancy effect of the Pearl River plume in the shelf and slope current system of the NSCS. We also point out some potential scientific issues that require further study, such as the dynamic connection between the internal basin and shelf areas of the NSCS, the persistence of the SCSWC in winter, the temporo-spatial characteristics of downwelling during winter in the NSCS, and its material and energy transport.