Sedimentary evolution and control factors of the Rizhao Canyons in the Zhongjiannan Basin, western South China Sea

Submarine canyon is an important channel for long-distance sediment transport, and an important part of deepwater sedimentary system. The large-scale Rizhao Canyons have been discovered for the first time in 2015 in the continental slope area of the western South China Sea. Based on the interpretation and analysis of multi-beam bathymetry and two-dimensional multi-channel seismic data, the geology of the canyons has however not been studied yet. In this paper, the morphology and distribution characteristics of the canyon are carefully described,the sedimentary filling structure and its evolution process of the canyon are analyzed, and then its controlling factors are discussed. The results show that Rizhao Canyons group is a large slope restricted canyon group composed of one east-west west main and nine branch canyons extending to the south. The canyon was formed from the late Miocene to the Quaternary. The east-west main canyon is located in the transition zone between the northern terrace and the southern Zhongjiannan Slope, and it is mainly formed by the scouring and erosion of the material source from the west, approximately along the slope direction. Its development and evolution is mainly controlled by sediment supply and topographic conditions, the development of 9 branch canyons is mainly controlled by gravity flow and collapse from the east-west main canyon. This understanding result is a supplement to the study of “source-channel–sink” sedimentary system in the west of the South China Sea, and has important guiding significance for the study of marine geological hazards.

Nitrate isotope dynamics in the lower euphotic-upper mesopelagic zones of the western South China Sea

The dual isotopes(N and O)of nitrate were measured using a denitrifier bacterial method in the western South China Sea(WSCS)during September 2015 to elucidate key information during N transformation in the lower euphotic zone(LEZ)-upper mesopelagic zone(UMZ,down to 500 m in this study)continuum,which is a vital sub-environment for marine N cycle and sequestration of atmospheric CO_(2)as well.The N isotopic composition(δ^(15)N)of nitrate generally decreased from 500 m toward the base of the euphotic zone(∼100 m),reaching a value of∼4.6‰(vs.air N_(2))at the base of the LEZ,suggesting the imprint of remineralization(nitrification)of isotopically light N from atmospheric source.Theδ^(15)N andδ18O of nitrate only generally conform to a 1:1 line at 50 m and 75 m,suggesting that nitrate assimilation is a dominant process to shape nitrate isotope signature in this light-limited and relatively N-replete lower part of the euphotic zone.The fractionation factors of N and O isotopes during nitrate fractionation(15εASSIM,18εASSIM)using a steady-state model were estimated to be 4.0‰±0.3‰and 5.4‰±0.3‰,respectively.The occurrence of nitrification at the base of the LEZ and most of the UMZ is corroborated by the decoupling ofδ^(15)N and the oxygen isotopic composition(δ18O)of nitrate.Our results will provide insights for better understanding N cycle in the South China Sea from a perspective of present and past.

Spring mesoscale high in the western South China Sea

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.

Dynamical analysis of submesoscale fronts associated with wind-forced offshore jet in the western South China Sea

This study investigates the submesoscale fronts and their dynamic effects on the mean flow due to frontal instabilities in the wind-driven summer offshore jet of the western South China Sea(WSCS),using satellite observations,a 500 m-resolution numerical simulation,and diagnostic analysis.Both satellite measurements and simulation results show that the submesoscale fronts occupying a typical lateral scale of O(~10)km are characterized with one order of Rossby(Ro)and Richardson(Ri)numbers in the WSCS.This result implies that both geostrophic and ageostrophic motions feature in these submesoscale fronts.The diagnostic results indicate that a net cross-frontal Ekman transport driven by down-front wind forcing effectively advects cold water over warm water.By this way,the weakened local stratification and strong lateral buoyancy gradients are conducive to a negative Ertel potential vorticity(PV)and triggering frontal symmetric instability(SI)at the submesoscale density front.The cross-front ageostrophic secondary circulation caused by frontal instabilities is found to drive an enhanced vertical velocity reaching O(100)m/d.Additionally,the estimate of the down-front wind forcing the Ekman buoyancy flux(EBF)is found to be scaled with the geostrophic shear production(GSP)and buoyancy flux(BFLUX),which are the two primary energy sources for submesoscale turbulence.The large values of GSP and BFLUX at the fronts suggest an efficient downscale energy transfer from larger-scale geostrophic flows to the submesoscale turbulence owing to down-front wind forcing and frontal instabilities.In this content,submesoscale fronts and their instabilities substantially enhance the local vertical exchanges and geostrophic energy cascade towards smaller-scale.These active submesoscale processes associated density fronts and filaments likely provide new physical interpretations for the filamentary high chlorophyll concentration and frontal downscale energy transfer in the WSCS.

Distribution of reactive aluminum under the influence of mesoscale eddies in the western South China Sea

To understand the distribution of aluminum （A1） under the influence of mesocale eddies in the western South China Sea （SCS）, sea level anomaly, geostrophic current, environmental parameters and reactive A1 were investigated in the western SCS in August 2013. The highest reactive A1 concentration （（180±64） nmol/L） was observed in the surface waters, indicating a substantial atmospheric input. Vertically, the reactive A1 decreased from the surface high concentration to the subsurface minima at the depth of chlorophyll a （Chl a） maxima and then increased again with depth at most of the stations. The average concentration of reactive A1 in the upper 100 m water column was significantly lower in the cyclonic eddy （（137±6） nmol/L） as compared with that in the non- eddy waters （（180±21） nmol/L）. By contrast, the average concentrations of Chl a and silicate in the upper 100 m water column were higher in the cyclonic eddy and lower in the anticyclonic eddy. There was a significant negative correlation between the average concentrations of reactive Al and Chl a in the upper 100 m water column. The vertical distribution of reactive AI and the negative correlation between reactive A1 and Chl a both suggest that the reactive A1 in the upper water column was significantly influenced by biological removal processes. Our results indicate that mesoscale eddies could regulate the distribution of reactive A1 by influencing the primary production and phytoplankton community structure in the western SCS.

Response of Phytoplankton Community Structure and Size- Fractionated Chlorophyll a in an Upwelling Simulation Experiment in the Western South China Sea

The South China Sea(SCS), which is the largest marginal sea in the western tropical Pacific, plays an important role in regional climate change. However, the research on the phytoplankton community structure(PCS) response to the upwelling remains inadequate. In January 2014, the upwelling simulation experiment was performed in the western SCS. Results indicate that the nutrient-rich bottom water not only increased the total Chlorophyll a(Chl a) concentrations, but would potentially altered the PCS. Due to new nutrients added, microphytoplankton had more sensitivity response to nutrient uptake than other phytoplankton groups. The variation of nutrients induced by formation, weakening and disappearance of upwelling resulted in phytoplankton species succession from cyanophyta to bacillariophyta. It may be the leading factor of the changes in PCS and size-fractionated Chl a. The initial concentration of DIP less than 0.1 μmol L-1 could not sustain the phytoplankton growth. This indicates that phosphorus may be the limiting factor in the western SCS.

The western South China Sea currents from measurements by Argo profiling floats during October to December 2007

The three dimensional structure of the western boundary current east of the Vietnam coast was determined from measurements by Argo profiling floats which deployed near the east of the Vietnam Coast in October 2007. The trajectories of the Argo floats provided robust evidence that there does exist southward flowing current along the Vietnam coast. The southward current begins at about 15°N, 111°E, flowing along the 1 000 m isobath and extending to 5°N south. The estimated surface and parking depth velocities obtained from the floats suggest that this southward current can extend to 1 000 m depth. The mean surface velocity of the western boundary current is about 49 cm/s, with the maximum speed exceeding 100 cm/s occurring at 11.6°N, 109.5°E in the direction of 245°. The mean parking depth (1 000 m) velocity is 12–16 cm/s with the maximum speed of 36 cm/s occurring at 12.1°N, 109.7°E in the direction of 239°. The water mass analysis suggests that the Kuroshio surface water and NPIW are not apparent in the western boundary current although this time was the favored season for the Kuroshio intrusion into Luzon Strait. The mean geostrophic currents suggest that the Kuroshio intrusion into Luzon Strait during October to December 2007 is very weak, as most of the intruding water was carried eastward at 14°N near the western boundary and little flowed southward along the western boundary, providing an explanation for the absence of Kuroshio surface water and NPIW in the water mass analysis. There is a strong cyclonic circulation in the SSCS during this time, which induces a strong mixing in the western boundary companied by a homogeneous salinity layer between 300–600 m in the salinity vertical distribution. No reversal undercurrent occurred at the intermediate depth along the western boundary east of the Vietnam coast during October to December 2007.

Interannual to decadal variation of spring sea level anomaly in the western South China Sea

Satellite observations of sea level anomalies(SLA) from January 1993 to December 2012 are used to investigate the interannual to decadal changes of the boreal spring high SLA in the western South China Sea(SCS) using the Empirical Orthogonal Function(EOF) method. We find that the SLA variability has two dominant modes. The Sea Level Changing Mode(SLCM) occurs mainly during La Ni?a years, with high SLA extension from west of Luzon to the eastern coast of Vietnam along the central basin of the SCS, and is likely induced by the increment of the ocean heat content. The Anticyclonic Eddy Mode(AEM) occurs mainly during El Ni?o years and appears to be triggered by the negative wind curl anomalies within the central SCS. In addition, the spring high SLA in the western SCS experienced a quasi-decadal change during 1993–2012; in other words, the AEM predominated during 1993–1998 and 2002–2005, while the La Ni?a-related SLCM prevailed during 1999–2001 and 2006–2012. Moreover, we suggest that the accelerated sea level rise in the SCS during 2005–2012 makes the SLCM the leading mode over the past two decades.

Interannual variability of eddy kinetic energy in the South China Sea related to two types of winter circulation events

Interannual variations of the eddy kinetic energy(EKE)related to two types of winter circulation events(“O”and“U”)were investigated based on the outputs of the Ocean General Circulation Model(OGCM)for the Earth Simulator(OFES)and the corresponding energetic analyses.Results show that the EKE is strong and extends eastward to offshore the Vietnam coast about 2°,associated with the weaker South China Sea western boundary current(SCSwbc)in“O”type years,while the EKE is weak and high value that can be attained is narrowed along the coast,associated with the stronger SCSwbc in“U”type years.The energy budget shows that the wind stress and barotropic/baroclinic instability are important factors to regulate the EKE in“U”and“O”years.For“U”years,under a strong winter monsoon forcing,the SCSwbc strengthen,the directly wind work and barotropic conversion from the mean kinetic energy(MKE)to EKE are weak,thus the EKE decrease corresponding to the baroclinic conversion from the kinetic energy to potential energy.However,the situation is reversed in“O”years.Under the influence of El Niño events,wind stress forces can weaken SCSwbc and enhance EKE in pattern“O”,whereas La Niña events have relatively weaker influences.The barotropic conversion rate in“O”type is nearly eight times of the“U”type.The pressure work and advection term are the main sources to greatly suppress EKE in the SCSwbc region.

The characteristic differences of tropical cyclones forming over the western North Pacific and the South China Sea

The best track dataset of tropical cyclones in the western North Pacific （WNP） and the South China Sea （SCS） from 1977 to 2005 during the satellite era, the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis dataset and the extended reconstructed sea surface temperature dataset are employed in this study. The main climatological characteristics of tropical cyclone formation over the WNP and the SCS are compared. It is found that there is obviously different for the locations of tropical cyclone origins, achieving the lowest central pressure and termination points between over the WNP and over the SCS. The annual number of tropical cyclones forming over the SCS is obviously less than over the WNP, and there is a significant negative correlation with the correlation coefficient being - 0.36 at the 5% significance level between over the WNP and over the SCS. The mean speed of tropical cyclone moving is 6.5 m/s over the WNP and 4.6 m/s over the SCS. The mean lowest central pressure of tropical cyclones is obviously weaker over the SCS than over the WNP. The tropical cyclone days per year, mean total distance and total displacement of tropical cyclone traveled over the WNP are all obviously longer than those over the SCS. Tropical cyclone may intensify to Saffir - Simpson hurricane scale 5 over the WNP, but no tropical cyclone can intensify to Saffir - Simpson hurricane scale 3 over the SCS. The changing ranges of the radii （R15,R16） of the 15.4 m/s winds them and the 25.7 m/s winds over the WNP are obviously wider than those over the SCS, and the median values of the radii over the WNP are also larger than those over the SCS. For the same intensity of tropical cyclones, both radii have larger medians over the WNP than over the SCS. The correlations of annual mean tropical cyclone size parameters between over the WNP and over the SCS are not significant. At the same time, the asymmetric radii of tropical cyclones over the WNP are different from those over the SCS.

Sea surface temperature evolution in the western South China Sea since MIS 12 as evidenced by planktonic foraminiferal assemblages and Globigerinoides ruber Mg/Ca ratio

Based on the detailed planktonic foraminifera faunal count and Globigerinoides ruber Mg/Ca ratio analysis of Core MD05-2901,we reconstructed the longest Mg/Ca sea surface temperature(SST) sequence of the upwelling area off Vietnam in the western South China Sea(SCS).Ocean environment,especially the SST variation,over the last 450 ka is discussed in this study.SST variation has typical glacial/interglacial alternations from 23.03°C to 29.93°C with a glacial/interglacial difference of 4.8°C on average.SST during the interglacial periods fluctuates significantly,up to 5.6°C,which is larger than the average glacial/interglacial difference.SST variation during the glacial periods is much smaller.Spectrum analysis shows that SST change dominates on the typical Milankovitch cycles,such as 112,40.7 and 23.6 ka.Evident leading of SST variation against the δ 18 O can be observed during the Terminations 1,4,and 5,which is confirmed by their cross-spectrum analysis on these cycles.MD05-2901 is the first core in the South China Sea that has multi-SST records,such as SST Mg/Ca,k' 37 U-SST and planktonic foraminiferal fauna-based SST.SSTs from different methods can be correlated with each other in glacial/interglacial time scale,whereas SST Mg/Ca records abrupt climate change events more clearly.SST Mg/Ca at MD05-2901 since MIS 5 is 0.6°C lower than that of the southern SCS on average,but equivalent to or even 2°C lower than that of the northern SCS during some interglacial period.The SST character of MD05-2901 reflects less influence of latitude,but an important role of the regional upwelling driven by the eastern Asian summer monsoon,and suggests a stronger upwelling during the interglacial periods in the western SCS.

Impact of the Thermal State of the Tropical Western Pacific on Onset Date and Process of the South China Sea Summer Monsoon

Since the early or late onset of the South China Sea summer monsoon （SCSM） has a large impact on summer monsoon rainfall in East Asia, the mechanism and process of early or late onset of the SCSM are an worthy issue to study. In this paper, the results analyzed by using the observed data show that the onset date and process of the SCSM are closely associated with the thermal state of the tropical western Pacific in spring. When the tropical western Pacific is in a warming state in spring, the western Pacific subtropical high shifts eastward, and twin cyclones are early caused over the Bay of Bengal and Sumatra before the SCSM onset. In this case, the cyclonic circulation located over the Bay of Bengal can be early intensified and become into a strong trough. Thus, the westerly flow and convective activity can be intensified over Sumatra, the Indo-China Peninsula and the South China Sea （SCS） in mid-May. This leads to early onset of the SCSM. In contrast, when the tropical western Pacific is in a cooling state, the western Pacific subtropical high anomalously shifts westward, the twin cyclones located over the equatorial eastern Indian Ocean and Sumatra are weakened, and the twin anomaly anticyclones appear over these regions from late April to mid-May. Thus, the westerly flow and convective activity cannot be early intensified over the Indo-China Peninsula and the SCS. Only when the western Pacific subtropical high moves eastward, the weak trough located over the Bay of Bengal can be intensified and become into a strong trough, the strong southwesterly wind and convective activity can be intensified over the Indo-China Peninsula and the SCS in late May. Thus, this leads to late onset of the SCSM. Moreover, in this paper, the influencing mechanism of the thermal state of the tropical western Pacific on the SCSM onset is discussed further from the Walker circulation anomalies in the different thermal states of the tropical western Pacific.

A review on the South China Sea western boundary current

The advances in understanding the South China Sea （SCS） western boundary current （SCSwbc） have been reviewed since the works of Dale （1956） and Wyrtki （1961） in the middle of the 20th century. The features of the pattern of SCSwbc and the oceanic phenomena associated with it are focused on. The current is driven mainly by monsoon over the SCS and partially by winds over the tropical Pacific governed by the island rule. The SCSwbc exhibits strong seasonal variation in its direction and patterns. In winter, the current is strong and flows southwestward along the South China shelf and slope from the east of Dongsha Islands to the northern central Vietnamese coast, then turns to the south along the central and southern Vietnamese coast, and finally partially exits the SCS through the Karimata Strait. In summer and early fall, the SCSwbc can be divided into three segments based on their characteristics. The southern segment is stable, flowing northward from the Karimata Strait up to about 11 N, where it separates from the coast forming an eastward offshore current. The separation of the current from Vietnamese coast induces some striking features, such as upwelling and cold sea-surface temperature. The middle segment off the central Vietnamese coast may have a bimodal behavior： northward coastal current and meandering current in early summer （June–July）, and cyclonic gyre in later summer and early fall （August–September）. The northern segment is featured by the summer SCS Warm Current on the South China shelf and a southwestward subsurface current along the continental slope.

Western fault zone of South China Sea and its physical simulation evidences

The western fault zone of the South China Sea is a strike-slip fault system and consists of four typical strike-slip faults. It is the western border of the South China Sea. The formation of the system is due to the extrusion of Indo - China Peninsula caused by the collision of India with Tibet and the spreading of the South China Sea in Cenozoic. There are five episodes of tectonic movement along this fault zone, which plays an important role in the Cenozoic evolution of the South China Sea. By the physical modeling experiments, it can be seen the strike-slip fault undergoes the sinistral and dextral movement due to the relative movement velocity change between the South China Sea block and the Indo - China block. The fault zone controls the evolution of the pull basins locating in the west of the South China Sea.

The winter western boundary current of the South China Sea:physical structure and volume transport in December 1998

The unique survey in December 1998 mapped the entire western boundary area of the South China Sea（SCS）,which reveals the three-dimensional structure and huge volume transport of the swift and narrow winter western boundary current of the SCS（SCSwwbc） in full scale. The current is found to flow all the way from the shelf edge off Hong Kong to the Sunda Shelf with a width around 100 km and a vertical scale of about 400 m. It appears to be the strongest off the Indo-China Peninsula, where its volume transport reached over 20×10~6 m^3/s. The current is weaker upstream in the northern SCS to the west of Hong Kong. A Kuroshio loop or detached eddy intruded through the Luzon Strait is observed farther east where the SCSwwbc no more exists. The results suggest that during the survey the SCSwwbc was fed primarily by the interior recirculation of the SCS rather than by the＂branching＂ of the Kuroshio from the Luzon Strait as indicated by surface drifters, which is likely a near-surface phenomenon and only contributes a minor part to the total transport of the SCSwwbc. Several topics related to the SCSwwbc are also discussed.

Effects of South China Sea/western North Pacific summer monsoon on tropospheric biennial oscillation （TBO）

Several theories have been developed to explain tropical biennial oscillation （TBO）, as an air-sea interactive system to impact Asian and global weather and climate, and some models have been established to produce a TBO. A simple 5-box model, with almost all the key processes associated with TBO, can produce a TBO by including airsea interactions in the monsoon regions. Despite that, the South China Sea/western North Pacific summer monsoon （SCS/WNPSM）, a very important monsoon subsystem, is neglected. In this paper, based on the dynamical framework of 5-box model, the term of SCS/WNPSM has been added and a 6-box model has been developed. Comparing the difference of TBO sensibilities with several key parameters, air-sea coupling coefficient α, SST-thermocline feedback coefficient γand wind-evaporation feedback coefficient λ, between the modified model and original model, TBO is more sensible to the parameters in the new model. The results imply that the eastern Pacific and local wind-evaporation play more important roles in the TBO when including SCS /WNPSM.

Impact of the South China Sea Throughflow on the Pacific Low-Latitude Western Boundary Current:A Numerical Study for Seasonal and Interannual Time Scales

Prior studies have revealed that,as a part of the Pacific tropical gyre,the South China Sea throughflow（SCSTF） is strongly influenced by the Pacific low-latitude western boundary current（LLWBC）.In this study,ocean general circulation model（OGCM） experiments with and without connection to the South China Sea（SCS） were performed to investigate the impact of the SCSTF on the Pacific LLWBC.These model experiments show that if the SCS is blocked,seasonal variability of the Kuroshio and Mindanao Current becomes stronger,and the meridional migration of the North Equatorial Current（NEC） bifurcation latitude is enhanced.Both in seasonal and interannual time scales,stronger Luzon Strait transport（LST） induces a stronger Kuroshio transport combined with a southward shift of the NEC bifurcation,which is unfavorable for a further increase of the LST;a weaker LST induces a weaker Kuroshio transport and a northward shifting NEC bifurcation,which is also unfavorable for the continuous decrease of the LST.

Bottom water temperature measurements in the South China Sea,eastern Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean

文章报道了一批新的海底底水温度(BWT)数据,其中南海(SCS)158个站位、东印度洋(EIO)30个站位及西太平洋(WPO)37个站位。基于这批新的BWT数据,获得南海和西太平洋海域底水温度与水深经验关系,可为地球物理和物理海洋提供准确、可靠的海底温度边界。这将有助于海底油气资源调查与评估。同时,这批实测数据表明:1)水深超过3500m的海域,其底水温度在南海约为2.47℃,比东印度洋(～1.34℃)和西太平洋(～1.60℃)稍微偏高。这与大洋传送带模式所预测的情况比较吻合。该模式认为:低温高盐的海水,从北大西洋格陵兰岛和冰岛附近海域下沉到深层,然后向南流动,再与南极洲周围海域的低温高盐海水一同向北进入印度洋和太平洋。而南海是一个相对比较封闭的热带边缘海,其内部海水与印度洋和菲律宾海交换有限,导致海水温度整体高于印度洋和太平洋。2)台西南盆地水深在2700～3000m的部分站位,其底水温高达约3.00℃,明显高于其周边同水深海域底水温度(平均值约为2.33℃)。这可能是台西南盆地海底水热活动导致的结果。3)在东印度洋和西太平洋水深超过4800m海域,底水温度随着水压增大稍有升高,其升高率分别为10.6mK·MPa^(-1)和12.0mK·MPa^(-1)。这与理论估算的深层底水绝热压力温度梯度范围较为吻合。这也意味着东印度洋和西太平洋深层底水,主要由绝热自压作用导致其温度随着深度的增大而升高。

Influence of Tropical Western Pacific Warm Pool Thermal State on the Interdecadal Change of the Onset of the South China Sea Summer Monsoon in the Late-1990s

An interdecadal shift in the onset date of the South China Sea summer monsoon(SCSSM) is identified during the late 1990 s by using the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts Interim Reanalysis dataset. The mean onset date was brought forward by two pentads during 1999–2013 compared to that during 1979–1998. The large-scale atmospheric and oceanic change associated with this shift exhibits a significant interdecadal variation signal around 1998/1999, indicating that the shift during the late 1990 s is robust. Different from the well-known mid-1990 s shift, this shift carried more important systematical significance. Diagnostic analysis suggests that the earlier outbreak of the SCSSM was due to the interdecadal warming of the warm pool, which brought stronger convection anomalies and led to a weak western Pacific subtropical high(WPSH) during boreal spring(March–May). The earlier retreat of the WPSH was a direct cause of this shift.

Reversal process of the South China Sea western boundary current in autumn 2011

Using merged sea level anomaly and absolute geostrophic velocity products from satellite altimetry and Argos drifter data,we analyzed the reversal process of the South China Sea(SCS) western boundary current(SCSwbc) from a summer to winter pattern in 2011 and important oceanic phenomena during this process.Results show that the outbreak time of the northeast monsoon over the southern SCS lagged that over the northern SCS by about 1 month.During the SCS monsoon reversal period,the SCSwbc reversed rapidly into the winter pattern at the Guangdong continental slope in late September.Subsequently,the southward Vietnam coastal boundary current strengthened.However,the northward Natuna Current maintained a summer state until mid-October.Thus,the balance between the southward and northward currents was lost when they met,their junction moved gradually southward.However,a loop current formed southeast of Vietnam because the main stream of the Vietnam Offshore Current(VOC) remained near its original latitude.Meanwhile,the VOC and associated dipole circulation system strengthened.After midOctober,the northward Natuna Current began to weaken,the loop current finally shed,becoming a cool ring.The VOC and its associated dipole sub-basin circulation system also weakened gradually until it disappeared.