Characteristics of water exchange in the Luzon Strait during September 2006

The Luzon Strait is the only deep channel that connects the South China Sea (SCS) with the Pacific. The transport through the Luzon Strait is an important process influencing the circulation, heat and water budgets of the SCS. Early observations have suggested that water enters the SCS in winter but water inflow or outflow in summer is quite controversial. On the basis of hydrographic measurements from CTD along 120° E in the Luzon Strait during the period from September 18 to 20 in 2006, the characteristics of temperature, salinity and density distributions are analyzed. The velocity and volume transport through the Luzon Strait are calculated using the method of dynamic calculation. The major observed results show that water exchanges are mainly from the Pacific to the South China Sea in the upper layer, and the flow is relatively weak and eastward in the deeper layer. The net volume transport of the Luzon Strait during the observation period is westward, amounts to about 3.25 Sv. This result is consistent with historical observations.