Strong near-inertial oscillations in geostrophic shear in the northern South China Sea

With observational data from three Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) moorings, we detected strong near-inertial oscillations (NIO) in the continental shelf region of the northern South China Sea in July 2008. The amplitude of the near-inertial current velocity is much greater than that of diurnal and semi-diurnal tides. The power of the NIOs is strongest in the intermediate layer, relatively weak in the surface layer, and insignificant in the near-bottom layer. The spectral analysis indicates that the NIOs have a peak frequency of 0.0307 cph, which is 2% lower than the local inertial frequency, i.e., a red-shift. The near-inertial wave has an upward vertical phase velocity, which involves a downward group velocity and energy flux. The estimated vertical phase velocity is about 43 m day⁻¹, corresponding to a vertical wave length of about 58 m. The horizontal scale of the NIOs is at least hundreds of kilometers. This NIO event lasted for about 15 days after a typhoon’s passage. Given the northeastward background flow with significant horizontal shear, both Doppler shift and shear flow modulation mechanisms may be responsible for the red-shift of the observed NIOs. For the shear flow mechanism, the observed negative background vorticity and the corresponding effective Coriolis frequency reduce the lower limit of admissible frequency band for the NIOs, causing the red-shift. Meanwhile, the mooring area with the broadened frequency band acts as a wave-guide. The trapping and amplification effects lead to the relatively long sustaining period of the observed NIOs.     

Surface layer temperature inversion in the Arabian Sea during winter

Surface layer temperature inversion in the south eastern Arabian Sea, during winter has been studied using Bathythermograph data collected from 1132 stations. It is found that the inversion in this area is a stable seasonal feature and the occurrence is limited to the coastal waters. The inversion layer is found to have thickness varying from 10 to 80 meters and gradient of 0.0–1.2°C. The causative factor for the inversion is identified to be the winter-time surface-advection of cold less saline Bay of Bengal water over the warm saline Arabian Sea water along the west coast of India. Finally, the possible forcing mechanism for such an advection was examined using a hydrographic section and wind observations along the west coast of India.     

基于实测资料的南海北部台风“海鸥”致近惯性振荡研究

文章利用2014年9月南海东北部附近海域的A、B两个相距约20km的潜标数据, 分析了台风“海鸥”在南海东北部激发的近惯性振荡的垂向分布特征。结果表明, 台风过境在两站点激发了强烈的近惯性振荡, 其能量由海表向海洋内部传播; 近惯性能量在表层随着深度增加而增大, 最大值出现在次表层, 此后随着深度增加迅速衰减。但是两个观测站点的近惯性振荡垂向分布特征有较大的差别: A站点的近惯性振荡在不同深度上存在三个不同的垂向相速度, 而B站点的垂向相速度没有变化; 两站点的最大近惯性动能的大小及其所在深度不同, B站点比A站点的最大近惯性动能大15%左右。台风过后两个站点均出现由近惯性波f和半日内潮波D₂非线性相互作用产生的次级波动fD₂, 但其强度存在差异。台风后A站点fD₂在不同深度上有不同的变化, f和D₂相互作用较弱; 而B站点的fD₂在整个近惯性振荡影响深度内都是增强, 其fD₂和f频带的动能和流速在时空分布以及变化趋势上有较好的相关性。两站点的近惯性振荡垂向相速度以及次级波动fD₂的不同可能是水体层结的差异和涡旋的影响所导致的。     

Simulation of wind-induced near-inertial oscillations in a mixed layer near the east coast of Korea in the East/Japan Sea

Using a simple damped slab model,it was possible to show that a local wind induced 88%(15 of 17)of the near-inertial oscillations(NIO)observed in the mixed layer near the east coast of Korea from 1999 to 2004.The model,however,overestimated the energy level in about two-thirds of the simulated cases,because the slab model was forced with winds whose characteristic period was shorter than the damping time scale of the model at 1.5 d.At the observation site,due to typhoons and orographic effects,high-frequency wind forcing is quite common,as is the overestimation of the energy level in the slab model results.In short,a simple slab model with a damping time-scale of about 1.5 d would be enough to show that the local wind was the main energy source of the near-inertial energy in this area,but the model could not be used to accurately estimate the amount of the work done by the wind to the mixed layer.     

南海北部流切变环境中台风引起的近惯性振荡的比较研究

通过2008年和2009年布放在南海北部的声学多普勒流速剖面仪(ADCP)锚系潜标,本文观测到了三次由台风引起的近惯性振荡(NIO)事件,分别编号为2008a,2009a,2009b,并对其进行了比较研究.其中2008a在三次事件中强度最大,持续时间最长(15 d),而2009a和2009b仅分别持续了4 d和8 d.三次事件的垂直能量分布和位相传播有明显的区别.在频率偏移方面,2008a的峰值频率略低于局地科氏频率(红移),而2009a和2009b则体现出蓝移.不同的NIO事件的特征表现主要由台风扰动和背景流场环境共同决定,特别是背景流场通过平流和调制作用在其中起了重要的作用.本文的研究为不同背景流场中NIO的不同响应提供了观测的证据.通过分析数模提供的背景流场的涡度和有效科氏频率,2008a事件中较强的振幅和较长的持续时间是由于背景的剪切流场的波导效应造成,其改变了台风过后NIO的能量分布,将入射波能量集中于负涡度区域.而2009a和2009b事件中由于涡度不明显,因此没有类似效应.     

南海北部冬、夏季浮游群落呼吸率

Plankton respiration is an important part of the carbon cycle and significantly affects the balance of autotrophic assimilation and heterotrophic production in oceanic ecosystems. In the present study, respiration rates of the euphotic zone plankton community(CR_(eu)), size fractionated chlorophyll a concentration(Chl a), bacterial abundance(BAC), and dissolved oxygen concentration(DO) were investigated during winter and summer in the northern South China Sea(n SCS). The results show that there were obvious spatial and temporal variations in CR_(eu) in the n SCS(ranging from 0.03 to 1.10 μmol/(L·h)), CR_(eu) in winter((0.53±0.27) μmol/(L·h)) was two times higher than that in summer((0.26±0.20) μmol/(L·h)), and decreased gradually from the coastal zone to the open sea. The distribution of CR_(eu) was affected by coupled physical-chemical-biological processes, driven by monsoon events. The results also show that CR_(eu) was positively correlated with Chl a, BAC, and DO, and that BAC contributed the highest CR_(eu) variability. Furthermore, the results of the stepwise multiple linear regression suggest that bacteria and phytoplankton were the dominant factors in determining CR_(eu)(R~2 = 0.82, p0.05) in the n SCS. Based on this relationship, we estimated the integrated water column respiration rate(CRint) within 100 m of the investigated area, and found that the relationship between the biomass of the plankton community and respiration may be nonlinear in the water column.     

南海北部陆架区两个台风过境时近惯性运动的若干特征

Features of near-inertial motions on the shelf(60 m deep) of the northern South China Sea were observed under the passage of two typhoons during the summer of 2009. There are two peaks in spectra at both sub-inertial and super-inertial frequencies. The super-inertial energy maximizes near the surface, while the sub-inertial energy maximizes at a deeper layer of 15 m. The sub-inertial shift of frequency is induced by the negative background vorticity. The super-inertial shift is probably attributed to the near-inertial wave propagating from higher latitudes. The near-inertial currents exhibit a two-layer pattern being separated at mid-depth(25–30 m), with the phase in the upper layer being nearly opposite to that in the lower layer. The vertical propagation of phase implies that the near-inertial energy is not dominantly downward. The upward flux of the near-inertial energy is more evident at the surface layer(17 m). There exist two boundaries at 17 and 40 m, where the near-inertial energy is reflected upward and downward. The near-inertial motion is intermittent and can reach a peak of as much as 30 cm/s. The passage of Typhoon Nangka generates an intensive near-inertial event, but Typhoon Linfa does not. This difference is attributed to the relative mooring locations, which is on the right hand side of Nangka's path(leading to a wind pattern rotating clockwise with time) and is on the left hand side of Linfa's path(leading to a wind pattern rotating anti-clockwise with time).     

Numerical investigation on propulsion of the counter-wind current in the northern South China Sea in winter

The propulsion of the winter counter-wind current in the northern South China Sea (SCS) is investigated with a regional, three-dimensional, primitive equation model. This current is usually called the SCS Warm Current (SCSWC). Model results well reproduced the banded structure of the Guangdong coastal current, the SCSWC and the slope current from the coast to the slope in the northern SCS in the climatological data. The across-shelf flow is active in the shelf break area. Both onshore and offshore flows exist; the net across-shelf transport is shoreward throughout the year, and is larger in winter than in other seasons. The joint effect of baroclinicity and relief (JEBAR) is the dominant forcing of the across-shelf transport in the shelf break area. The major mass source of the SCSWC is the onshore-veered slope current. It is the JEBAR effect that supplies the necessary negative vorticity to maintain the slope current flowing across the isobaths and veering to the right hand to feed the SCSWC. Analyses of the momentum fields indicate that the onshore pressure gradient in the outer shelf balances the Coriolis force induced by the northeastward SCSWC in the frame of geostrophy. In winter, such an onshore pressure gradient is mainly provided by the strong density contrast between waters of the shelf and of the upper slope, which results from the Kuroshio intrusion via the Luzon Strait. The notable intrusion of the Kuroshio in winter is crucial for maintaining the density structure in the shelf break area and facilitates the set-up of the onshore pressure gradient over the outer shelf.     

南海北部冬、夏季海表浮游植物光合作用速率对光强的响应特征

本文通过南海北部冬、夏季航次的现场观测,研究了海表浮游植物光合作用速率对光强的响应特征(P-E曲线)。结果表明南海北部浮游植物P-E曲线存在明显的季节变化。在冬季,P-E曲线呈现高P_mB、高α、高β的特征,这表明冬季浮游植物在低光照环境中光合作用速率增加迅速,其最大光合作用速率较高但容易受到光抑制。与冬季相反,夏季P-E曲线呈现低P_mB、低α、低β的特征,浮游植物受光抑制影响小,但最大光合作用速率低于冬季。水温和粒级结构等指标与P-E参数存在显著相关,这意味着环境和群落的季节变化可能对光合作用特性有一定影响。通过P-E参数模拟得到真光层内光合作用速率,模拟值与现场结果之间呈明显的线性相关但存在高估。此研究有助于认识南海浮游植物光合作用特征,并为初级生产力模型研究提供依据。     

Evolution and propagation of amesoscale eddy in the northern South China Sea during winter

In situ observations,satellite data,and the output from an eddy-resolving ocean circulation model were used to study the generations and propagations of an anticyclonic eddy in the northern South China Sea (NSCS) during the winter of 2009-2010.In the NSCS,the anticyclonic eddy firstly appeared to the west of the Luzon Strait,migrated generally along the continental slope and dissipated around the Xisha Archipelago. The evolution of the warm eddy contains three phases:development,maturation,and decay.The eddy mainly stayed near 119.7°E in December and then gradually moved to 118.7°E until January 15,when its intensity,as indicated by the thermocline temperature and salinity anomalies,increased significantly,reflecting the growth of the eddy.The eddy reached its peak on January 15 and persisted until February 23. During this period,the eddy propagated westward to 116.4°E.After,the warm eddy weakened significantly and dissipated finally near the Xisha Archipelago.     

Seabirds seen in the northern Tasman Sea in winter

The distribution of birds in the northern Tasman Sea was observed during August and September 1967 from r.v. Argo. Subantarctic species (Diomedea exulans, D. melanophris and Daption capensis) ranged further north in the western than in the eastern Tasman Sea, probably because western waters have a higher phosphate content and hence contain more food.

New northernmost sightings were recorded for Pachyptila sp., Pterodroma macroptera, Pelecanoides sp. and Procellaria cinereus.     

Some features of winter convection in the Japan Sea

Historical Russian data provide indication of winter convection reaching down to about 1000 m depth near Vladivostok. However, this kind of convection does not occur every winter. Further data analysis suggests that the location of convection is driven offshore by the coastal buoyant water, which otherwise would be the coastal area. The coastal buoyant water is mostly cold fresh water but occasionally warm coastal water in the south. Due to the large extent of fresh coastal water in the northern part of the basin, the convection does not happen in this area despite the most intense surface cooling.     

2004年冬季南海北部浮游植物

根据2004年2月在南海北部海域陆架区的采样调查,对南海北部Uterm hl浮游植物的群落结构进行了研究.初步研究结果表明,本次调查共发现浮游植物5门106属198种(不包括20种未定种).调查期内,南海浮游植物以硅藻为主,甲藻次之,以颗石藻为主要组份的金藻和固氮蓝藻也占有相当的比例,绿藻仅在珠江口个别站位被检出.菱形海线藻(Thalassionema nitzschioides Grunow)、佛氏海线藻(Thalassionema frauen feldii(Grunow) Hallegraeff)、贺胥黎艾氏颗石藻(Emiliania huxleyi(Lohmann) Hay et Mohler)、柔弱伪菱形藻(Pseudo-Nitzschia delicatissma Heiden)、长海毛藻(Thalassiothrix longissima Cleve et Grunow)、海洋桥球石藻(Gephyrocapsa oceanica Kamptner)、具齿原甲藻(Prorocentrum dentatum Stein)、具槽帕拉藻[Paraliasulcata(Ehrenberg) Cleve]和旋沟藻(Gyrodiniumspirale Bergh)为群落的优势种.南海北部浮游植物以广温、广布型为主,其次是暖水性种,热带、亚热带和冷水性种都较少.调查区浮游植物的细胞丰度介于3.8~2 810.3个/cm3,平均值为206.4个/cm3;浮游植物垂直分布总体特点是密集区位于水体表层,由水体表层到底层,细胞丰度逐渐减少;表层浮游植物细胞丰度的平面分布高值区位于调查区珠江口南部和南部海域.浮游植物群落的多样性分析显示调查海域中部的多样性较高,近岸和外海区则较低.应用典范对应分析(CCA)发现盐度和光照的梯度分布是影响南海北部浮游植物物种分布格局最重要的因素,磷酸盐和温度的梯度分布也起一定的作用.根据CCA的分析结果,将海区浮游植物物种划分为5个组,分别为:Ⅰ.高温度、高盐度、高光照和低营养盐组;Ⅱ.高温度和高光照组;Ⅲ.高磷酸盐和硅酸盐组;Ⅳ.低光强高盐度荫生物种组;Ⅴ.高硝酸盐组.     

Nutrient distributions in the winter regime of the northern Irish Sea

Quasi-synoptic distributions of salinity and the concentrations of dissolved inorganic nutrients in the winter regime of the northern Irish Sea are presented. Salinity to nutrient regression analyses and the distributions of nutrient ratios show that the characteristics of Atlantic waters are variously modified during their northward passage through the Irish Sea. Inherently different chemical characteristics of the fresh water sources discharging into the Northern Irish Sea generate a conglomeration of water types in the area. Marine waters along the Irish coast are relatively enriched in silicon, while waters adjacent to the eastern coastal boundary are relatively enriched by anthropogenic nitrogen sources. Possible implications of the spatial dichotomy in nutrient status for the seasonal production cycle in the northern Irish Sea are considered.     

南海混合层近惯性能通量的时空变化

On the basis of the QSCAT/NCEP blended wind data and simple ocean data assimilation(SODA), the wind-induced near-inertial energy flux(NIEF) in the mixed layer of the South China Sea(SCS) is estimated by a slab model, and the model results are verified by observational data near the Xisha Islands in the SCS. Then, the spatial and temporal variations of the NIEF in the SCS are analyzed. It is found that, the monthly mean NIEF exhibits obvious spatial and temporal variabilities, i.e., it is large west of Luzon Island all the year, east of the Indo-China Peninsula all the year except in spring, and in the northern SCS from May to September. The large monthly mean NIEF in the first two zones may be affected by the large local wind stress curl whilst that in the last zone is probably due to the shallow mixed layer depth. Moreover, the monthly mean NIEF is relatively large in summer and autumn due to the passage of typhoons. The spatial mean NIEF in the mixed layer of the SCS is estimated to be about 1.25 m W/m2 and the total wind energy input from wind is approximately 4.4 GW. Furthermore, the interannual variability of the spatial monthly mean NIEF and the Ni?o3.4 index are negatively correlated.     

Branching of the Tsushima current in the Japan Sea

Although the Tsushima Current exhibits a complicated meander in the interior region of the Japan Sea, its path is more regular in the southwest region near the Tsushima Strait, and three branches have often been recognized there by many investigators. However, the detailed structures and temporal variabilities of these branches have not been clarified, and so they are studied here by analysing temperature, salinity and sea level data. It is shown that the existence of the first branch (the nearshore branch along the Japanese coast) can be detected from salinity distributions at least during the period from March to August. The third branch (the Eastern Korean Current) exists in all seasons. On the other hand, the second branch (the offshore branch) is seasonally variable and can be identified only in summer from June to August. Along the Japanese coast of southwest Japan Sea, the main pycnocline intersects the gentle slope on the shelf at a depth between 150 and 200 m. The first branch is found on the coastal side of the line where the main pycnocline intersects the bottom slope. On the other hand, the second branch is formed just on the seaward side of this line. Sea level differences in the Tsushima Strait, i.e., between Hakata and Izuhara and between Izuhara and Pusan, show that the seasonal variation of the surface velocity (or volume transport) is small in the eastern channel and large in the western channel. The period during which the surface velocity and volume transport in the western channel increase corresponds well to the period during which the second branch exists. These results suggest that the effects of bottom topography and oceanic stratification in the Japan Sea as well as the time variation of inflow through the western channel of the Tsushima Strait play important roles in the formation of the second branch.     

南海北部台风和中尺度暖涡对近惯性振荡的影响

基于2014年8-9月南海北部东沙群岛附近海域两个临近站位(站位A,20.736°N,117.745°E,水深1 249 m;站位B,20.835°N,117.56°E,水深848 m)的潜标数据,研究了台风过境所激发的近惯性振荡的特征,分析了中尺度暖涡对近惯性频率的调制及其对近惯性动能分布和传播的影响。站位A(B)142(175) m以浅,近惯性频率由0.710 1(0.713 3)周/d红移至0.659 2周/d,频率减小了7.2%(7.6%),观测结果与两个站位所处的背景涡度相吻合。中尺度暖涡改变了水体层结状态,两个站位的近惯性动能在不同层结中被改变了0.5～3倍。水体层结对能量的折射作用使得站位B的近惯性动能在深度158～223 m之间衰减较少,而站位A的近惯性动能则随着深度的增加快速减小。站位A和站位B近惯性内波的垂向群速度分别约为15.2 m/d和14.1 m/d。如果忽略近惯性动能的水平辐散,近惯性内波的垂向传播分别造成了两个站位垂向上约47%和38%的近惯性动能衰减。     

冬季南海北部陆架锋区悬浮颗粒态硅的分析冬季南海北部陆架锋区悬浮颗粒态硅的分析

对冬季南海北部陆架锋区的悬浮颗粒态生物硅（Particulate Biogenic Silica, PBSi）和成岩硅（Lithogenic Silica, LSi）含量进行了调查分析,讨论了悬浮颗粒态生物硅分布及其影响因素。结果表明,南海北部陆架区悬浮颗粒态生物硅和成岩硅平均含量分别为059和893 μmol/dm3。生物硅分布与水团关系密切：在营养盐充足的沿岸水生物硅含量高（10 μmol/dm3）;而在营养盐缺乏的陆架表层水生物硅含量低（023 μmol/dm3）;在两种水团过渡区生物硅含量居中（065 μmol/dm3）并与溶解硅酸盐（Dissolved Silicate, DSi）成显著正相关（R=048,N=44,P=0001,a=001）。此外锋面位置也直接影响生物硅的含量与分布。大部分调查海区被高温高盐低营养盐海水占据,因此导致了调查海区以低浓度的生物硅和成岩硅为特征,且与世界其他海区相比,生物硅含量处于低值区。     

冬季南海北部陆架锋区悬浮颗粒态硅的分析

对冬季南海北部陆架锋区的悬浮颗粒态生物硅(Particulate Biogenic Silica,PBSi)和成岩硅(Lithogenic Silica,LSi)含量进行了调查分析,讨论了悬浮颗粒态生物硅分布及其影响因素。结果表明,南海北部陆架区悬浮颗粒态生物硅和成岩硅平均含量分别为0.59和8.93μmol/dm3。生物硅分布与水团关系密切:在营养盐充足的沿岸水生物硅含量高(1.0μmol/dm3);而在营养盐缺乏的陆架表层水生物硅含量低(0.23μmol/dm3);在两种水团过渡区生物硅含量居中(0.65μmol/dm3)并与溶解硅酸盐(Dissolved Silicate,DSi)成显著正相关(R=0.48,N=44,P=0.001,a=0.01)。此外锋面位置也直接影响生物硅的含量与分布。大部分调查海区被高温高盐低营养盐海水占据,因此导致了调查海区以低浓度的生物硅和成岩硅为特征,且与世界其他海区相比,生物硅含量处于低值区。