Three dimensional diagnostic modeling study of the South China Sea circulation before onset of summer monsoon in 1998

The wind data from NCEP and hydrographic data obtained from April 22–May 24, 1998 have been used to compute the circulation in the South China Sea (SCS) using three dimensional diagnostic models. The main numerical results with SSHA derived from T/P altimeter are as follows: most of intruded Kuroshio bypasses. However, a part of Kuroshio intrudes westward above 300 m levels. This intruded westward flow is narrowly confined to the continental slope south of China, in agreement with the findings of Qu et al. (2000). The basin-scale cyclonic gyre dominates in the northern SCS and consists of two cyclonic eddies, C2 and C3, above 300 m levels. However, it is separated into two parts by an anti-cyclonic eddy, W4, below 300 m. The basin-scale anti-cyclonic gyre dominates in the central SCS and consists of three anti-cyclonic eddies, W1, W2 and W3, above 300 m levels. However, below 300 m it consists of the anti-cyclonic eddies W1, W2 and W4 and extends northward to near 20°N. A northward coastal jet is present near the coast of Vietnam at depths above 300 m, and develops northward further to about a distance of 3°15′ N than that in cruise 2. The most important dynamical mechanism is due to the joint effect of the baroclinity and relief. The second dynamical mechanism is due to the interaction between the wind stress and relief. The topography effect is more important than the β effect. The Sverdrup relation cannot be satisfied in the SCS.     

Diagnostic calculation of the circulation in the South China Sea during summer 1998

On the basis of hydrographic data obtained from 12 June to 6 July, 1998, the three-dimensional structure of circulation in the South China Sea (SCS) is computed using a three-dimensional diagnostic model. The combination of sea surface height anomaly from altimeter data and numerical results provides a consistent circulation pattern for the SCS, and the main circulation features can be summarized as follows: In the northern SCS there are a cyclonic eddy C1 near Dongsha Islands and an anti-cyclonic eddy W1 west of Luzon Island. In the central SCS a strong anti-cyclonic eddy W3 and a cyclonic eddy C3 compose a quasi-dipole southeast of Vietnam. A coastal northward jet is present at the western boundary near the Vietnam coast above 300 m level. This northward coastal jet flows northward and turns eastward at about 14°N, and then flows southeastward into the area between eddies W3 and C3. In the southern SCS the current is weaker. The most important dynamic mechanism underlying the circulation in the SCS is the joint effect of the baroclinicity and relief (JEBAR), and the second dynamical mechanism is the interaction between the wind stress and relief (IBWSR). Comparison of the characters of circulation in the SCS during summer 2000 with that during summer 1998 reveals no obvious variability of the main characteristics.     

夏季南海北部沙壳纤毛虫种类组成及空间分布

2007年8月夏季中国科学院南海海洋研究所南海北部开放航次期间,在北纬18°-22°,东经107°-122°范围内使用＂实验三号＂科考船进行了水体中沙壳纤毛虫的采样研究,探讨了沙壳纤毛虫的空间分布和种类组成。在36个站位中共鉴定出24属44种沙壳纤毛虫,其中优势种为长形旋口虫Helicostomella longa和根突拟铃虫Tintinnopsis radix,沙壳纤毛虫丰度变化范围为0–2200cell/L,平均丰度为221cell/L,从沿岸向外海方向,沙壳纤毛虫种类和丰度逐渐减少,其中A1站丰度最高（2200cell/L）,种类数最多（10）。夏季南海北部沙壳纤毛虫丰度与叶绿素a呈显著正相关,而与温度相关性不明显。夏季南海北部的上升流和珠江冲淡水携带的营养盐刺激了浮游植物的生长,影响着南海北部沙壳纤毛虫的种类组成和空间分布。     

A high-resolution numerical modeling study of the subtidal circulation in the northern South China Sea

A high-resolution, regional, numerical-model-based, real-time ocean prediction system for the northern South China Sea, called the Northern South China Sea Nowcast/Forecast System (NSCSNFS), has been used to investigate subtidal mesoscale flows during the time period of the Asian Seas International Acoustic Experiment (ASIAEX) field programs. The dynamics are dominated by three influences; 1) surface wind stress, 2) intrusions of the Kuroshio through Luzon Strait, and 3) the large-scale cyclonic gyre that occupies much of the northern South China Sea. Each component primarily drives currents in the upper ocean, so deep currents are rather weak. Wind stress is especially effective at forcing currents over the shallow China shelf. The Kuroshio intrusion tends to flow westward until it meets the northern edge of the large-scale cyclonic gyre. Together, these currents produce an intense, narrow jet directed northwest toward the continental slope, often in the region of the ASIAEX field programs. Upon reaching the slope, the current splits with part flowing northeastward along the slope and part flowing southwestward, producing large horizontal and vertical shears and making this region dynamically very complicated and difficult to simulate. The Kuroshio intrusion tends to be stronger (weaker) when the northeasterly winds are strong (weak) and the large-scale gyre is farther south (north), consistent with conclusions from previous model studies. At the northern boundary, the model produces a persistent northward flow through Taiwan Strait into the East China Sea. Data assimilation in the NSCSNFS model is shown to dampen the system, extracting energy and causing the entire system to spin down.     

南海北部西侧海域粘土矿物的含量分布特征及来源分析

应用X射线衍射(XRD)方法对南海北部西侧海域315个表层沉积物<2μm的粘土组分进行分析.结果表明,本研究区粘土矿物有伊利石、绿泥石、蒙脱石和高岭石,其组合特征在不同区域表现出明显的差异.根据粘土矿物的空间分布特征以及研究区的海底地形特征,研究区大致可以分为3个不同区块:A区是珠江口外的大陆架区域;B区是海南岛以东陆架陆坡区域;C区为西沙海槽至西沙群岛附近区域.根据研究区表层粘土矿物分布特征、周围河流供给的主要粘土成分以及洋流搬运作用,发现A区高岭石(平均含量为19%)主要来自珠江,伊利石与绿泥石(平均含量分别为53%和18%)主要由台湾的河流提供,有珠江物质的混合,蒙脱石含量较低(平均含量为10%).B区的高岭石(平均含量为13%)主要由海南岛的河流提供,蒙脱石(平均含量为16%)主要由吕宋岛的河流提供,B区东部的伊利石和绿泥石来自台湾的河流,B区西部伊利石和绿泥石主要来自红河、越南中部河流,海南岛物源亦有贡献.C区高岭石含量较低(平均含量为12%),越南中部河流和红河为C区蒙脱石(平均含量为14%)的主要物源区,C区东部伊利石和绿泥石来自台湾的河流,C区西部伊利石和绿泥石主要来自红河、越南中部河流.     

Different effects of tropical cyclones generated in the South China Sea and the northwest Pacific on the summer South China Sea circulation

Tropical cyclones (TCs) that affect the South China Sea (SCS) can be generated in either the SCS or the northwestern Pacific (NWP). Using satellite measurements, the Sverdrup theory and a 1.5-layer nonlinear reduced gravity model, the present paper investigates the effects of SCS and NWP TCs on the summer SCS upper layer ocean circulation. Both SCS and NWP TCs enhance the summer mean circulation pattern of the cyclonic gyre in the northern SCS and the anti-cyclonic gyre in the southern SCS. However, the effect of SCS TCs is much larger than that of NWP TCs, although the number of SCS TCs is smaller than NWP TCs. This is because the SCS TCs-induced wind stress curl pattern is favorable for enhancing the summer SCS mean circulation.     

华南海平面变化分析及海岸的响应

根据粤西及珠江口12个验潮站1953-997年的月均潮位资料,采用奇异谱(SSA)分析方法,预测了华南海平面的变化,并根据预测结果,采用Everts剖面积分法,以后江湾和水东湾为例,分析了华南海岸对海平面上升的响应。其结果表明,微小幅度的海平面上升就可造成岸线较大幅度的退缩。     

南海北部陆架区夏季上升流数值研究

采用三维斜压非线性数值模式并结合卫星遥感资料分析,对南海北部陆架区夏季上升流进行了初步研究.研究结果表明,上升流是南海北部陆架区6-9月的一个规律性现象,而不是个别年份的特殊现象;海南岛东部沿岸及雷州半岛以东广州湾东南部一带海域(琼东上升流区)、汕头沿岸直至福建沿岸南日群岛附近海域(粤东上升流区)夏季表层及次表层海水均表现出明显的低温、高盐、高密等陆架上升流特征;上升流中心主要位于海南岛以东清澜湾至七洲列岛之间111°10'E、19°45'N附近,陵水湾至陵水沿岸110°15'E、18°25'N附近,粤东汕头沿岸116°45'E、22°50'N附近及澎湖列岛以西118°E、23°40'N附近.同时通过对模拟结果与QuikSCAT风场的比较分析发现,沿岸上升流与局地风场有着密切的关系,夏季西南风及风应力旋度对琼东沿岸上升流的形成有着非常积极的作用;而粤东沿岸风应力旋度较小,但夏季西南风仍是诱生粤东沿岸上升流的重要因素之一.     

2003年夏季华南持续高温天气过程及热力诊断

利用华南观测的逐日最高气温资料和NCEP逐日再分析资料,对2003年6月29日—8月15日华南持续高温过程的大气环流背景、动力和热力条件进行了诊断分析。结果表明,2003年6月29日—8月15日华南大范围持续高温的前2段高温峰期与副高有关,第3段高温期大陆高压有关,而且3次高温过程都与热带气旋外围下沉气流有密切联系,而前2次持续高温的缓解都与热带气旋登陆和影响华南地区有密切联系。热力诊断发现,3段持续高温期间,近地层大气的局地增温主要是由非绝热加热作用(白天地表感热通量和地面长波辐射加热)造成的,水平温度平流对局地增温作用有负贡献。高温天气过程的晴空少云天气背景有利于白天太阳辐射加热地面,并可造成明显的地面感热通量和地面长波辐射加热近地面层大气,从而导致了持续高温天气过程。     

Seasonal and interannual variability of carbon cycle in South China Sea: A three-dimensional physical-biogeochemical modeling study

The South China Sea (SCS) exhibits strong variations on seasonal to interannual time scale, and the changing Southeast Asian Monsoon has direct impacts on the nutrients and phytoplankton dynamics, as well as the carbon cycle. A Pacific basin-wide physical-biogeochemical model has been developed and used to investigate the physical variations, ecosystem responses, and carbon cycle consequences. The Pacific basin-wide circulation model, based on the Regional Ocean Model Systems (ROMS) with a 50-km spatial resolution, is driven with daily air-sea fluxes derived from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) reanalysis between 1990 and 2004. The biogeochemical processes are simulated with the Carbon, Si(OH)₄, Nitrogen Ecosystem (CoSINE) model consisting of multiple nutrients and plankton functional groups and detailed carbon cycle dynamics. The ROMS-CoSINE model is capable of reproducing many observed features and their variability over the same period at the SouthEast Asian Time-series Study (SEATS) station in the SCS. The integrated air-sea CO₂ flux over the entire SCS reveals a strong seasonal cycle, serving as a source of CO₂ to the atmosphere in spring, summer and autumn, but acting as a sink of CO₂ for the atmosphere in winter. The annual mean sea-to-air CO₂ flux averaged over the entire SCS is +0.33 moles CO₂ m⁻²year⁻¹, which indicates that the SCS is a weak source of CO₂ to the atmosphere. Temperature has a stronger influence on the seasonal variation of pCO₂ than biological activity, and is thus the dominant factor controlling the oceanic pCO₂ in the SCS. The water temperature, seasonal upwelling and Kuroshio intrusion determine the pCO₂ differences at coast of Vietnam and the northwestern region of the Luzon Island. The inverse relationship between the interannual variability of Chl-a in summer near the coast of Vietnam and NINO₃ SST (Sea Surface Temperature) index in January implies that the carbon cycle and primary productivity in the SCS is teleconnected to the Pacific-East Asian large-scale climatic variability.     

South China Sea wave characteristics during typhoon Muifa passage in winter 2004

The responses to tropical cyclones of ocean wave characteristics in deep water of the western Atlantic Ocean have been investigated extensively, but not the regional seas in the western Pacific such as the South China Sea (SCS), due to a lack of observational and modeling studies there. Since monsoon winds prevail in the SCS but not in the western Atlantic Ocean, the SCS is unique for investigating wave characteristics during a typhoon’s passage in conjunction with steady monsoon wind forcing. To do so, the Wavewatch-III (WW3) is used to study the response of the SCS to Typhoon Muifa (2004), which passed over not only deep water but also the shallow shelf of the SCS. The WW3 model is forced by the NASA QuikSCAT winds and tropical cyclone wind profile model during Typhoon Muifa’s passage from 0000UTC 16 on November to 1200UTC on 25 November 2004. The results reveal the unique features of the SCS wave characteristics in response to Muifa, such as non-decaying, monsoon-generated swell throughout the typhoon period and strong topographic effects on the directional wave spectrum.     

1998年夏季南海水团分析

根据 1 998年夏季“南海季风试验 ( SCSMEX)”期间所获的 CTD资料 ,使用系统聚类、Fuzzy模式聚类、Bayes判别分析和 Fuzzy分析等水团分析方法 ,对南海水体的结构和水团配置状况等进行了分析 ,划出了南海存在的 9个主要水团 ,并对各水团的温、盐度特征进行了初析。在调查期间 ,南海本地水 (南海水 )几乎控制了整个调查海区 ,而黑潮水仅出现在台湾岛的西南海域 ;海水强烈混合发生在吕宋海峡附近 ;在中南半岛以东和吕宋岛以西海域 ,表层水明显下沉 ;在南海东南部可能有来自苏禄海的海水 ,其温、盐度特征类似于吕宋海峡中的黑潮水     

南海夏季风建立特征及模拟

利用NCEP再分析资料分析了2004、2005年南海夏季风建立的大尺度环流特征.采用GRAPES对2a南海夏季风爆发过程进行了模拟.结果表明：GRAPES成功的模拟了南海夏季风建立期间南海地区低层东风转向和副高迅速东撤的过程,通过数值模拟,揭示了南海夏季风建立过程中存在着的中低纬相互作用.     

Traces of ancient tsunamis in the coastal parts of the South China Sea

The results of geological and geomorphological investigations have shown that the South China Sea and its close coastal margins are in danger because of the possibility of a tsunami arriving from seismically active zones in the Philippines and Taiwan to the west and northwest coastal zones of the South China Sea. The collected data on paleotsunamis make it possible to date at least three such ancient catastrophes that have occurred in the last 1000 years (about 350, 650, and 960 years ago). The height of splashes of these ancient tsunami waves can be estimated. It was more than 7 m and in some places exceeded 15 m. The length of the sea coast covered by the paleotsunamis is estimated at several hundred (up to a first thousand) kilometers, which gives the opportunity to distinguish them from the ancient typhoons that are also typical of the region.     

2007年夏季南海北部浮游植物的物种组成及丰度分布

2007年8月10-29日对南海北部41个站位进行了浮游植物群落结构的调查.调查结果表明,共发现浮游植物5门80属216种(包括变种、变形、未定种),调查期间南海浮游植物以硅藻为主,占所有物种数的64.81%,占总浮游植物细胞丰度的89.11%:甲藻次之,占所有物种数的30.56%,占总浮游植物细胞丰度的10.62%;蓝藻门的红海束毛藻Trichodesmium erythraeum在许多站位也占有相当的比例.绿藻和一些淡水的蓝藻只在珠江口附近的站位才被检出.主要优势种为海链藻Thalassiosira sp.、菱形海线藻Thalassionema nitzschioides、中肋骨条藻Skeletonema costatum、微小原甲藻Prorocentrum minimum和裸甲藻Gymnodinium sp..从平面分布来看,南海北部在珠江口外围和台湾浅滩海域存在2个浮游植物丰度高值区.表层和次表层浮游植物的平面分布格局差异很大,表层浮游植物的丰度平均为25.21×10<'3>个·L<'-1>,高值区在珠江口附近海域;次表层浮游植物丰度平均为9×10<'3>个·L<'-1>,高值区在台湾浅滩海域.调查区域的浅水站位(<200m)的浮游植物丰度远高于深水站位(>200m).从垂直分布来看,浮游植物的细胞丰度基本上自上而下随水深的增加而逐渐降低,最大丰度在10m水层.深水站位与浅水站位的浮游植物垂直分布结构有很大的差异.硅藻类在浅水站位中基本随深度的增加而减少,但在10m处出现最大值;而在深水站位则存在次表层(75m)最大值的现象.甲藻类在浅水站位中随深度增加显著减少,而在深水站位的75m以上其分布比较均匀.越靠近外海,浮游植物中硅藻所占的比例越小,硅甲藻比率大的海区一般具有高的生产力和较高的浮游植物丰度.调查海区表层和次表层的浮游植物Shannon-Wiener指数的平均分别为2.8和3.0,生物多样性高的区域分别位于珠江口、粤东近海和海南的东部近海,浅水站位的浮游植物多样性指数远高于深水站位.     

1998年季风爆发期南海大气边界层的日变化

在南海尚未有关于海洋大气边界层结构日变化方面的研究.研究海洋大气边界层,有利于我们更好地研究海洋表层结构变化影响机制,对发生在海洋大气边界层上的过程进行预测预报.因此了解南海海洋大气边界层的结构特征,对于我们进一步了解南海天气尺度海气相互作用有非常重要的意义.通过对1998年在南海南部(6°15′N,110°E)和南海北部(20°29′39″N,116°57′48″E)的南海季风试验中定点科考船释放一天四次的探空观测资料分析得出,季风爆发前海洋大气边界层存在规则的日变化,在中午达到深厚.季风爆发后南海北部大气边界层日变化消失,南海南部依然明显.分析表明对其日变化起重要影响的是短波辐射;潜热输送对大气边界层高度日变化影响不大.与大气边界层厚度日变化相对应,南海南部边界层内水汽日变化明显,而南海北部较不明显.     

On the warm/cold regime shift in the South China Sea: Observation and modeling study

Remote sensing data sets and a high-resolution three-dimensional regional ocean model were utilized to investigate the shifting of warm/cold regime and the associated sea level variation in the South China Sea (SCS) during 2000–2003. Both the altimetry data and the model results showed an increase in the sea level (warm phase) followed by an abrupt decrease (cold phase) in the SCS during 2000–2003. Heat budget calculations performed with the model revealed excess heat advection from the western Pacific warm pool into the SCS during the warm phase than the cold phase. The warm phase, which occurred during La Niña episodes, resulted from the intrusion of abnormally warmer western Pacific water that increased the heat content and thus sea level in the SCS. The cold phase, which occurred during El Niño episodes, was triggered by a reduction in the net atmospheric heat flux followed by cold water advection into the SCS. Decrease in the rate of precipitation minus evaporation (P?E) also accounted for the falling of sea level during cold phase. The present study integrated the available remote sensing data and advanced numerical model to identify the time-dependent three-dimensional dynamic and thermodynamic forcing that are important in governing the warm/cold regime shift in the SCS.     

太平洋-印度洋暖池次表层水温与南海夏季风爆发

为探索太平洋—印度洋热带海域次表层水温对南海季风的影响,用Argo剖面浮标等实测资料,分析了太平洋—印度洋暖池次表层水温异常对南海夏季风爆发的影响。结果表明：冬季,太—印暖池次表层水温偏暖（冷）时,翌年南海夏季风爆发时间偏早（晚）是主要现象。太—印暖池次表层水温偏暖,可能引起Walker环流加强,西太平洋副热带高压偏弱,中心位置偏北偏东,南海和西太平洋上空对流层下层有气旋性距平环流出现,有利于低空西到西南气流的加强,导致南海夏季风爆发偏早;太—印暖池次表层水温偏冷,可能引起Walker环流东移并减弱,西太平洋副热带高压偏强,中心位置偏南偏西,南海和西太平洋上空对流层下层有反旋性距平环流出现,不利于低空西到西南气流的加强,导致南海夏季风爆发偏晚。结论：冬季,太—印暖池次表层水温偏暖（冷）,翌年南海夏季风爆发时间偏早（晚）是主要现象。