Analysis of Acoustic Elements in Northwest Pacific Ocean Based on Operational MODAS Data and Its Response to Kuroshio Seasonal Variation

Abstract

This study utilized operational MODAS (Modular Ocean Data Assimilation System) data to analyze the seasonal variation of acoustic elements of Northwest Pacific Ocean (NWPO). Combining the seasonal variation of the Kuroshio, it further investigated the impact of the Kuroshio seasonal variation on acoustic properties. The results indicate that the distribution of acoustic elements have significant seasonal variation, with a strong correlation between sonic layer depth and mixed layer depth. The acoustic thermocline depth and thermocline depth show significant correlations in the whole area in winter and spring, while in the rest two seasons, it only occurs in low latitude, the southern part of South China Sea (SCS), and also the Kuroshio area.