Generation of Nonlinear Internal Waves Around Hainan Island

Abstract

Nonlinear internal waves (NLIWs) are widely observed in the coastal area around Hainan Island in the South China Sea (SCS), which play a critical role in local mixing, thermohaline circulation and nearshore ecosystem. However, the generation of NLIWs around Hainan Island are rarely studied. We are investigating on the source sites and generation mechanisms of NLIWs around Hainan Island based on the synergistic analysis of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) observations, field measurements and numerical analyses. It is found that the NLIWs in different regions around Hainan Island have different generation regimes. NLIWs northeast of Hainan Island are generated from the Luzon Strait, NLIWs southeast of Hainan Island arise from Xisha Islands, while the NLIWs in the northern and southern shelf area south of Hainan Island are mainly from Xisha Islands and local continental shelf, respectively.