Heat exchange at air-sea interface in the South China Sea during monsoon periods in 1986

Abstract

In order to explore the interaction between the sea and monsoon in the South China Sea, the heat exchanges at air-sea interface during monsoon periods in 1986 were calculated using observational data. It shows that when the summer monsoon bursts and prevails over the South China Sea, the air-sea interface heat exchange is strong and the latent heat rises rapidly in the intertropical convergence zone and the tropic cyclone system near 20.49°N, 114.14°E. On May 24, 1986, the sensible heat became positive in the typhoon system. The heating exchange indicates that heat is transported from ocean to atmosphere, with major contribution of latent heat. When the summer monsoon prevails over the South China Sea and the weather is fine, even SST (sea surface temperature) is high, but sensible heat appears to be negative. The heat exchange indicates that heat is transported from atmosphere to ocean, with major contribution of short-wave radiation absorbed by sea surface and sensible heat. When summer monsoon is over and the northeast monsoon prevails over the South China Sea, the heat exchange at air-sea interface is very strong. The heating exchange shows that the ocean heats the atmosphere, with major contribution of latent heat when cold air arrives at the sea surface and the sensible heat rises to positive rapidly. Therefore it can be concluded that the heat exchange at air-sea interface is different from the SST in South China Sea. When the summer monsoon prevails over the South China Sea, the main trend is the ocean responding to the atmosphere.