The influence of ENSO on sea surface temperature variations in the China seas

Abstract

Positive SST anomalies usually appear in remote ocean such as the China seas during an ENSO event. By analyzing the monthly data of HadISST from 1950 to 2007, it shows that the interannual component of SST anomalies peak approximately 10 months after SST anomalies peak in the eastern equatorial Pacific. As the ENSO event progresses, the positive SST anomalies spread throughout the China seas and eastward along the Kuroshio extension. Atmospheric reanalysis data demonstrate that changes in the net surface heat flux entering into the China seas are responsible for the SST variability. During El Nino, the western north Pacific anticyclone is generated, with anomalous southwester lies prevailing along the East Asian coast. This anticyclone reduces the mean surface wind speed which decreases the surface heat flux and then increases the SST. The delays between the developing of this anticyclone and the south Indian Ocean anticyclone with approximately 3–6 months cause the 2–3 months lag of the surface heat flux between the China seas and the Indian Ocean. The northwestern Pacific anticyclone is the key process bridging the warming in the eastern equatorial Pacific and that in the China seas.