China Sea In Winter Research Articles

Numerical investigation on propulsion of the counter-wind current in the northern South China Sea in winter

The propulsion of the winter counter-wind current in the northern South China Sea (SCS) is investigated with a regional, three-dimensional, primitive equation model. This current is usually called the SCS Warm Current (SCSWC). Model results well reproduced the banded structure of the Guangdong coastal current, the SCSWC and the slope current from the coast to the slope in the northern SCS in the climatological data. The across-shelf flow is active in the shelf break area. Both onshore and offshore flows exist; the net across-shelf transport is shoreward throughout the year, and is larger in winter than in other seasons. The joint effect of baroclinicity and relief (JEBAR) is the dominant forcing of the across-shelf transport in the shelf break area. The major mass source of the SCSWC is the onshore-veered slope current. It is the JEBAR effect that supplies the necessary negative vorticity to maintain the slope current flowing across the isobaths and veering to the right hand to feed the SCSWC. Analyses of the momentum fields indicate that the onshore pressure gradient in the outer shelf balances the Coriolis force induced by the northeastward SCSWC in the frame of geostrophy. In winter, such an onshore pressure gradient is mainly provided by the strong density contrast between waters of the shelf and of the upper slope, which results from the Kuroshio intrusion via the Luzon Strait. The notable intrusion of the Kuroshio in winter is crucial for maintaining the density structure in the shelf break area and facilitates the set-up of the onshore pressure gradient over the outer shelf.

Chemical and physical fronts in the Bohai, Yellow and East China seas

Associated with strong mixing and stirring, as well as enhanced bioproductivity and ecotones, oceanic fronts have garnered worldwide attention in recent years. Research into oceanic fronts, especially thermal fronts, has gained momentum since the advent of satellites and their increased accessibility. Yet, studies of salinity and nutrient fronts —particularly those that are subsurface are few and far between. This study reviews the most widely accepted facts about surface and subsurface temperature and salinity fronts in the Bohai, Yellow and East China seas and their seasonal variations. The distribution of nutrients in the surface and bottom waters are mapped and nutrient fronts, for the first time, are identified systematically. These fronts are generally strongest in winter when southward flowing coastal currents are influenced most by winter monsoons, and the contrasts between these cold, fresh, nutrient-rich currents and the northward flowing warm, saline but nutrient-poor Kuroshio are strongest. Surface fronts are generally weakest in summer when coastal currents may be weaker and temperature, salinity and nutrient contrasts are diminished. The existence of fronts and why some are disconnected are mainly related to oceanic features such as topography, boundaries between water masses and current flow patterns. Three latitudinal temperature and nutrient fronts in the southern East China Sea in winter may suggest eastward flowing currents. These currents have not been described previously.

Cross-shelf circulation in the Yellow and East China Seas indicated by MODIS satellite observations

Ocean color and sea surface temperature data from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) onboard the Terra satellite are used to study the cross-shelf circulation and transport of suspended sediments in the Yellow and the East China Seas. The ocean color images show a significant turbid water plume extending in the southeast direction from the Subei coasts of China to the shelf edge south of Cheju during fall–winter, suggesting significant cross-shelf currents in the Yellow Sea/East China Sea in winter. The currents transport suspended sediments from the area of the old Huanghe mouth into the Okinawa Trough. Part of the turbid plume joins the Yellow Sea Warm Current to enter the Yellow Sea trough in winter. The satellite images suggest that the time scales of cross-shelf transport and surface-to-subsurface descending of the suspended sediments are a few weeks. The turbid plume grows in fall, reaches its maximum expansion and intensity in winter–spring, and subsides in late spring. In summer, the plume becomes coastally trapped. Substantial interannual variations of the intensity and coverage of the turbid plume are indicated by the observations. In comparison, the Changjiang Diluted Water in summer only transports a small amount of the Changjiang suspended sediment to the outer shelf south of Cheju, which does not enter the Yellow Sea owing to the weak intrusion of the Yellow Sea Warm Current in summer. The dynamics of the cross-shelf circulation in the Yellow Sea in winter are hypothesized to be associated with (1) the convergence of the Yellow Sea Coastal Current and the Taiwan Warm Current off the Changjiang mouth and (2) the time-dependent forcing of the northerly wind bursts that drives the intrusion of the Yellow Sea Warm Current.

Coastal upwelling in the East China Sea in winter

The dynamic mechanisms of the upwelling off the East China Sea (ECS) coast in wintertime are studied. First, the upwelling signals off the ECS coast are identified by the observed temperature, salinity, nutrients, and dissolved oxygen data obtained during the cruises in January 1999. The MASNUM wave‐tide‐circulation coupled model is then employed to simulate the hydrography of the ECS. Comparisons between the simulations and observations show that the model performance is satisfactory. On the basis of successful simulation, four numerical experiments are conducted to investigate the upwelling mechanisms. The results suggest that the density (or salinity) front, which separates the inshore Low Salinity Coastal Water and the offshore Taiwan Warm Current (TWC), is the primary inducement for the upwelling. Owing to strong density gradient, the baroclinic pressure gradient force (PGF) is quite large near the frontal zone, and this PGF elicits an upwelling branch along the topography slope. Wind, TWC, and tide affect the density front in extension and intensity, thus exerting subsidiary influences on the upwelling. According to Ekman's theory, the northerly monsoon is downwelling favorable. However, the net effects of wind on the upwelling off the ECS coast in winter are positive because it drives the Changjiang River Diluted Water (CDW) flowing southward and forms the density front. Similarly, the resultant effects of TWC on the upwelling are negative for obstructing the pathway of CDW. Tide contributes to the upwelling because tidal mixing facilitates the expansion of CDW.

Evidence for thermocline ventilation in the South China Sea in winter

Based on analysis bf Levitus data in the South China Sea (SCS), this note addresses the seasonal feature of the mixed layer and thermocline in the northern SCS in winter, and demonstrates thermocline ventilation during the winter period. The ventilated thermocline is isopycnic layers between sigma 22.0 and 23.5, the other layers beneath is not ventilated yet. The process of thermocline ventilation is accompanied by detrainment water from the mixed layer into the thermocline at the outcropping line and moves to the south. Forced by subduction, the seasonal southward propagating signal also appears in the unventilated thermo dine. The horizontal component of the signal propagates along the isoline of potential vorticity (PV), in other words, moves around a seasonal PV pool.

Numerical experiments on the wind-driven circulation in the Bohai, Huanghai and East China Seas in winter

A new semi-implicit numerical model developed to investigate the wind-driven circulation (with inflow and outflow) in the Bohai, Huanghai and East China Sea in winter showed that the open boundary conditions and wind forcing are important in controlling general circulation in wintertime; that open boundary conditions (such as Kuroshio, Changjiang River runoff) are primary factors controlling the East China Sea circulation; and that wind driven current is more important in the upper layer in shallow sea area (such as Bohai Sea, North Huanghai Sea, as well as coastal area) in winter. Two numerical experiments are discussed to demonstrate the circulation responding to the changes of the open boundary conditions.

Seasonal variation of circulations in the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea

Seasonal variation of the water circulations in the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea is investigated with use of a robust diagnostic numerical model. Water circulations in four season are calculated diagnostically from the observed water temperature and salinity data from JODC (Japan Oceanographic Data Center) and wind data from COADS (Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Data Set). Counter-clockwise circulations are developed at the upper and middle layers and a clockwise one at the lower layer in the central part of he Yellow Sea in summer. On the other hand, a clockwise circualtion is developed from the surface to the bottom in the Yellow Sea and a counter-clockwise one in, the northern part of the East China Sea in winter.

The seasonal variation of the intrusion of the Philippine sea water into the South China Sea

The seasonal variation of the intrusion of the Philippine Sea Water into the South China Sea was studied by analyzing the historical hydrographic station data in the northern South China Sea and the Philippine Sea. Water masses at 150, 200, and 250 m were classified by discriminant analysis according to their temperature‐salinity characteristics. At each depth, most water in the study region was classified into two groups representing the Philippine Sea Water and the South China Sea Water, respectively. The geographic distribution of water masses in the South China Sea shows that the Philippine Sea Water was present along the continental margin south of China between October and January. A westward current in the northern South China Sea in winter was inferred from the distribution of the intrusion water.

Circulation of the East China Sea, a numerical study

A three-dimensional, primitive-equation model is developed to study how the Kuroshio, the monsoon, the Yangtze River outflow and the buoyancy forcing from the South China Sea affect the circulation of the East China Sea. It is found that the Kuroshio water usually intrudes into the East China Sea from both sides of Taiwan Island. Winter winds enhance the Kuroshio intrusion from northeast of Taiwan, but weaken it from the Taiwan Strait. Summer winds act in the opposite way. The increased presence of the Kuroshio water in the East China Sea in winter can be largely attributed to the shoreward surface Ekman drift associated with the northerly wind. In summer, theΩ-shaped plume emanating from the Taiwan Strait is, to a large extent, produced by the buoyancy forcing from the South China Sea. In summer, the bimodal distribution of the Yangtze River outflow is initially produced by the upwelling-favorable wind. Away from the Yangtze River, the far-field dispersal of the fresher water depends on the strength of the Kuroshio. A stronger Kuroshio enhances the seaward dispersal of the northern branch of the Yangtze outflow north of Taiwan, but reduces the southward penetration of the southern branch. In winter, downwelling-favorable winds confine the Yangtze River outflow to a narrow band forming nearshore coastal jet penetrating southward. The northern tip of Taiwan acts as a conduit, channeling the seaward dispersal of the fresher water. The model results interpret the observed circulation patterns.

Continental shelf waves along the coasts of China : Chen, Dake and Jilan Su, 1987. Acta oceanol. sin. (English version), 6(3):317–334

Spectral analyses have been carried out on the time-series data from 16 tide stations and nearby weather stations along the coasts of China during the winter of 1980-1981 and the summer of 1981. After removing the wind and barometric effects, the authors found the signals of the southward moving sea-level variations at about 0.21 and 0.32 cpd along the coasts of the Huanghai Sea, East China Sea and South China Sea in winter, and only the 0.26 cpd southward moving sea-level variations along the coast of the South China Sea in summer. Using simple analytical models based on idealized bottom profiles of the China Seas, the observed phenomena can be explained as the lowest-mooe continental shelf waves travelling along the coasts of China.

The influence of the sea-air heat exchange over the Kuroshio in the East China Sea in winter on the precipitation in the middle and lower reaches of Changjiang River in flood season

In this paper, the sea-air heat exchange over the Kuroshio in the East China Sea during the winters of 1954–1972 is computed and analysed. The results indicate that the year to year anomalies of sea-air heat exchange are obvious and the values are mainly controlled by the intensity of the cold air at the same time. The authors have found a close relationship between sea-air heat exchange and precipitation in the region of the Changjiang River during the early summer. Finally, the predicting indication for forecasting this precipitation around the middle and lower reaches of Changjiang River in June is given.

冬季東支那海南部に發生する低氣壓に就て

The present note points out that the warm front, which is the cause of the birth of depression in the East China Sea in winter, seems to be formed by the heating of lower air from the Kurosio. And the author describes the alternation of weather in the Ryukyu Islands which is experienced at the time of birth of the depression.