Interannual variability of transport and bifurcation of the North Equatorial Current in the tropical North Pacific Ocean

Fangguo Zhai; Dunxin Hu

doi:10.1007/s00343-012-1194-8

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Interannual variability of transport and bifurcation of the North Equatorial Current in the tropical North Pacific Ocean

Updated：2023-05-16

- Interannual variability of transport and bifurcation of the North Equatorial Current in the tropical North Pacific Ocean
- Journal of Oceanology and Limnology Vol. 30, Issue 1, Pages: 177-185(2012)
- Affiliations：
  
  1. Key Laboratory of Ocean Circulation and Waves Chinese Academy of Sciences
  2. Institute of Oceanology Chinese Academy of Sciences
  3. Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Author bio：
- Funds：
- DOI：10.1007/s00343-012-1194-8
  CLC：
- Online First：15 November 2012，
  
  Published：2012
- Accepted：
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Zhai, F., Hu, D. Interannual variability of transport and bifurcation of the North Equatorial Current in the tropical North Pacific Ocean., Chin. J. Ocean. Limnol. 30, 177–185 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-012-1194-8
DOI：

Zhai, F., Hu, D. Interannual variability of transport and bifurcation of the North Equatorial Current in the tropical North Pacific Ocean., Chin. J. Ocean. Limnol. 30, 177–185 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-012-1194-8 DOI：

摘要

Abstract

The relationship of the interannual variability of the transport and bifurcation latitude of the North Equatorial Current (NEC) to the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is investigated. This is done through composite analysis of sea surface height (SSH) observed by satellite altimeter during October 1992–July 2009

and correspondingly derived sea surface geostrophic currents. During El Niño/La Niña years

the SSH in the tropical North Pacific Ocean falls/rises

with maximum changes in the region 0–15°N

130°E–160°E. The decrease/increase in SSH induces a cyclonic/anticyclonic anomaly in the western tropical gyre. The cyclonic/anticyclonic anomaly in the gyre results in an increase/decrease of NEC transport

and a northward/southward shift of the NEC bifurcation latitude near the Philippine coast. The variations are mainly in response to anomalous wind forcing in the west-central tropical North Pacific Ocean

related to ENSO events.

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references

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