A numerical study of the South China Sea Warm Current during winter monsoon relaxation

Cong ZHANG; Yang DING; Xianwen BAO; Congcong BI; Ruixiang LI; Cunjie ZHANG; Biao SHEN; Kai WAN

doi:10.1007/s00343-018-6302-y

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A numerical study of the South China Sea Warm Current during winter monsoon relaxation

Physics | Updated：2023-05-19

- A numerical study of the South China Sea Warm Current during winter monsoon relaxation
- Chinese Journal of Oceanology and Limnology Vol. 36, Issue 2, Pages: 216-229(2018)
- Affiliations：
  
  1.College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
  2.Key Laboratory of Physical Oceanography, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
  3.South China Sea Marine Survey and Technology Center, State Ocean Administration, Guangzhou 510310, China
  4.Beihai Offshore Engineering Survey Institute, State Oceanic Administration, Qingdao 266061, China
- Author bio：
  
  DING Yang, dingyangpol@ouc.edu.cn
- Funds：
- DOI：10.1007/s00343-018-6302-y
  CLC：
- Received：17 November 2016，
  
  Accepted：04 January 2017，
  
  Online First：27 February 2017，
  
  Published：2018-03
- Accepted：
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Cong ZHANG, Yang DING, Xianwen BAO, et al. A numerical study of the South China Sea Warm Current during winter monsoon relaxation[J]. Chinese Journal of Oceanology and Limnology, 2018, 36(2): 216-229.
DOI：

Cong ZHANG, Yang DING, Xianwen BAO, et al. A numerical study of the South China Sea Warm Current during winter monsoon relaxation[J]. Chinese Journal of Oceanology and Limnology, 2018, 36(2): 216-229. DOI： 10.1007/s00343-018-6302-y.

摘要

Abstract

Using a Finite-Volume Community Ocean Model

we investigated the dynamic mechanism of the South China Sea Warm Current (SCSWC) in the northern South China Sea (NSCS) during winter monsoon relaxation. The model reproduces the mean surface circulation of the NSCS during winter

while model-simulated subtidal currents generally capture its current pattern. The model shows that the current over the continental shelf is generally southwestward

under a strong winter monsoon condition

but a northeastward counter-wind current usually develops between 50-and 100-m isobaths

when the monsoon relaxes. Model experiments

focusing on the wind relaxation process

show that sea level is elevated in the northwestern South China Sea (SCS)

related to the persistent northeasterly monsoon. Following wind relaxation

a high sea level band builds up along the mid-shelf

and a northeastward current develops

having an obvious vertical barotropic structure. Momentum balance analysis indicates that an along-shelf pressure gradient provides the initial driving force for the SCSWC during the first few days following wind relaxation. The SCSWC subsequently reaches a steady quasi-geostrophic balance in the cross-shelf direction

mainly linked to sea level adjustment over the shelf. Lagrangian particle tracking experiments show that both the southwestward coastal current and slope current contribute to the northeastward movement of the SCSWC during winter monsoon relaxation.

关键词

Keywords

references

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