Numerical investigation of the South China Sea deep circulation

Shengquan Tang; Xueen Chen; Zhi Zeng; Xin Liu

doi:10.1007/s13131-021-1879-y

Volume 41 Issue 5

May 2022

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Shengquan Tang, Xueen Chen, Zhi Zeng, Xin Liu. Numerical investigation of the South China Sea deep circulation[J]. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 2022, 41(5): 1-11. doi: 10.1007/s13131-021-1879-y

Citation:

Shengquan Tang, Xueen Chen, Zhi Zeng, Xin Liu. Numerical investigation of the South China Sea deep circulation[J]. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 2022, 41(5): 1-11. doi: 10.1007/s13131-021-1879-y

Shengquan Tang, Xueen Chen, Zhi Zeng, Xin Liu. Numerical investigation of the South China Sea deep circulation[J]. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 2022, 41(5): 1-11. doi: 10.1007/s13131-021-1879-y

Citation:

Shengquan Tang, Xueen Chen, Zhi Zeng, Xin Liu. Numerical investigation of the South China Sea deep circulation[J]. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 2022, 41(5): 1-11. doi: 10.1007/s13131-021-1879-y

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Numerical investigation of the South China Sea deep circulation

doi: 10.1007/s13131-021-1879-y

Shengquan Tang¹,
Xueen Chen^{1
,
,},
Zhi Zeng^{1, 3},
Xin Liu²

1.
College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
2.
Shandong Computer Science Center (National Supercomputer Center in Jinan), Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250014, China
3.
College of Meteorology and Oceanography, National University of Defense Technology, Changsha 410073, China

Funds: The National Key Research and Development Program of China under contract No. 2021YFF0704002; the Aoshan Science and Technology Innovation Program of Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao) under contract No. 2018ASKJ01-04.

More Information

Corresponding author: E-mail: xchen@ouc.edu.cn
Received Date: 2021-04-15
Accepted Date: 2021-06-29

Available Online: 2022-01-24

Publish Date: 2022-05-31

Abstract

Abstract

Based on a two-level nested model from the global ocean to the western Pacific and then to the South China Sea (SCS), the high-resolution SCS deep circulation is numerically investigated. The SCS deep circulation shows a basin-scale cyclonic structure with a strong southward western boundary current in summer (July), a northeast-southwest through-flow pattern across the deep basin without a western boundary current in winter (January), and a transitional pattern in spring and autumn. The sensitivity model experiments illustrate that the Luzon Strait deep overflow is the main factor controlling the seasonal variation in the SCS deep circulation. The SCS surface wind can significantly influence the SCS deep circulation in winter. The Luzon Strait deep overflow transport from the Pacific into the SCS ranges from 0.68×10⁶ m³/s to 1.83×10⁶ m³/s, reaching its maximum in summer (July, up to 1.83×10⁶ m³/s), less in autumn and winter, and the minimum in spring (May, 0.68×10⁶ m³/s). In summer, the strong Luzon Strait deep overflow dominates the SCS deep circulation when the role of the SCS surface wind is small. In winter, the weaker Luzon Strait deep overflow and SCS surface wind jointly drive the SCS deep circulation into a northeast-southwest through-flow pattern. The potential vorticity (PV) dissipation in the SCS deep basin reaches its maximum (−0.122 m²/s²) in May and its minimum (−0.380 m²/s²) in July.
- South China Sea,
- deep sea circulation,
- deep overflow,
- surface wind,
- potential vorticity

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