Seasonal variation of eddy kinetic energy in the South China Sea

WANG Hui; WANG Dakui; LIU Guimei; WU Huiding; LI Ming

doi:10.1007/s13131-012-0170-7

Seasonal variation of eddy kinetic energy in the South China Sea

doi: 10.1007/s13131-012-0170-7

1.
College of Environment Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China;Key Laboratory of Research on Marine Hazards Forecasting, National Marine Environmental Forecasting Center, State Oceanic Administration, Beijing 100081, China
2.
Physical Oceanography Laboratory, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China;Key Laboratory of Research on Marine Hazards Forecasting, National Marine Environmental Forecasting Center, State Oceanic Administration, Beijing 100081, China;Horn Point Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Cambridge, Maryland 21613, USA
3.
Key Laboratory of Research on Marine Hazards Forecasting, National Marine Environmental Forecasting Center, State Oceanic Administration, Beijing 100081, China
4.
Horn Point Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Cambridge, Maryland 21613, USA

基金项目: The National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract No. 41076011, 40531006, 41106024 and 40976014; and the National Basic Research Program of China under contract No. 2011CB403600.

计量
- 文章访问数: 413
- HTML全文浏览量: 45
- PDF下载量: 172
- 被引次数: 0
出版历程
- 收稿日期: 2011-03-12
- 修回日期: 2011-07-30

Seasonal variation of eddy kinetic energy in the South China Sea

1.
College of Environment Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China;Key Laboratory of Research on Marine Hazards Forecasting, National Marine Environmental Forecasting Center, State Oceanic Administration, Beijing 100081, China
2.
Physical Oceanography Laboratory, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China;Key Laboratory of Research on Marine Hazards Forecasting, National Marine Environmental Forecasting Center, State Oceanic Administration, Beijing 100081, China;Horn Point Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Cambridge, Maryland 21613, USA
3.
Key Laboratory of Research on Marine Hazards Forecasting, National Marine Environmental Forecasting Center, State Oceanic Administration, Beijing 100081, China
4.
Horn Point Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Cambridge, Maryland 21613, USA

摘要

摘要: Mesoscale eddy activity and its modulation mechanism in the South China Sea (SCS) are investigated with newly reprocessed satellite altimetry observations and hydrographic data. The eddy kinetic energy (EKE) level of basin-wide averages show a distinct seasonal cycle with the maximum in August-December and the minimum in February-May. Furthermore, the seasonal pattern of EKE in the basin is dominated by region offshore of central Vietnam (OCV), southwest of Taiwan Island (SWT), and southwest of Luzon (SWL), which are also the breeding grounds of mesoscale eddies in the SCS. Instability theory analysis suggests that the seasonal cycle of EKE is modulated by the baroclinic instability of the mean flow. High eddy growth rate (EGR) is found in the active eddy regions. Vertical velocity shear in the upper 50-500 m is crucial for the growth of baroclinic instability, leading to seasonal EKE evolution in the SCS.
- SouthChinaSea /
- eddykineticenergy /
- baroclinicinstability /
- verticalshear
Abstract: Mesoscale eddy activity and its modulation mechanism in the South China Sea (SCS) are investigated with newly reprocessed satellite altimetry observations and hydrographic data. The eddy kinetic energy (EKE) level of basin-wide averages show a distinct seasonal cycle with the maximum in August-December and the minimum in February-May. Furthermore, the seasonal pattern of EKE in the basin is dominated by region offshore of central Vietnam (OCV), southwest of Taiwan Island (SWT), and southwest of Luzon (SWL), which are also the breeding grounds of mesoscale eddies in the SCS. Instability theory analysis suggests that the seasonal cycle of EKE is modulated by the baroclinic instability of the mean flow. High eddy growth rate (EGR) is found in the active eddy regions. Vertical velocity shear in the upper 50-500 m is crucial for the growth of baroclinic instability, leading to seasonal EKE evolution in the SCS.
- South China Sea /
- eddy kinetic energy /
- baroclinic instability /
- vertical shear

HTML全文

参考文献(0)

施引文献

资源附件(0)

访问统计

点击查看大图

计量

文章访问数: 413
HTML全文浏览量: 45
PDF下载量: 172
被引次数: 0

Seasonal variation of eddy kinetic energy in the South China Sea

doi: 10.1007/s13131-012-0170-7

计量

出版历程

Seasonal variation of eddy kinetic energy in the South China Sea

计量

出版历程

目录