A Note on the South China Sea Shallow Interocean Circulation

FANG Guohong; Dwi SUSANTO; Indroyono SOESILO; Quan'an ZHENG; QIAO Fangli; WEI Zexun

doi:10.1007/BF02918693

Impact Factor: 5.8

Volume 22 Issue 6

Nov. 2005

Article Contents

Article > ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES > 2005 > 22(6): 946-954

A Note on the South China Sea Shallow Interocean Circulation

1.
First Institute of Oceanography, Key Laboratory of Marine Science and Numerical Modeling,State Oceanic Administration, Qingdao 266061,Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, Palisades, NY 10964-8000,Agency for Marine Affairs and FisheriesResearch, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Jakarta 12770,Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science, University of Maryland, MD 20742-2425,First Institute of Oceanography, Key Laboratory of Marine Science and Numerical Modeling,State Oceanic Administration, Qingdao 266061,First Institute of Oceanography, Key Laboratory of Marine Science and Numerical Modeling,State Oceanic Administration, Qingdao 266061

doi: 10.1007/BF02918693

Abstract
References
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Abstract:
The existing estimates of the volume transport from the Pacific Ocean to the South China Sea are summarized, showing an annual mean westward transport, with the Taiwan Strait outflow subtracted, of 3.5±2.0 Sv (1 Sv=106 m3 s-1). Results of a global ocean circulation model show an annual mean transport of 3.9 Sv from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean through the South China Sea. The boreal winter transport is larger and exhibits a South China Sea branch of the Pacific-to-Indian Ocean throughflow, which originates from the western Philippine Sea toward the Indonesian Seas through the South China Sea, as well as through the Karimata and Mindoro Straits. The southwestward current near the continental slope of the northern South China Sea is shown to be a combination of this branch and the interior circulation gyre.This winter branch can be confirmed by trajectories of satellite-tracked drifters, which clearly show a flow from the Luz6n Strait to the Karimata Strait in winter. In summer, the flow in the Karimata Strait is reversed. Numerical model results indicate that the Pacific water can enter the South China Sea and exit toward the Sulu Sea, but no observational evidence is available. The roles of the throughflow branch in the circulation, water properties and air-sea exchange of the South China Sea, and in enhancing and regulating the volume transport and reducing the heat transport of the Indonesian Throughflow, are discussed.
- South China Sea,
- interocean circulation,
- branch of the Pacific-to-Indian Ocean throughflow,Karimata Strait
References

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Manuscript History

Manuscript received: 10 November 2005

Manuscript revised: 10 November 2005

通讯作者: 陈斌, bchen63@163.com

1.
沈阳化工大学材料科学与工程学院沈阳 110142

A Note on the South China Sea Shallow Interocean Circulation

1. First Institute of Oceanography, Key Laboratory of Marine Science and Numerical Modeling,State Oceanic Administration, Qingdao 266061,Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, Palisades, NY 10964-8000,Agency for Marine Affairs and FisheriesResearch, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Jakarta 12770,Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science, University of Maryland, MD 20742-2425,First Institute of Oceanography, Key Laboratory of Marine Science and Numerical Modeling,State Oceanic Administration, Qingdao 266061,First Institute of Oceanography, Key Laboratory of Marine Science and Numerical Modeling,State Oceanic Administration, Qingdao 266061

Manuscript received: 2005-11-10
Manuscript revised: 2005-11-10

Abstract: The existing estimates of the volume transport from the Pacific Ocean to the South China Sea are summarized, showing an annual mean westward transport, with the Taiwan Strait outflow subtracted, of 3.5±2.0 Sv (1 Sv=106 m3 s-1). Results of a global ocean circulation model show an annual mean transport of 3.9 Sv from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean through the South China Sea. The boreal winter transport is larger and exhibits a South China Sea branch of the Pacific-to-Indian Ocean throughflow, which originates from the western Philippine Sea toward the Indonesian Seas through the South China Sea, as well as through the Karimata and Mindoro Straits. The southwestward current near the continental slope of the northern South China Sea is shown to be a combination of this branch and the interior circulation gyre.This winter branch can be confirmed by trajectories of satellite-tracked drifters, which clearly show a flow from the Luz6n Strait to the Karimata Strait in winter. In summer, the flow in the Karimata Strait is reversed. Numerical model results indicate that the Pacific water can enter the South China Sea and exit toward the Sulu Sea, but no observational evidence is available. The roles of the throughflow branch in the circulation, water properties and air-sea exchange of the South China Sea, and in enhancing and regulating the volume transport and reducing the heat transport of the Indonesian Throughflow, are discussed.

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