Overview of the South China Sea circulation and its dynamics

SU Ji-lan

Volume 27 Issue 6

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SU Ji-lan. Overview of the South China Sea circulation and its dynamics[J]. Haiyang Xuebao, 2005, 27(6): 1-8.

Citation:

SU Ji-lan. Overview of the South China Sea circulation and its dynamics[J]. Haiyang Xuebao, 2005, 27(6): 1-8.

SU Ji-lan. Overview of the South China Sea circulation and its dynamics[J]. Haiyang Xuebao, 2005, 27(6): 1-8.

Citation:

SU Ji-lan. Overview of the South China Sea circulation and its dynamics[J]. Haiyang Xuebao, 2005, 27(6): 1-8.

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Overview of the South China Sea circulation and its dynamics

SU Ji-lan

Laboratory of Ocean Dynamic Processes and Satellite Oceanography of State Oceanic Administration, Hangzhou 310012, China;Second Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Hangzhou 310012, China

Received Date: 2005-03-30
Rev Recd Date: 2005-05-24

Abstract

Abstract

The South China Sea (SCS) has a complex energetic circulation,especially at its northern part.Three major factors contributing to a generally cyclonic gyre in the upper ocean of the northern SCS areidentified:(1) monsoonal wind forcing;(2) net water transport into the SCS through the Luzon Strait;(3) vorticity advection from the Kuroshio.The intensified western boundary current of the cyclonic gyre,called the "Dongsha Current" in this paper,flows southwest ward next to the shelf south of China.It extends all the way south in winter and reaches central Vietnam in summer.Every year around 10 meso-scale eddies are present in the SCS.Strong wind-stress curl from orographic effects is likely responsible for their generation.Vorticity advection from the Kuroshio can also induce meso-scale eddies.Available hydrogra-phic data do not support the notion that the Kuroshio water enters the South China Sea as a "branch" current,nor primarily as meso-scale eddies.More likely,the Kuroshio water enters the South China Sea principally during the winter monsoon through sub-mesoscale processes confined in the surface layer.
- South China Sea,
- circulation,
- meso-scale eddies,
- Kuroshio,
- Luzon Strait,
- Dongsha Current

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References(44)

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