Barrier layer in the central South China Sea and its formation mechanism

PAN Ai-jun; WAN Xiao-fang; XU Jin-dian; GUO Xiao-gang; WU Ri-sheng

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PAN Ai-jun, WAN Xiao-fang, XU Jin-dian, GUO Xiao-gang, WU Ri-sheng. Barrier layer in the central South China Sea and its formation mechanism[J]. Haiyang Xuebao, 2006, 28(5): 35-43.

Citation:

PAN Ai-jun, WAN Xiao-fang, XU Jin-dian, GUO Xiao-gang, WU Ri-sheng. Barrier layer in the central South China Sea and its formation mechanism[J]. Haiyang Xuebao, 2006, 28(5): 35-43.

PAN Ai-jun, WAN Xiao-fang, XU Jin-dian, GUO Xiao-gang, WU Ri-sheng. Barrier layer in the central South China Sea and its formation mechanism[J]. Haiyang Xuebao, 2006, 28(5): 35-43.

Citation:

PAN Ai-jun, WAN Xiao-fang, XU Jin-dian, GUO Xiao-gang, WU Ri-sheng. Barrier layer in the central South China Sea and its formation mechanism[J]. Haiyang Xuebao, 2006, 28(5): 35-43.

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Barrier layer in the central South China Sea and its formation mechanism

The Third Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Xiamen 361005, China

Received Date: 2005-09-08
Rev Recd Date: 2006-08-13

Abstract

Abstract

Robust evidencoes of the existence of the barrier layer (BL) in the central South China Sea (10°~19°N, 108°~122°E) are provided, which occurs most frequently in summer (52.8%),and then autumn (41.0%) and spring (10.5%).BL occurrence zone in spring (Apr.) Jun.1998) and autumn (Dec.1998) is largely confined in the adjacent ocean west of the Luzon Island, with mean thickness as 6.8 and 11.2 m, respectively.By contrast,BL occurs not only in the adjacent ocean west of the Luzon Island, but also extends to the southeast of Vietnam (12°~14°N, 110°~114°E).Its mean thickness is 14.2 m.Besides, the annual occurrence frequency of BL surpasses 20% west of Luzon Island (12°~16°N, 116°~120°E) and near the Paracel Islands (16°~18°N, 110°~116°E).Rain-formed mechanism and stratification-formed mechanism are responsible mainly for the occurrence of BL in spring-summer and autumn in central South China Sea, respectively.Among which, rain-formed mechanism and the south eastward Ekman advection explains well the occurrence of BL west of the Luzon Island in spring and summer.The strong rainfall plays the vital role in inducing the BL sout heast of Vietnam in summer, moreover, the anticyclone eddy (warm) is favorable for the occurrence of BL.
- central South China Sea,
- barrier layer,
- stratification,
- rainfall,
- Ekman advection,
- eddy

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