To Abstract List
Academia Sinica, China
Air Force Institute of Meteorology, China
The upper-layer monthly-mean circulations in the Pacific Ocean are calculated by using a barotropic ocean model with a fine-horizontal resolution, and for the current only in the South China Sea (SCS) by using a baroclinic ocean model. We focus our attention on the South China Sea Warm Current, interrelation between the Kuroshio and the current of the northern SCS and a eddy in the northern SCS in winter. The South China Sea Warm Current (SCSWC) which starts from the region off the southeastern Hainan Islands, flowing northeastward against the wind in winter, passing through the Taiwan Strait and entering the East China Sea, has been reproduced by both barotropic and baroclinic models. It means that the existence of SCSWC has also been confirmed by our model's results and we also plan to analyse the origin, development and the driving mechanism of SCSWC based on the model's results; Now it is still at issue whether there is a branch of the Kuroshio entering SCS through the Bashi Channel or not. The models' results show that some water of the Kuroshio enters SCS during most part of a year, which exerts a great influence on the current in the northern SCS. A cyclonic eddy in the northern SCS in winter obtained by our models is in good agreement with observations.
*Project supported by the Climbing Program of the State Science and Technology Commission and the National Natural Science Foundation of China.
To Pacific Workshop
To WOCE Home Page