Abstract
A three-dimensional model is used to investigate the mechanism of the South China Sea (SCS) winter counter-current (also known as the SCS Warm Current, or the SCSWC), which flows against the wind. The model can reproduce the structure of the band-like currents over the northern shelf of the SCS, including the westward coastal current and slop current, and the SCSWC sandwiched in between. Sensitivity experiments are designed to understand the different roles of Ekman pum** of the SCSWC at different longitude. The results show that the Ekman pum** drives the SCSWC in the west segment. In the east, it is not the Ekman pum** but the intrusion of the Kuroshio that drives the SCSWC.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Blumberg A F, Mellor G L. 1987. A description of a three-dimensional coastal ocean circulation model. In: Heaps N S (Ed). Three-Dimensional Coastal Ocean Models, AGU Coastal and Estuarine Series, 4
Chiang T L, Wu C R, Chao S Y. 2008. Physical and geographical origins of the South China Sea Warm Current. Journal of Geophysical Research, 113, C08028, doi: 10.1029/2008JC004797
Carton J A, Giese B S. 2008. A reanalysis of ocean climate using SODA. Monthly Weather Review, 136: 2999–3017
Chao S Y, Shaw P T, Wang J. 1995. Wind relaxation as a possible cause of the South China Sea Warm Current. Journal of Oceanography, 51(1): 111–132
Fang G, Zhao B. 1989. A note on the main forcing of the northeastward flowing current off the southeast China coast. Progress in Oceanography, 21: 363–372
Flather R A. 1976. A tidal model of the northwest European continental shelf. Memoires Societe Royale des Sciences de Liege 6(10), 141–164
Gan J P, Li H, Curchitser E N, et al. 2006. Modeling South China Sea circulation: Response to seasonal forcing regimes. Journal of Geophysical Research, 111, C06034, doi: 10.1029/2005JC003298
Guan B, Chen S. 1964. The current systems in the nearsea area of China Seas(in Chinese). Initial Report 5: 1–85
Guan B. 1986. Evidence for a counter-wind current in winter off the southeast coast of China. Chinese Journal of Oceanology and Limnology 4(4), 319–332
Guan B. 1993. Winter counter-wind current off the southeastern China coast and a preliminary investigation of its source. Proceedings of the Symposium on the Physical and Chemical Oceanography of the China Seas. Bei**g: China Ocean Press, 1–9
Guan B, Fang G. 2006. Winter Counter-wind Currents off the Southeastern China Coast: A Review. Journal of Oceanography, 62: 1–24
Guo Z, Yang T, Qiu D. 1985. The South China Sea Warm Current and the SW-ward current on its right side in winter. Tropical Oceanology(in Chinese), 4(1): 1–9
Hong B, Wang D. 2006. Diagnostic analysis on the northern South China Sea winter counter-wind current. Chinese Science Bulletin, 51(supp II): 9–14
Hsueh Y, Zhong L. 2004. A pressure-driven South China Sea Warm Current. Journal of Geophysical Research, 109, C09014, doi: 10.1029/2004JC002374
Levitus S, Burgett R, Boyer T P. 1994a. World Ocean Atlas 1994 Volume 3: Salinity. NOAA Atlas NESDIS 3, U S Department of Commerce, Washington, D C, 99
Levitus S, Boyer T P. 1994b. World Ocean Atlas 1994 Volume 4: Temperature. NOAA Atlas NESDIS 4, U S Department of Commerce, Washington D C, 117
Liu, Yang Z H, Liu Q. 2000. Regional Dynamics of Seasonal Variability in the South China Sea. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 31: 272–284
Li Li, Wu Boyu. 1989. A Kuroshio loop in South China Sea?-on circulations of the northeastern South China Sea. Journal of oceanography in Taiwan Strait, 8(1): 89–95
Marks K M, Smith W H F. 2006. An evaluation of publicity available global bathymetry grids. Marine Geophysical Researches, 27: 19–34
Ma H. 1987. On the winter circulation of the northern South China Sea and its relation to large oceanic current. Chinese Journal of Oceanology and Limnology, 5(1): 9–21
Pedlosky J. 1996. Ocean Circulation Theory. Spring-Verlag, 453
South China Sea Institute of Oceanology (SCSIO) (1985). Report on the Comprehensive Surveys and Studies in the South China Sea Region (II) (in Chinese). Bei**g: Science Press, 327
Su J, Wang W. 1990. On the sources of the Taiwan Warm Current from the South China Sea. Donghai Marine Science, 8(3): 1–9
Uppala S M, et al. 2005. The ERA-40 re-analysis. Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, 131: 2961–3012
Wang G, Chen D, Su J. 2006. Generation and life cycle of the dipole in the South China Sea summer circulation. Journal of Geophysical Research, 111, C06002, doi: 10.1029/2005JC003314
Wang D, Hong B, Gan J, et al. 2010. Numerical investigation on propulsion of the counter-wind current in the northern South China Sea in winter. Deep-Sea Research I, doi:10.1016/j.dsr.2102.06.07
Yang J, Wu D, Lin X. 2008. On the dynamics of the South China Sea Warm Current. Journal of Geophysical Research, 113, C08003, doi: 10.1029/2007JC004427
Zhong H L. 1990. Density-related current structures. In: Report of 10-year hydrographic section surveys of the northern China Sea continental shelf region and adjacent waters(in Chinese). Bei**g: China Ocean Press, 215–241
Ye L F. 1994. On the mechanism of South China Sea Warm Current and Kuroshio Branch in winter C Preliminary results of 3-D baroclinic experiments. Terrestrial, Atmosphere and Ocean Sciences, 5(4): 597–610
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Foundation item: The Knowledge Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences under contract No. KZCX1-YW-12-01; the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars under contract No. 40625017; the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Key Program) under contract No. 40830851; the National Program on Key Basic Research Project (973 Program) under contract No. 2007CB816004.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wang, Q., Wang, Y., Bo, H. et al. Different roles of Ekman pum** in the west and east segments of the South China Sea Warm Current. Acta Oceanol. Sin. 30, 1–13 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13131-011-0113-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13131-011-0113-8