Seasonal variability of the wind-generated near-inertial energy flux in the South China Sea

Sun Baonan; Lian Zhan; Yuan Yeli; Xu Haiyang

doi:10.1007/s13131-018-1338-6

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Sun Baonan, Lian Zhan, Yuan Yeli, Xu Haiyang. Seasonal variability of the wind-generated near-inertial energy flux in the South China Sea[J]. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 2019, 38(4): 136-145. doi: 10.1007/s13131-018-1338-6

Citation:

Sun Baonan, Lian Zhan, Yuan Yeli, Xu Haiyang. Seasonal variability of the wind-generated near-inertial energy flux in the South China Sea[J]. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 2019, 38(4): 136-145. doi: 10.1007/s13131-018-1338-6

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Seasonal variability of the wind-generated near-inertial energy flux in the South China Sea

doi: 10.1007/s13131-018-1338-6

1.
College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China;Key Laboratory of Marine Science and Numerical Modeling, First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao 266061, China;Laboratory for Regional Oceanography and Numerical Modeling, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao 266237, China
2.
Key Laboratory of Marine Science and Numerical Modeling, First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao 266061, China;Laboratory for Regional Oceanography and Numerical Modeling, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao 266237, China
3.
Key Laboratory of Marine Science and Numerical Modeling, First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao 266061, China

Received Date: 2018-05-23

Abstract

Abstract

After validated by the in-situ observation, the slab model is used to study the wind-generated near-inertial energy flux (NIEF) in the South China Sea (SCS) based on satellite-observed wind data, and its dependence on calculation methods and threshold criteria of the mixed layer depth (MLD) is investigated. Results illustrate that the total amount of NIEF in the SCS could be doubled if different threshold criteria of MLD are adopted. The NIEF calculated by the iteration and spectral solutions can lead to a discrepancy of 2.5 GW (1 GW=1×10⁹ W). Results also indicate that the NIEF exhibits spatial and temporal variations, which are significant in the boreal autumn, and in the southern part of the SCS. Typhoons are an important generator of NIEF in the SCS, which could account for approximately 30% of the annual mean NIEF. In addition, deepening of the MLD due to strong winds could lead to a decrease of NIEF by approximately by 10%. We re-estimate the annual mean NIEF in the SCS, which is (10±4) GW and much larger than those reported in previous studies.
- near-inertial energy flux,
- mixed layer depth,
- South China Sea,
- typhoon,

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References(39)

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