Numerical modeling of the seasonal circulation in the coastal ocean of the Northern South China Sea

doi:10.1007/s11707-018-0741-9

Front. Earth Sci.

2020, Vol. 14

Issue (1) : 90-109 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11707-018-0741-9

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Numerical modeling of the seasonal circulation in the coastal ocean of the Northern South China Sea

Yang DING¹, Zhigang YAO²(

), Lingling ZHOU², Min BAO³, Zhengchen ZANG⁴

¹. Physical Oceanography Laboratory/CIMST, Ocean University of China and Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266100, China
². College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
³. State Key Laboratory of Satellite Ocean Environment Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Hangzhou 310012, China
⁴. Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisianan State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA

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Abstract

The Finite Volume Community Ocean Model (FVCOM) was adapted to the Northern South China Sea (NSCS) to investigate the seasonality of coastal circulation, as well as along-shelf and cross-shelf transport. In fall and winter, southwestward current dominates the NSCS shelf, while the current’s direction shifts to northeast in summer. The circulation pattern in spring is more complicated: both southwestward and northeastward currents are detected on the NSCS shelf. The mean shelf circulation pattern in winter does not show the permanent counter-wind South China Sea Warm Current (SCSWC) along the 100–200 m isobaths. Meanwhile, the model results indicate a northeastward current flowing along 50–100 m isobaths in spring. Southwestward along-shelf transport varies from 0.30–1.93 Sv in fall and winter, and it redirects to northeast in summer ranging from 0.44–1.09 Sv. Onshore transport is mainly through the shelf break segment southeast of the Pearl River Estuary.

Keywords Northern South China Sea coastal ocean seasonal circulation along-shelf and cross-shelf transport Ocean model FVCOM

Corresponding Author(s): Zhigang YAO

Just Accepted Date: 16 November 2018 Online First Date: 18 December 2018 Issue Date: 24 March 2020

Cite this article:

Yang DING,Zhigang YAO,Lingling ZHOU, et al. Numerical modeling of the seasonal circulation in the coastal ocean of the Northern South China Sea[J]. Front. Earth Sci., 2020, 14(1): 90-109.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fesci/EN/10.1007/s11707-018-0741-9
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fesci/EN/Y2020/V14/I1/90

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