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Numerical study on the formation of the South China Sea Warm Current I. Barotropic case

  • Physical Oceanography
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Abstract

In this work, Princeton Ocean Model (POM) was used to study the formation of the South China Sea Warm Current (SCSWC) in the barotropic case. Monthly averaged wind stress and the inflow/outflow transports in January were used in the numerical simulation which reproduced the SCSWC. The effects of wind stress and inflow/outflow were studied separately. Numerical experiments showed that the Kuroshio intrusion through the Luzon Strait and the slope shelf in the northern SCS are necessary conditions for the formation of the SCSWC. In a flat bottom topography experiment, the wind stress driven northeast current in the northern SCS is a compensatory current.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 266071, Qingdao, China

    Wang Kai & Fang Yue

  2. Ocean Remote Sensing Laboratory of Ministry of Education of China, Ocean University of Qingdao, 266003, Qingdao, China

    Wang Kai

Authors
  1. Wang Kai
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  2. Fang Yue
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Additional information

Contribution No. 3618 from the Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Project 49576280 and 49876010 supported by NSFC, this work was also supported by KZCX2-202 from Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Major State Basic Research Program (No. G1999043808), partly supported by Visiting Scholar Foundation of Key-lab in the University of Ministry of Education of China and also partly supported by Key Laboratory of Marine Science and Numerical Modelling, SOA, Qingdao.

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Kai, W., Yue, F. Numerical study on the formation of the South China Sea Warm Current I. Barotropic case. Chin. J. Ocean. Limnol. 19, 1–9 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02842783

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02842783

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