Abstract
On the basis of the latest version of a U.S. Navy generalized digital environment model (GDEM-V3.0) and World Ocean Atlas (WOA13), the hydraulic theory is revisited and applied to the Luzon Strait, providing a fresh look at the deepwater overflow there. The result reveals that: (1) the persistent density difference between two sides of the Luzon Strait sustains an all year round deepwater overflow from the western Pacific to the South China Sea (SCS); (2) the seasonal variability of the deepwater overflow is influenced not only by changes in the density difference between two sides of the Luzon Strait, but also by changes in its upstream layer thickness; (3) the deepwater overflow in the Luzon Strait shows a weak semiannual variability; (4) the seasonal mean circulation pattern in the SCS deep basin does not synchronously respond to the seasonality of the deepwater overflow in the Luzon Strait. Moreover, the deepwater overflow reaches its seasonal maximum in December (based on GDEM-V3.0) or in fall (October–December, based on the WOA13), accompanied by the lowest temperature of the year on the Pacific side of the Luzon Strait. The seasonal variability of the deepwater overflow is consistent with the existing longest (3.5 a) continuous observation along the major deepwater passage of the Luzon Strait.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Boyer T P, Garcia H E, Locarnini R A, et al. 2014. 2013 world ocean atlas aids high-resolution climate studies. Eos, 95(41): 369–370
Carnes M R. 2009. Description and Evaluation of GDEM-V3.0, Tech Rep NRL/MR/7330–09–9165. Washington, D C. Nav Res Lab, 21.
Fang Guohong, Wang Yonggang, Wei Zexun, et al. 2009. Interocean circulation and heat and freshwater budgets of the South China Sea based on a numerical model. Dyn Atmos Oceans, 47(1–3): 55–72
Lan Jian, Wang Yu, Cui Fengjuan, et al. 2015. Seasonal variation in the South China Sea deep circulation. J Geophys Res: Oceans, 120(3): 1682–1690, doi: 10.1002/2014JC010413
Nitani H. 1972. Beginning of the Kuroshio. In: Stommel H, Yashida K, eds. Kuroshio: Physical Aspects of the Japan Current. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 129–163
Qu Tangdong, Girton J B, Whitehead J A. 2006. Deepwater overflow through Luzon Strait. J Geophys Res, 111(C1): C01002, doi: 10.1029/2005JC003139
Qu Tangdong, Mitsudera H, Yamagata T. 1998. On the western boundary currents in the Philippine Sea. J Geophys Res, 103(C4): 7537–7548
Qu Tangdong, Mitsudera H, Yamagata T. 2000. Intrusion of the North Pacific waters into the South China Sea. J Geophys Res, 105(C3): 6415–6424
Qu Tangdong, Song Y T, Yamagata T. 2009. An introduction to the South China Sea throughflow: its dynamics, variability, and application for climate. Dyn Atmos Oceans, 47(1–3): 3–14, doi: 10.1016/j.dynatmoce.2008.05.001
Smith W H F, Sandwell D T. 1997. Global sea floor topography from satellite altimetry and ship depth soundings. Science, 277(5334): 1956–1962
Stommel H, Arons A B. 1959–1960. On the abyssal circulation of the world ocean—II. An idealized model of the circulation pattern and amplitude in oceanic basins. Deep-Sea Res (1953), 6: 217–233
Teague W J, Carron M J, Hogan P J. 1990. A comparison between the generalized digital environmental model and Levitus climatologies. J Geophys Res, 95(C5): 7167–7183
Tian Jiwei, Yang Qingxuan, Liang Xinfeng, et al. 2006. Observation of Luzon Strait transport. Geophys Res Lett, 33(19): L19607, doi: 10.1029/2006GL026272
Tian Jiwei, Yang Qingxuan, Zhao Wei. 2009. Enhanced diapycnal mixing in the South China Sea. J Phys Oceanogr, 39: 3191–3203, doi: 10.1175/2009jpo3899.1
Wang Joe. 1986. Observation of abyssal flows in the northern South China Sea. Acta Oceanogr Taiwan, 16: 36–45
Wang Guihua, Xie Shangping, Qu Tangdong, et al. 2011. Deep South China Sea circulation. Geophys Res Lett, 38(5): L05601, doi: 10.1029/2010GL046626
Whitehead J A. 1989. Internal hydraulic control in rotating fluids—applications to oceans. Geophys Astrophys Fluid Dyn, 48(1–3): 169–192
Whitehead J A. 1998. Topographic control of oceanic flows in deep passages and straits. Rev Geophys, 36(3): 423–440, doi: 10.1029/98RG01014
Wyrtki K. 1961. Physical Oceanography of the Southeast Asian Waters, Naga Rep 2. Scripps Inst of Oceanogr, 195
Xie Qiang, Xiao Jin’gen, Wang Dongxiao, et al. 2013. Analysis of deeplayer and bottom circulations in the South China Sea based on eight quasi-global ocean model outputs. Chin Sci Bull, 58(32): 4000–4011, doi: 10.1007/s11434–013-5791–5
Xu Fanghua, Oey L Y. 2014. State analysis using the local ensemble transform Kalman Filter (LETKF) and the three-layer circulation structure of the Luzon Strait and the South China Sea. Ocean Dyn, 64(6): 905–923, doi: 10.1007/s10236–014-0720-y
Yang Qingxuan, Tian Jiwei, Zhao Wei. 2010. Observation of Luzon Strait transport in summer 2007. Deep-Sea Res: I. Oceanogr Res Pap, 57(5): 670–676
Zhang Zhengguang, Zhao Wei, Liu Qinyu. 2010. Sub-seasonal variability of Luzon Strait transport in a high resolution global model. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 29(3): 9–17, doi: 10.1007/s13131–010-0032–0
Zhang Zhiwei, Zhao Wei, Tian Jiwei, et al. 2015. Spatial structure and temporal variability of the zonal flow in the Luzon Strait. J Geophys Res: Oceans, 120(2): 759–776, doi: 10.1002/2014JC010308
Zhao Wei, Zhou Chun, Tian Jiwei, et al. 2014. Deep water circulation in the Luzon Strait. J Geophys Res: Oceans, 119(2): 790–804, doi: 10.1002/2013JC009587
Zhou Chun, Zhao Wei, Tian Jiwei, et al. 2014. Variability of the deepwater overflow in the Luzon Strait. J Phys Oceanogr, 44(11): 2972–2986
Zhu Yaohua, Fang Guohong, Wei Zexun, et al. 2016. Seasonal variability of the meridional overturning circulation in the South China Sea and its connection with inter-ocean transport based on SODA2.2.4. J Geophys Res: Oceans, 121(5): 3090–3105, doi: 10.1002/2015JC011443
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Foundation item: The National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)—Shandong Joint Fund for Marine Science Research Centers of China under contract No. U1606405; the National Basic Research Program (973 Program) of China under contract No. 2011CB403502; the National High Technology Research and Development Program (863 Program) of China under contract No. 2013AA09A506; the National Program on Global Change and Air-Sea Interaction under contract Nos GASI-IPOVAI-01-02 and GASI- 03-01-01-04; the National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract No. 41606040.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zhu, Y., Sun, J., Wei, Z. et al. A fresh look at the deepwater overflow in the Luzon Strait. Acta Oceanol. Sin. 36, 1–8 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13131-017-1057-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13131-017-1057-4