Monitoring of sea surface temperature in the South China Sea

Abstract

Since the early 1980s, the Malaysian Meteorological Service (MMS) has made concerted efforts to build up adequate meteorological data base for the South China Sea and the Straits of Malacca. Close rapport with local oil companies and universities has enabled MMS to widen its sources of such data.

This data base has been used to carry out a study on the influence of the sea surface temperature (SST) variations in the South China Sea on the atmosphere during the northern hemisphere winter. Encouraging results of the study has prompted MMS to initiate real-time monitoring of the SST in the South China Sea. These data are available to local scientists who are interested in studying the effects of such variation on marine life in the Malaysian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).