Journal of Tropical Oceanography ›› 2016, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (6): 19-28.doi: 10.11978/2015157CSTR: 32234.14.2015157

• Marine Meteorology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

The impacts of super typhoon Rammasun on the environment of the northwestern South China Sea

LI Xue1, 2, FU Dongyang1, ZHANG Ying1, LIU Dazhao1, DING Youzhuan1, WANG Wenfang1, LUAN Hong1, 2, JIANG Chengfei1, 2   

  1. 1. Ocean Remote Sensing and Information Technology Laboratory, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China;
    2. Ocean and Meteorological Institute, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
  • Received:2015-12-28 Revised:2016-05-09 Online:2016-11-30 Published:2016-12-15
  • Contact: FU Dongyang. E-mail: fdy163@163.com
  • Supported by:
    National Marine Important Charity Special Foundation of China (201305019); Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province (2014A030313603); Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province (2013B030200002); Innovation and Strong School Project of Guangdong Ocean University (GDOU2014050226); Climbing Project of Guangdong Province (pdjh2015b0249)

Abstract: Super Typhoon Rammasun (1409) in 2014 crossed the South China Sea and the Qiongzhou Strait, and then entered the Beibu Gulf. It caused great losses in Hainan, Guangdong and Guangxi, and had a great impact on the northern South China Sea. We analyzed distribution features and changes of sea surface temperature (SST), chlorophyll concentration, primary productivity, suspended sediment concentration, and upwelling before and after the typhoon, using the satellite remote sensing data of ocean color, SST and wind fields of the same period. We found that Super Typhoon Ramasun induced strong entrainment and upwelling, and strengthened the seasonal upwelling. The maximum cooling near 2℃ had a clear “right- hand-side intensification,” while the heavy rainfall had significant “left-hand-side intensification” with respect to the typhoon track. After the typhoon, the average concentration of suspended sediment increased 51.4%, and then the chlorophyll concentration increased 28% with its maximum delayed by 3 d and the primary productivity increased by 34%. The upper layer mixing intensified with average mixed layer depth increase of nearly 10.4 m.

Key words: typhoon Rammasun (1409), satellite remote sensing, sea surface temperature, Chlorophyll-a concentration