Abstract: In this study, we explore the upper-ocean responses to Typhoon Tembin in 2012 with three drifting buoys’ data, high-resolution global temperature and salinity profile data, and satellite data. Results show that in the 50 km from the typhoon’s center, there was a near-surface flow velocity of 2.3 m•s^-1. In other similar typhoon cases, however, flow velocity was often less than 1 m•s^-1, much weaker than Typhoon Tembin. The reason is the drifting buoy in the frontal area of the intersection of cold and warm water masses encountered large variability of flow. So, the average flow velocity was small in other similar typhoon cases. There was strong vertical mixing, making temperature decreased and salinity increased at both left track and right track 1~2 days after the super strong typhoon passed by, and at the right track 5~6 days after the strong typhoon passed by. There was obvious upwelling below the mixed layer.

Key words: typhoon, near-surface flow, vertical mixing, upwelling