Abstract: In this paper, the tidal current characteristics on the continental shelf of the Xisha Islands in the South China Sea are analyzed by using the current data, which are observed at a mooring site near the Xisha Islands in July, 2010. The parameters, such as the elliptical elements of the barotropic and baroclinic tidal current, the current energy spectra and the kinetic energy are calculated. The results show that the current mainly flows to the east and the barotropic tidal current is significant in this area while the baroclinic tidal current is not obvious. K₁ is the main component barotropic tidal current, and then O₁. The current energy of diurnal frequency is very strong and the near-inertial oscillation increases significantly after the passage of typhoon. The ratio of the mean kinetic energy of the baroclinic tidal current to the observational current is very small at the depth of 20m.

Key words: current, tidal current, near-inertial oscillation, Xisha Islands