Journal of Tropical Oceanography ›› 2017, Vol. 36 ›› Issue (4): 10-17.doi: 10.11978/2016136CSTR: 32234.14.2016136

• Orginal Article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Impacts of Northwest Pacific anomalous anticyclone on sea surface height and circulation

Yanping SHI1,2(), Yan DU1,2(), Zesheng CHEN1   

  1. 1. State Key Laboratory of Tropical Oceanography (South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences), Guangzhou 510301, China
    2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
  • Received:2016-12-31 Revised:2017-04-06 Online:2017-07-20 Published:2017-07-26
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China (41525019, 41521005);“Global Changes and air-sea interaction” of State Oceanic Administration (GASI-IPOVAI-02);Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDA11010103);International Partnership Program for Creative Research Teams (CAS/SAFEA)

Abstract:

In this study, we investigate the Northwest Pacific anomalous anticyclone (NWPAC) associated with Indian Ocean warming and its impacts on ocean circulation and sea surface height in the northwest pacific by using the reanalysis wind, current and sea surface height data of National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) and SODA v2.2.4 during the period of 1971 to 2010. Composite results reveal that the NWPAC associated with Indian Ocean warming is the strongest during the boreal summer and it has significant impacts on the upper-ocean circulation and sea surface height in the NW Pacific. The anticyclonic wind anomaly produces a negative wind stress curl, inducing convergence of sea surface water and the resultant positive sea level anomalies. The effect of NWPAC on the upper-ocean circulation in the South China Sea is synchronous, while its impact on the upper ocean east of the Philippines delays by about one season and peaks in the boreal autumn. This may be attributed to the modulation of westward oceanic Rossby wave.

Key words: Indian Ocean warming, Northwest Pacific anomalous anticyclone, ocean circulation, sea surface height, composite analysis

CLC Number: 

  • P732.6