Three-Dimensional Distribution of Turbulent Mixing in the South China Sea*
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Yang-2016-Three-dimensional.pdf
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4.09 MB
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Author(s)
Yang, Qingxuan
Zhao, Wei
Liang, Xinfeng
Tian, Jiwei
Date Issued
February 2016
Journal
Journal of Physical Oceanography
Publisher
American Meteorological Society
Citation
Yang, Qingxuan et al. “Three-Dimensional Distribution of Turbulent Mixing in the South China Sea*.” Journal of Physical Oceanography 46.3 (2016): 769–788. © 2016 American Meteorological Society
Version
Final published version
Abstract
A three-dimensional distribution of turbulent mixing in the South China Sea (SCS) is obtained for the first time, using the Gregg–Henyey–Polzin parameterization and hydrographic observations from 2005 to 2012. Results indicate that turbulent mixing generally increases with depth in the SCS, reaching the order of 10[superscript −2] m[superscript 2] s[superscript −1] at depth. In the horizontal direction, turbulence is more active in the northern SCS than in the south and is more active in the east than the west. Two mixing “hotspots” are identified in the bottom water of the Luzon Strait and Zhongsha Island Chain area, where diapycnal diffusivity values are around 3 × 10[superscript −2] m[superscript 2] s[superscript −1]. Potential mechanisms responsible for these spatial patterns are discussed, which include internal tide, bottom bathymetry, and near-inertial energy.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
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Article is made available in accordance with the publisher's policy and may be subject to US copyright law. Please refer to the publisher's site for terms of use.
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DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1175/jpo-d-14-0220.1
