Analyses of upper layer thickness in the South China Sea

Chun Yi Lin, Zhe Wen Zheng, Chih Chung Tsao, Chung Ru Ho*, Nan Jung Kuol

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

TOPEX/Poseidon (T/P) satellite altimeter data from 1992 to 1999 and in-situ measurements from 1980 to 1999 are used to analyze the upper layer thickness (ULT) in the South China Sea (SCS). The ULT is defined as the depth of the 14°C isotherm from in-situ measurements. In comparison with the ULT derived from in-situ measurements and that derived from T/P altimeter data yields a correlation coefficient of 0.89 with a slope of 1.01 and an intercept of -2 m. The basin averaged ULT derived from in-situ measurements is about 216 m with a seasonal variation of 200 m (winter) to 230 (summer). The ULT is highly correlated with the sea surface temperature (SST) in the study area except the periods of El Niño. During the normal and La Niña years, ULT is deeper (shallower) when SST is higher (lower). However, during the onset of El Niño event, a reverse result is found, that is, ULT is deeper (shallower) when SST is lower (higher).

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationOCEANS'08 MTS/IEEE Kobe-Techno-Ocean'08 - Voyage toward the Future, OTO'08
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2008
Externally publishedYes
EventOCEANS'08 MTS/IEEE Kobe-Techno-Ocean'08 - Voyage toward the Future, OTO'08 - Kobe, Japan
Duration: 2008 Apr 92008 Apr 11

Publication series

NameOCEANS'08 MTS/IEEE Kobe-Techno-Ocean'08 - Voyage toward the Future, OTO'08

Other

OtherOCEANS'08 MTS/IEEE Kobe-Techno-Ocean'08 - Voyage toward the Future, OTO'08
Country/TerritoryJapan
CityKobe
Period2008/04/092008/04/11

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Computers in Earth Sciences
  • Ocean Engineering
  • Acoustics and Ultrasonics

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