Articles | Volume 20, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-20-817-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-20-817-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Anomalous North Pacific subtropical mode water volume and density decrease in a recent stable Kuroshio Extension period from Argo observations
Jing Sheng
Hainan Institute, Zhejiang University, Sanya, 572000, China
Ocean College, Zhejiang University, Zhoushan, 316000, China
Hainan Institute, Zhejiang University, Sanya, 572000, China
Hainan Observation and Research Station of Ecological Environment and Fishery Resource in Yazhou Bay, Sanya, 572000, China
Yanzhen Gu
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Hainan Institute, Zhejiang University, Sanya, 572000, China
Ocean College, Zhejiang University, Zhoushan, 316000, China
Hainan Observation and Research Station of Ecological Environment and Fishery Resource in Yazhou Bay, Sanya, 572000, China
Peiliang Li
Hainan Institute, Zhejiang University, Sanya, 572000, China
Ocean College, Zhejiang University, Zhoushan, 316000, China
Hainan Observation and Research Station of Ecological Environment and Fishery Resource in Yazhou Bay, Sanya, 572000, China
Fangguo Zhai
College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Science, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266000, China
Ning Zhou
Hainan Institute, Zhejiang University, Sanya, 572000, China
Ocean College, Zhejiang University, Zhoushan, 316000, China
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This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Ocean Science (OS).
Short summary
Short summary
Marine heatwaves, periods of unusually warm ocean temperatures, are often linked to variations of chlorophyll-a, but ocean ecosystems are shaped by many processes. Using satellite and reanalysis data and causal analysis, we studied changes in the South China Sea. Chlorophyll-a decreased off Vietnam and increased near the Pearl River Estuary. The main drivers were weaker upward nutrient transport off Vietnam and stronger river-water retention near the estuary, not these warm events alone.
Ruili Sun, Peiliang Li, Yanzhen Gu, Fangguo Zhai, Yunwei Yan, Bo Li, and Yang Zhang
Ocean Sci., 18, 717–728, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-18-717-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-18-717-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Previous studies show that only when water flows into and out of the Luzon Strait (LS), material and energy exchange between the South China Sea (SCS) and the Northwest Pacific (NWP) will take place. However, our studies demonstrate that mesoscale eddies in the NWP can transfer vorticity to mesoscale eddies in the SCS, without water exchange in the LS. This provides a new perspective for the study of material and energy exchange between the SCS and NWP.
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Short summary
The homogeneous water column, named mode water, retains atmosphere conditions and biogeochemical elements from the deep winter mixed layer and became weaker and warmer in the North Pacific subtropical ocean in 2018–2021 even though the Kuroshio Extension was stable. Locally anomalous east wind transporting warm water to the north and enhanced near-surface stratification hinder the deepening of the winter mixed layer. This study has broad implications for climate change and biogeochemical cycles.
The homogeneous water column, named mode water, retains atmosphere conditions and biogeochemical...