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Detailed Reference Information |
Wang, C., Wang, W., Wang, D. and Wang, Q. (2006). Interannual variability of the South China Sea associated with El Niño. Journal of Geophysical Research 111: doi: 10.1029/2005JC003333. issn: 0148-0227. |
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Interannual sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies in the South China Sea (SCS) are largely influenced by El Ni¿o through El Ni¿o--driven atmospheric and oceanic changes. This paper discovers a new observed feature of the SCS SST anomalies: a double-peak evolution following an El Ni¿o event. The first and second peaks occur around February and August, respectively, in the subsequent year of the El Ni¿o year (denoted by February <+1> and August <+1>). During and after the mature phase of El Ni¿o, a change of atmospheric circulation alters the local SCS near-surface air temperature, humidity, cloudiness, and monsoon wind. These factors influence surface heat fluxes and oceanic flows over the SCS that can either warm or cool the SCS depending upon stages of SST anomaly evolution. The shortwave radiation and latent heat flux anomalies are major contributions to the first peak of the SCS SST anomalies, although the geostrophic heat advections warm the western boundary region of the SCS. After the first peak of February <+1>, both the Ekman and geostrophic heat advections, assisted with a reduction of the net heat flux anomalies, cool the SCS SST anomalies. In August <+1>, the mean meridional geostrophic heat advection makes the SCS SST anomalies peak again. Then, the latent heat flux anomalies (mainly attributed to anomalous air-sea difference in specific humidity) and the mean zonal geostrophic heat advection take over for the cooling of the SCS after the second peak. |
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Abstract |
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Keywords
Oceanography, General, Climate and interannual variability (1616, 1635, 3305, 3309, 4513), Oceanography, General, Marginal and semi-enclosed seas, Atmospheric Processes, Ocean/atmosphere interactions (0312, 4504), Oceanography, Physical, ENSO, Global Change, Climate variability (1635, 3305, 3309, 4215, 4513) |
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Publisher
American Geophysical Union 2000 Florida Avenue N.W. Washington, D.C. 20009-1277 USA 1-202-462-6900 1-202-328-0566 service@agu.org |
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