Journal of Tropical Oceanography ›› 2009, Vol. 28 ›› Issue (6): 23-34.doi: 10.11978/j.issn.1009-5470.2009.06.023cstr: 32234.14.j.issn.1009-5470.2009.06.023

• Marine physics • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Distribution and seasonal variability of acoustic profile in the Philippine Sea

ZHANG Xu1, ZHANG Yong-gang1, ZHANG Sheng-jun 2, WU Shi-hua3   

  1. 1. Dept. of Military Oceanography, Dalian Naval Academy, Dalian 116018, China;
    2. Dept. of Cartography, Unit 92899, Ningbo 315200, China;
    3. Hydrological-Meteorological Center of Headquarters, the East China Sea Fleet of Navy, Ningbo 315122, China
  • Received:2008-07-18 Revised:2008-12-31 Online:2009-12-30 Published:2009-12-12
  • About author:张旭(1982—),男,黑龙江省萝北市人,在读博士研究生,主要从事军事海洋学研究。

Abstract:

This study focuses on several aspects of the vertical structural characteristics of sound speed profiles (SSPs) in the Philippine Sea based on the Argo data. An improved criterion was selected to investigate the regional distribution and seasonal variability of main spring layer, seasonal spring layer, and near-surface positive-gradient layer. The results indicate that the Philippine Sea is dominated by the equatorial current system and western boundary currents, and the structure of the sound speed field there is significantly affected by the structure of currents and the distribution of water masses. The main spring layers change little seasonally; their depths grow deeper and the intensities become weaker form tropic to temperate zone. Influenced by the variety of mixed layers and ventilated thermocline in the northern region in winter, the seasonal spring layers are stronger and thicker (weaker and thinner) in summer (winter). The depths of the sound channel also vary little, the distribution of the Antarctic Intermediate Water and North Pacific Intermediate Water account for the meridional differences in the depth of the sound channel. In accordance with the structural characteristics, the SSPs in different regions and seasons are then divided into six types, and their statistical eigenvalues are obtained.

Key words: Philippine Sea, sound speed profile (SSP), mode characteristic, Argo data