Journal of Tropical Oceanography ›› 2011, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (1): 11-19.doi: 10.11978/j.issn.1009-5470.2011.01.011cstr: 32234.14.j.issn.1009-5470.2011.01.011

• Marine hydrology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

The characteristics of water mass distribution and its seasonal variation near the Luzon Strait

LIU Zeng-hong1,2, XU Jian-ping1,2, SUN Chao-hui1, ZHU Bo-kang1   

  1. 1. Second Institute of Oceanography, SOA, Hangzhou 310012, China; 2. State Key Laboratory of Satellite Ocean Environment Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, SOA, Hangzhou 310012, China
  • Received:2009-06-24 Revised:2009-09-15 Online:2011-03-17 Published:2011-03-16
  • About author:刘增宏(1977—), 男, 江苏省无锡市人, 助理研究员, 主要从事海洋观测分析研究。E-mail: davids_liu@263.net
  • Supported by:

    国家海洋局公益性行业科研专项(200706022); 国家海洋局第二海洋研究所基本科研业务费专项(JT0804)

Abstract:

The Luzon Strait is located between Taiwan and Luzon islands, connecting the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea. The characteristics of water mass distribution and its seasonal variation in this region were discussed using the Argo temperature and salinity data from February 2003 to April 2009. The analysis suggested that in the area of 120.5º?122.75ºE and 19º?23ºN the water mass has the properties between the South China Sea Water and the North Pacific Water; in the area south of 19ºN, the water exchange is not significant. The intrusion of the North Pacific Tropical Water (NPTW) and the North Pacific Intermediate Water (NPIW) into the South China Sea is relatively weak in summer. The intrusion of the NPTW is strengthened in fall and winter. When the northeasterly monsoon becomes fully developed, the intrusion reaches its most. However, there is no evidence of the NPIW water flowing into the South China Sea. It should be pointed that there is no indication that the NPIW enters the South China Sea in any seasons, while the intermediate water from the South China Sea can flow into the Pacific through the Luzon Strait, reaching its maximum strength in fall and winter.

Key words: water mass, Argo profiling float, Luzon Strait, South China Sea