The tug‐of‐war between the West Philippine Sea and South China Sea Tropical Waters and Intermediate Waters in the Okinawa Trough. Issue 3 (15th March 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chen, Chen‐Tung Arthur; Yeh, Ya‐Ting; Yanagi, Tetsuo; Bai, Yan; He, Xianqiang; Huang, Ting‐Hsuan
• Is Part Of: Journal of geophysical research. Volume 121:Issue 3(2016:Mar.)
• Page Start: 1736
• Page End: 1754
• Publication Date: 2016-03-15
• Subjects: Okinawa Trough -- Kuroshio -- fronts -- South China Sea -- West Philippine Sea -- ENSO; Oceanography -- Periodicals; 551.4605
• DOI: 10.1002/2015JC011274
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2169-9275

Abstract

Abstract: Kuroshio subsurface waters are the major source of nutrients to the East China Sea continental shelf, a major fishing ground. These subsurface waters are heavily affected by the South China Sea (SCS) Tropical and Intermediate Waters which contain more nutrients than the tropical (Smax ) and intermediate (Smin ) waters from the West Philippine Sea (WPS). A front was found to separate these waters from the SCS and WPS. The reported front in the Okinawa Trough, however, was identified based only on one‐time data from a single cross section. Here historical hydrographic data between March 1950 and December 2011 are analyzed. A vertical front tilted toward the west is found in all seasons in all years in the Okinawa Trough. In winter, the presence of the SCS Tropical Water is the most prominent. It is the weakest in autumn. As for intermediate waters (Smin ), the WPS and SCS Intermediate Waters show much weaker seasonality compared with tropical waters although in summer, the WPS Intermediate Water contribution is slightly larger than during other times. Key Points: Subsurface fronts separating the WPS and SCS waters exist in the Okinawa Trough The longitudinal front exists between 50 and 1350 m but tilts toward the west In winter, the presence of the SCS tropical water is the most prominent