Record‐Breaking Sea Surface Temperatures in the Yellow and East China Seas. Issue 8 (7th August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yan, Yunwei; Chai, Fei; Xue, Huijie; Wang, Guihua
• Is Part Of: Journal of geophysical research. Volume 125:Issue 8(2020)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2020-08-07
• Subjects: record‐breaking SSTs -- Yellow and East China Seas -- western Pacific subtropical high; Oceanography -- Periodicals; 551.4605
• DOI: 10.1029/2019JC015883
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2169-9275

Abstract

Abstract: Satellite observations of sea surface temperature (SST) show that SST in 2004, 2006, and 2016 broke the previous record in the Yellow and East China Seas (YECS). The underlying cause of the record‐breaking SSTs in the YECS is still under debate. Our analysis results demonstrate that enhanced solar radiation and weakened wind, due to a high‐pressure system over the YECS splitting from the western Pacific subtropical high, were mainly responsible for the record‐breaking SSTs in these 3 years. The enhanced solar radiation and weakened wind both depressed oceanic turbulent mixing, and more heat was concentrated in a shallower mixed layer, inducing an anomalous SST rise and resulting in the record‐breaking SSTs. Key Points: SST in 2004, 2006, and 2016 broke the previous record of satellite observations in the Yellow and East China Seas The record‐breaking SSTs in these 3 years were mainly attributed to enhanced solar radiation and weakened wind Enhanced solar radiation and weakened wind were associated with a high‐pressure system splitting from the Pacific subtropical high