Winter–Summer Transition in the Southern South China Sea Western Boundary Current

Abstract

Abstract The winter–summer transition in the southern South China Sea (SCS) western boundary current (WBC) is studied. Two categories have been identified. In case 1, the southern SCS WBC transition in the lower layer (below the thermocline) lags that in the upper layer (above the thermocline). In case 2, there is no transition lag at full depth. In both categories, the geostrophic balance dominates the transition. In case 1, the upper layer geostrophic balance is dominated by the sea surface height pressure gradient (SSHPG) and Coriolis forcing during southern SCS WBC transition. Therefore, there is no transition lag with depth in the upper layer. Below the thermocline layer, the competition between the SSHPG and the density pressure gradient (DPG) determines the transition. During the transition, the amplitudes of the SSHPG and DPG are basically equivalent. The SSHPG needs time to develop sufficiently larger than the DPG. Therefore, the transition in the deeper layer significantly lags that in the shallower layer. The reversal of the SSHPG is mainly attributed to the change in the basin-scale wind stress curl over the southern SCS. The change in the DPG is mainly associated with the cooling of the water along the western continental slope, which is induced by upwelling. In case 2, there is no cooling along the western continental slope, and then the amplitude of the DPG is always far smaller than that of the SSHPG. Responding to the change in the SSHPG, the southern SCS WBC transition behaves consistently at full depth. Significance Statement We have a comprehensive understanding of the South China Sea (SCS) circulation patterns in winter and summer. However, their seasonal transitions remain unclear, and a better understanding of them is potentially helpful for improving ocean circulation modeling and prediction. This paper focuses on the winter–summer transition in the SCS western boundary current (WBC). Above the thermocline (∼100 m), the transition behaves consistently in the vertical direction and is controlled by the conversion of the sea surface height–induced pressure gradient. Below the thermocline, the transition in the deeper layer of the WBC significantly lags that in the shallower layer of the WBC, which is associated with the competition between the SSH-induced pressure gradient and the density-induced pressure gradient at the sea surface.