Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Evolution of an anticyclonic eddy southwest of Taiwan

  • Published:
Ocean Dynamics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Satellite images of sea-surface temperature, surface chlorophyll a concentration, and sea-level anomaly, together with ocean reanalysis data of Asia and Indian–Pacific Ocean (AIPOcean1.0), are utilized to study the three-dimensional characteristics and evolution of an anticyclonic warm eddy adjacent to the southwest coast of Taiwan during October and November 2006. Originated from the Kuroshio intrusion in the Luzon Strait, but unlike previously found westward moving anticyclonic eddies (AE) in the northeastern South China Sea, this AE was so close to the Taiwan coast and stayed where it was formed for over 1 month until it dissipated. Energy analysis is utilized to study the evolution process of the AE, and it shows that the barotropic instability (BTI) and baroclinic instability introduced by the Kuroshio intrusion flow appear to be the main energy sources for the AE. Periodical enhancement/relaxation of local northeasterly monsoon and its associated negative wind stress curl modify the current patterns in this region, reinforce the intraseasonal variability of the Kuroshio intrusion flow, and act together with Kuroshio to form the AE. Eddies detected from AIPOcean1.0 data also show that AEs are most likely to be generated southwest of Taiwan during the transition period of summer monsoon to winter monsoon, and generally, the BTI of Kuroshio intrusion contributes more than the direct wind stress work to the increase of the eddy kinetic energy for the generation and growth of the AEs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Beckmann A, Böning CW, Brügge B, Stammer D (1994) On the generation and role of eddy variability in the central North Atlantic Ocean. J Geophys Res 99(C10):20381–20391

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bleck R (2002) An oceanic general circulation model framed in hybrid isopycnic-Cartesian coordinates. Ocean Model 4:55–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bleck R, Smith LT (1990) A wind-driven isopycnic coordinate model of the north and equatorial Atlantic Ocean. 1. Model development and supporting experiments. J Geophy Res 95(C3):3273–3285

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Böning CW, Budich RG (1992) Eddy dynamics in a primitive equation model: sensitivity to horizontal resolution and friction. J Phys Oceanogr 22(4):361–381

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cai S, Long X, Wu R, Wang S (2008) Geographical and monthly variability of the first baroclinic Rossby radius of deformation in the South China Sea. J Mar Sys 74:711–720. doi:10.1016/j.jmarsys.2007.12.008, ISSN 0924-7963

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Centurioni LR, Niiler PP, Lee D-K (2004) Observations of inflow of Philippine Sea surface water into the South China Sea through the Luzon Strait. J Phys Oceanogr 34:113–121

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen G, Hou Y, Chu X, Qi P (2010) Vertical structure and evolution of the Luzon Warm Eddy. Chin J Oceanol Limnol 28(5):955–961

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen G, Hu P, Hou Y, Chu X (2011a) Intrusion of the Kuroshio into the South China Sea, in September 2008. J Oceanogr 67:439–448

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen G, Hou Y, Chu X (2011b) Mesoscale eddies in the South China Sea: mean properties, spatiotemporal variability, and impact on thermohaline structure. J Geophys Res 116:C06018. doi:10.1029/2010JC006716

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen Y-L, Chen H-Y, Lin I, Lee M-A, Chang J (2007) Effects of cold eddy on phytoplankton production and assemblages in Luzon Strait bordering the South China Sea. J Oceanogr 63(4):671–683

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farris A, Wimbush M (1996) Wind-induced intrusion into the South China Sea. J Oceanogr 52:771–784

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guo J, Yuan Y, Xiong X, Guo B (2007) Statistics of the mesoscale eddies on both sides of the Luzon Strait. Adv Mar Sci 25(2):139–148

    Google Scholar 

  • Ivchenko VO, Treguier AM, Best SE (1997) A kinetic energy budget and internal instabilities in the Fine Resolution Antarctic Model. J Phys Oceanogr 27:5–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jia YL, Liu QY (2004) Eddy shedding from the Kuroshio bend at Luzon Strait. J Oceanogr 60:1063–1069

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jia YL, Liu QY, Liu W (2005) Primary study of the mechanism of eddy shedding from the Kuroshio bend in Luzon Strait. J Oceanogr 61:1017–1027

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li L, Nowlin WD Jr, Su JL (1998) Anticyclonic rings from the Kuroshio in the South China Sea. Deep Sea Res I 45:1469–1482

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liang WD, Tang TY, Yang YJ, Ko MT, Chuang WS (2003) Upper-ocean currents around Taiwan. Deep-Sea Res II 50:1085–1105

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin I-I, Lien C-C, Wu C-R, Wong GTF, Huang C-W, Chiang T-L (2010) Enhanced primary production in the oligotrophic South China Sea by eddy injection in spring. Geophys Res Lett 37:L16602. doi:10.1029/2010GL043872

    Google Scholar 

  • Lorenz EN (1955) Available potential energy and the maintenance of the general circulation. Tellus 7(2):157–167

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Metzger EJ, Hurlburt HE (2001) The nondeterministic nature of Kuroshio penetration and eddy shedding in the South China Sea. J Phys Oceanogr 31(7):1712–1732

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nan F, He Z, Zhou H, Wang D (2011a) Three long-lived anticyclonic eddies in the northern South China Sea. J Geophys Res 116:C05002. doi:10.1029/2010JC006790

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nan F, Xue H, Chai F, Shi L, Shi M, Guo P (2011b) Identification of different types of Kuroshio intrusion into the South China Sea. Ocean Dyn. doi:10.1007/s10236-011-0426-3

    Google Scholar 

  • Nan F, Xue H, Xiu P, Chai F, Shi M, Guo P (2011c) Oceanic eddy formation and propagation southwest of Taiwan. J Geophys Res 116:C12045. doi:10.1029/2011JC007386

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nencioli F, Dong C, Dickey T, Washburn L, McWilliams J (2010) A vector geometry based eddy detection algorithm and its application to high-resolution numerical model products and high-frequency radar surface velocities in the Southern California Bight. J Atmos Ocean Tech 27(3):564–579. doi:10.11.1175/2009JTECHO725.1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pedlosky J (1987) Geophysical fluid dynamics. Springer, New York, 710 pp

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Qu TD (2000) Upper-layer circulation in the South China Sea. J Phys Oceanogr 30(6):1450–1460

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sheu W-J, Wu C-R, Oey L-Y (2010) Blocking and westward passage of eddies in the Luzon Strait. Deep-Sea Res II 57(19–20):1783–1791

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Teague WJ, Carron MJ, Hogan MJ (1990) A comparison between the generalized digital environmental model and Levitus climatologies. J Geophy Res 95:7167–7183

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang D, Xu H, Lin J, Hu J (2008a) Anticyclonic eddies in the northeastern South China Sea during winter 2003/2004. J Oceanogr 64(6):925–935

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang G, Chen D, Su J (2008b) Winter eddy genesis in the eastern South China Sea due to orographic wind jets. J Phys Oceanogr 38(3):726–732

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang G, Su J, Chu PC (2003) Mesoscale eddies in the South China Sea observed with altimeter data. Geophys Res Lett 30(21):2121. doi:10.1029/2003GL018532

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang J, Chern C-S (1987a) The warm-core eddy in the northern South China Sea I. Preliminary observations on the warm-core eddy. Acta Oceanogr Taiwan 18:92–103

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang J, Chern C-S (1987b) The warm-core eddy in the northern South China Sea II. A simple mechanism for the establishment and development of the warm-core eddy. Acta Oceanogr Taiwan 18:104–113

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang J, Chern C-S (1988) On the Kuroshio branch in the Taiwan Strait during wintertime. Prog Oceanogr 21(3–4):469–491

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu CR, Tang TY, Lin SF (2005) Intra-seasonal variation in the velocity field of the northeastern South China Sea. Cont Shelf Res 25(17):2075–2083

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu CR, Chiang TL (2007) Mesoscale eddies in the northern South China Sea. Deep Sea Res II. doi:10.1016/j.dsr2.2007.05.008

    Google Scholar 

  • Yan C, Zhu J, Xie J (2010) An ocean reanalysis system for the joining areas of Asia and Indian–Pacific Ocean. Atmos Oceanic Sci Lett 3(2):81–86

    Google Scholar 

  • Yuan DL, Han WQ, Hu DX (2006) Surface Kuroshio path in the Luzon Strait area derived from satellite remote sensing data. J Geophys Res 111:C11007. doi:10.1029/2005JC003412

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yuan DL, Han WQ, Hu DX (2007) Anti-cyclonic eddies northwest of Luzon in summer–fall observed by satellite altimeters. Geophys Res Lett 34(13):L13610. doi:10.1029/2007GL029401

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zheng Q, Tai C-K, Hu J, Lin H, Zhang R-H, Su F-C, Yang X (2011) Satellite altimeter observations of nonlinear Rossby eddy–Kuroshio interaction at the Luzon Strait. J Oceanogr 67(4):365–376

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhuang W, Du Y, Wang D, Xie Q, Xie S-P (2010a) Pathways of mesoscale variability in the South China Sea. Chin J Oceanol Limnol 28(5):1055–1067. doi:10.1007/s00343-010-0035-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhuang W, Xie S-P, Wang D, Taguchi B, Aiki H, Sasaki H (2010b) Intraseasonal variability in sea surface height over the South China Sea. J Geophys Res 115:C04010. doi:10.1029/2009JC005647

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We are grateful for the two anonymous reviewers, who have provided many thoughtful comments and suggestions which led to great improvements of the manuscript. We also thank Gengxin Chen, Xiaopei Lin and Huijie Xue for their helpful discussions, and thank Huijie Xue and Changming Dong for providing their codes of energy calculation and eddy detection. This research work was supported by the 973 program (2011CB403504 and 2010CB950401) and the Guangdong Natural Science Foundation (S2011010001001).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Tropical Oceanography, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510301, China

    Tingting Zu, Dongxiao Wang, Wei Zhuang & Ju Chen

  2. International Center for Climate and Environmental Science, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China

    Changxiang Yan

  3. Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, RI, 02882, USA

    Igor Belkin

Authors
  1. Tingting Zu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Dongxiao Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Changxiang Yan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Igor Belkin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Wei Zhuang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Ju Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dongxiao Wang.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: John Wilkin

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Zu, T., Wang, D., Yan, C. et al. Evolution of an anticyclonic eddy southwest of Taiwan. Ocean Dynamics 63, 519–531 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10236-013-0612-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10236-013-0612-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation