Evolution of Surface Cold Patches in the North Yellow Sea Based on Satellite SST Data

• Published in: Journal of Ocean University of China Vol. 15; no. 6; pp. 936 - 946
• Main Authors: Hu, Jingwen, Shi, Maochong, Zhang, Tinglu, Chen, Shuguo, Wu, Lunyu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Science Press 01.12.2016; Springer Nature B.V; Department of Marine Technology,0cean University of China,Qingdao266100,P. R. China%The First Institute of 0ceanography,S0A, Qingdao 266061,P. R. China
• Subjects: Data analysis; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Evolutionary biology; Marine; Meteorology; Oceanography; Satellites; SCPS; ST数; Surface chemistry; 剩余电流; 北黄海; 卫星; 海表面温度; 演化; 边缘检测算法; Yellow Sea; INW, Huanghai Sea; the North Yellow Sea; monthly evolutions; upwelling; surface cold patch
• ISSN: 1672-5182; 1993-5021; 1672-5174
• DOI: 10.1007/s11802-016-3050-5

Ten years （from 2005 to 2014） of satellite sea surface temperature （SST） data from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer （AVHRR） are analyzed to reveal the monthly changes in surface cold patches （SCPs） in the main areas of the Northern Yellow Sea （NYS）. The Canny edge detection algorithm is used to identify the edges of the patches. The monthly changes are de- scribed in terms of location, temperature and area. The inter-annual variations, including changes in the location and area of the SCPs from 2010 to 2014, are briefly discussed. The formation mechanisms of the SCPs in different periods are systematically analyzed using both in situ data and numerical simulation. The results show that from May to October, the location and area of the SCPs re- main stable, with a north-south orientation. The SCPs altogether cover about I° of longitude （124°E-125°E） in width and 2° of lati- tude （37.5°N-39.5°N） in length. In November, the SCP separates from the Jangsan Cape and forms a closed, isolated, and approxi- mately circular cold patch in the central NYS. From May to October, the upweUing that leads to the formation of the SCP is mainly triggered by the headland residual current, wind field, climbing movement of the current and secondary circulation at the tide front. In November, cyclonic circulation in the NYS is primarily responsible for generating the upwelling that leads to the formation of the closed and isolated SCE