Study on the mesoscale eddies around the Ryukyu Islands

• Published in: Acta oceanologica Sinica Vol. 35; no. 3; pp. 38 - 45
• Main Authors: Han, Shuzong, Xu, Changsan, Wu, Huiming, Wang, Gang, Pei, Junfeng, Fan, Yongbin, Wang, Xingchi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Beijing The Chinese Society of Oceanography 01.03.2016; Springer Nature B.V; College of Physical and Environmental Oceanography, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China%State Key Laboratory of Satellite Ocean Environment Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Hangzhou 310012, China; Nantong Marine Environmental Monitoring Center, State Oceanic Administration, Nantong 226005, China%School of Mathematical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne 3800, Australia%East Sea Information Center, State Oceanic Administration, Shanghai 200137, China
• Subjects: Climatology; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Ecology; Eddies; Engineering Fluid Dynamics; Environmental Chemistry; General circulation models; Islands; Marine; Marine & Freshwater Sciences; Mesoscale eddies; Mesoscale phenomena; Ocean circulation; Ocean currents; Oceanic general circulation model; Oceanic trenches; Oceanography; Salinity; Simulators; Topography; Velocity; Vortices; 中尺度涡; 地球模拟器; 海洋环流模式; 琉球海沟; 琉球海流; 琉球群岛; 相对稳定; 黑潮; Ryukyu Islands; China; INW, Pacific, Kuroshio Current; ISEW, Pacific, Ryukyu Trench; INW, Japan, Shikoku; ISEW, Taiwan; ISEW, Japan, Nansei Shoto, Ryukyu Is; Ryukyu Islands; Kuroshio; mesoscale eddy; Ocean General Circulation Model for the Earth Simulator; Ryukyu Current
• ISSN: 0253-505X; 1869-1099
• DOI: 10.1007/s13131-016-0824-y

Results of the Ocean General Circulation Model for the Earth Simulator（OFES） from January 1977 to December2006 are used to investigate mesoscale eddies near the Ryukyu Islands. The results show that：（1） Larger eddies are mainly east of Taiwan, above the Ryukyu Trench and south of the Shikoku Island. These three sea areas are all in the vicinity of the Ryukyu Current.（2） Eddies in the area of the Ryukyu Current are mainly anticyclonic, and conducive to that current. The transport of water east of the Ryukyu Islands is mainly toward the northeast.（3）The Ryukyu Current is significantly affected by the eddies. The lower the latitude, the greater these effects.However, the Kuroshio is relatively stable, and the effect of mesoscale eddies is not significant.（4） A warm eddy south of the Shikoku Island break away from the Kuroshio and move southwest, and is clearly affected by the Ryukyu Current and Kuroshio. Relationships between the mesoscale eddies, Kuroshio meanders, and Ryukyu Current are discussed.