The numerical investigation of seasonal variation of the cold water mass in the Beibu Gulf and its mechanisms  

作　　者：CHEN Zhenhua QIAO Fangli XIA Changshui WANG Gang 

机构地区：[1]College of Physical and Environmental Oceanography,Ocean University of China [2]The First Institute of Oceanography,State Oceanic Administration [3]Key Laboratory of Marine Science and Numerical Modeling (MASNUM),State Oceanic Administration

出　　处：《Acta Oceanologica Sinica》2015年第1期44-54,共11页海洋学报（英文版）

基　　金：The National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract No.U1406404;the National Basic Research Program(973 Program)of China under contract No.2014CB745004

摘　　要：A wave-tide-circulation coupled model based on the Princeton Ocean Model is established to explore the seasonal variation of the cold water mass in the Beibu Gulf and its mechanisms. The results show that the cold water mass starts forming in March, reaches the maximum strength during June and July, and fades away since October. Strong mixing in winter transports the cold water from sea surface to bottom. The cold water mass remains in the bottom layer as the thermocline strengthens during spring, except for the shallow water where the themocline is broken by strong tidal mixing, which gradually separate the cold water mass from its surrounding warm water. Further analysis on the ocean current and stream function confirms that the cold water mass in the Beibu Gulf is locally developed, with an anticlockwise circulation caused by a strong temperature gradient. Sensitivity experiments reveal that the cold water mass is controlled by the sea surface heat flux, while the terrain and tidal mixing also play important roles.A wave-tide-circulation coupled model based on the Princeton Ocean Model is established to explore the seasonal variation of the cold water mass in the Beibu Gulf and its mechanisms. The results show that the cold water mass starts forming in March, reaches the maximum strength during June and July, and fades away since October. Strong mixing in winter transports the cold water from sea surface to bottom. The cold water mass remains in the bottom layer as the thermocline strengthens during spring, except for the shallow water where the themocline is broken by strong tidal mixing, which gradually separate the cold water mass from its surrounding warm water. Further analysis on the ocean current and stream function confirms that the cold water mass in the Beibu Gulf is locally developed, with an anticlockwise circulation caused by a strong temperature gradient. Sensitivity experiments reveal that the cold water mass is controlled by the sea surface heat flux, while the terrain and tidal mixing also play important roles.

关 键 词：Beibu Gulf cold water mass seasonal variation wave-tide-circulation coupled model 

分 类 号：P731.16[天文地球—海洋科学] P731.23