Impacts of a Mesoscale Eddy Pair on Internal Solitary Waves in the Northern South China Sea revealed by Mooring Array Observations

• DOI: 10.1175/jpo-d-16-0111.1
• Publication Date: 2017-04-13T17:23:20Z
• Authors: Xiaodong Huang; Zhiwei Zhang; Xiaojiang Zhang; Hongbao Qian; Wei Zhao; Jiwei Tian
• Keywords: Mooring; Eddy; Internal tide

Abstract Both internal solitary waves (ISWs) and mesoscale eddies are ubiquitous in the northern South China Sea (SCS). In this study, authors examine impacts of on ISWs transiting SCS deep basin that evolve from steepening tide generated Luzon Strait, using situ data collected a specifically designed mooring array. From November 2013 to January 2014, an energetic eddy pair consisting one anticyclonic (AE) cyclonic (CE) propagated across Observations revealed amplitude, propagation direction, speed transbasin were significantly modulated by pair. When moorings covered southern portion AE, ISW amplitudes decreased as much 67% because thermocline deepening along wave direction energy divergence front. portions both eddies, amplitude also but relatively smaller degree. fastest inside where currents enhanced ISWs. Under influence AE core, more northward (southward) than usual. The observational results reported here highlight importance resolving circulation–internal coupled models accurately predict kinematic characteristics