Author(s)

Yaochu Yuan^1*, Weibing Guan¹, Chenghao Yang¹, Yu-Heng Tseng², Huiqun Wang¹

¹State Key Laboratory of Satellite Ocean Environment Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou, China.
²Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University, Taipei city.

Based on direct current measurements from two separated cruises in October 2008-January 2009 and July-August 2009, we obtained a valuable deep current observation of the Luzon Strait (LS). Rectified wavelet power spectra analysis (RWPSA) and the geostrophic current calculation are used to study the deep current. We find that the deep current differs in different seasons. The current is strongest in autumn (October-November) and weaker in summer (July-August) and in winter (December-January). The cyclonic and anti-cyclonic meander with different subtidal current directions plays an important role in the seasonal difference of the deep current in the LS. The observed seasonal difference of the deep current in the LS is connected with the deep current observed at the western boundary of the northern Philippine Basin and is also linked with the overflow near the central Bashi Channel and Luzon Trough. The RWPSA of the long observation suggests the dominant periods of 8 d, 19 d in the deep current. The dynamical cause of the resulting velocity distribution at 1850 and 1760 m is the pressure field and bottom topography steering. The observed deep current agrees well with the geostrophic current calculation.

Luzon Strait, Long Measurement of Deep Currents, Seasonal Difference, Rectified Wavelet Power Spectra Analysis, Dynamical Cause of Resulting Deep Current Distribution

Yuan, Y. , Guan, W. , Yang, C. , Tseng, Y. and Wang, H. (2019) Seasonal Difference of the Deep Currents in the Luzon Strait during October 2008-January 2009 and July-August 2009. Atmospheric and Climate Sciences, 9, 284-297. doi: 10.4236/acs.2019.93020.