Several significant hydrographic characteristics and their formation mechanism in the South China Sea during the spring and summer of 1998

On the basis of the CTD data obtained by the two cruises before and after summer monsoon burst (25th May, 1998), several significant hydrographic characteristics, their variation and formation mechanism in the South China Sea (SCS) are analyzed. The results show that the Kuroshio water intrudes into the SCS in the form of loop current, and its main part is limited to the east of 118°E near the Luzon Strait. Then it continuously extends westwards under the influence of the large-scale circulation, and has a distinct impact on the area north of 16°N. There are two high temperature and low salinity regions:west off Luzon and east off Vietnam respectively. One region west off Luzon strengthens obviously after summer monsoon burst, the other east off Vietnam shows a tendency of weakening in the north and strengthening in the south. The formation of these two high temperature and low salinity regions is related to the anti-cyclonic eddies existing in this area, besides, it is also related to the high temperature feature west of Luzon, the influx of Sulu Sea water and the influence of the large-scale air circulation. There is a cold region below the depth of 50 m in the south of Zhongsha Islands, and it strengthens after monsoon burst. The formation of cold water is related to the upwelling there.