Synoptic-scale disturbances over the northern South China Sea and their responses to El Niño

Using surface and aerological meteorological observations obtained at the Xisha Automatic Weather Station and three moored buoys along the continental slope, characteristics of the synoptic-scale disturbances over the northern South China Sea (NSCS) are extensively studied. The power spectra of surface and aerological observations suggest a synoptic feature with a pronounced energy peak at a period of 5–8 d and a weak peak at 3–4 d. The standard deviation of the synoptic temperature component derived at Xisha Station from 1976 to 2011 indicates that the strongest variability normally exists in August all through the whole troposphere. At the interannual scale, it is found that El Niño plays an important role in regulating the synoptic disturbances of atmosphere. The vertical synoptic disturbances have a double active peak following El Niño condition. The first peak usually occurs during the mature phase of El Niño, and the second one occurs in the summer of decay year. Comparing with the summer of developing years, the summer of the decaying year of El Niño has more active and stronger synoptic disturbances, especially for the 5–8 d period variations.