2016 Vol. 35, No. 5

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2016, Vol. 35, No. 5 Cover
2016, 35(5): .
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2016, Vol. 35, No. 5 Content
2016, 35(5): .
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2016, Vol. 35, No. 5 Package
2016, 35(5): .
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Physical Oceanography,Marine Meteorology and Marine Physics
The relation between the Mindanao Current and Mindanao Undercurrent on seasonal scale
WANG Yan, LAN Jian, LI Li
2016, 35(5): 1-8. doi: 10.1007/s13131-016-0858-1
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The ocean general circulation model for the earth simulator (OFES) products is applied to estimate the transports of the Mindanao Current (MC) and the Mindanao undercurrent (MUC) and explore the relation between them on seasonal scale. In general, the MUC is composed of the lower part of the Southern Pacific Tropical Water (SPTW) and Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW). While the deep northward core below 1 500 m is regarded as a portion of MUC. Both salinity and potential density restrictions become more reasonable to estimate the transports of MC/MUC as the properties of water mass having been taken into consideration. The climatological annual mean transport of MC is (37.4±5.81)×106 m3/s while that of MUC is (23.92±6.47)×106 m3/s integrated between 26.5σθ and 27.7 σθ, and (17.53±5.45)×10106 m3/s integrated between 26.5 σθ and 27.5 σθ in the OFES. The variations of MC and MUC have good positive correlation with each other on the seasonal scale: The MC is stronger in spring and weaker in fall, which corresponds well with the MUC, and the correlation coefficient of them is 0.67 in the OFES. The same variations are also appeared in hybrid coordinate ocean model (HYCOM) results. Two sensitive experiments based on HYCOM are conducted to explore the relation between MC and MUC. The MUC (26.5< σθ< 27.7) is strengthening as the MC increases with the enhancement of zonal wind field. It is shown, however, that the main part of the increasement is the deeper northward high potential density water (HPDW), while the AAIW almost remains stable, SPTW decreases, and vice versa.
The decadally modulating eddy field in the upstream Kuroshio Extension and its related mechanisms
WANG Shihong, LIU Zhiliang, PANG Chongguang, LIU Huiqing
2016, 35(5): 9-17. doi: 10.1007/s13131-015-0741-5
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Both the level of the high-frequency eddy kinetic energy (HF-EKE) and the energy-containing scale in the upstream Kuroshio Extension (KE) undergo a well-defined decadal modulation, which correlates well with the decadal KE path variability. The HF-EKE level and the energy-containing scales will increase with unstable KE path and decrease with stable KE path. Also the mesoscale eddies are a little meridionally elongated in the stable state, while they are much zonally elongated in the unstable state. The local baroclinic instability and the barotropic instability associated with the decadal modulation of HF-EKE have been investigated. The results show that the baroclinic instability is stronger in the stable state than that in the unstable state, with a shorter characteristic temporal scale and a larger characteristic spatial scale. Meanwhile, the regional-averaged barotropic conversion rate is larger in the unstable state than that in the stable state. The results also demonstrate that the baroclinic instability is not the dominant mechanism influencing the decadal modulation of the mesoscale eddy field, while the barotropic instability makes a positive contribution to the decadal modulation.
An efficient parallel algorithm for ocean circulation numerical model based on irregular rectangle decomposition scheme
ZHUANG Zhanpeng, YUAN Yeli, ZHANG Jie, HAN Lei, YANG Jungang
2016, 35(5): 18-23. doi: 10.1007/s13131-016-0855-4
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A parallel algorithm of circulation numerical model based on message passing interface (MPI) is developed using serialization and an irregular rectangle decomposition scheme. Neighboring point exchange strategy (NPES) is adopted to further enhance the computational efficiency. Two experiments are conducted on HP C7000 Blade System, the numerical results show that the parallel version with NPES (PVN) produces higher efficiency than the original parallel version (PV). The PVN achieves parallel efficiency in excess of 0.9 in the second experiment when the number of processors increases to 100, while the efficiency of PV decreases to 0.39 rapidly. The PVN of ocean circulation model is used in a fine-resolution regional simulation, which produces better results. The capability of universal implementation of this algorithm makes it applicable in many other ocean models potentially.
Interdecadal change of winter SST variability in the Kuroshio Extension region and its linkage with Aleutian atmospheric low pressure system
YU Peilong, ZHANG Lifeng, ZHANG Yongchui, DENG Bing
2016, 35(5): 24-37. doi: 10.1007/s13131-016-0859-0
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By utilizing multiple datasets from various sources available for the last 100 years, the existence for the interdecadal change of the winter sea surface temperature (SST) variability in the Kuroshio Extension (KE) region is investigated. And its linkage with the Aleutian Low (AL) activity changes is also discussed. The results find that the KE SST variability exhibits the significant ~6 a and ~10 a oscillations with obvious interdecadal change. The ~6 a oscillation is mainly detected during 1930-1950, which is largely impacted by the anomalous surface heat flux forcing and Ekman heat transport associated with the AL intensity variation. The ~10 a oscillation is most evident after the 1980s, which is predominantly triggered by the AL north-south shift through the bridge of oceanic Rossby waves.
Responses of estuarine salinity and transport processes to sea level rise in the Zhujiang (Pearl River) Estuary
CHEN Yuxiang, ZUO Juncheng, ZOU Huazhi, ZHANG Min, ZHANG Kairong
2016, 35(5): 38-48. doi: 10.1007/s13131-016-0857-2
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Understanding the changes of hydrodynamics in estuaries with respect to magnitude of sea level rise is important to understand the changes of transport process. Based on prediction of sea level rise over the 21st century, the Zhujiang (Pearl River) Estuary was chosen as a prototype to study the responses of the estuary to potential sea level rise. The numerical model results show that the average salt content, saltwater intrusion distance, and stratification will increase as the sea level rises. The changes of these parameters have obvious seasonal variations. The salt content in the Lingdingyang shows more increase in April and October (the transition periods). The saltwater intrusion distance has larger increase during the low-flow periods than during the high-flow periods in the Lingdingyang. The result is just the opposite in Modaomen. The stratification and its increase are larger during the low-flow periods than during the high-flow periods in Lingdingyang. The response results of transport processes to sea level rise demonstrate that: (1) The time of vertical transport has pronounced increase. The increased tidal range and currents would reinforce the vertical mixing, but the increased stratification would weaken the vertical exchange. The impact of stratification changes overwhelms the impact of tidal changes. It would be more difficult for the surface water to reach the bottom. (2) The lengthways estuarine circulation would be strengthened. Both the offshore surface residual current and inshore bottom residual current will be enhanced. The whole meridional resident flow along the transect of the Lingdingyang would be weakened. These phenomena are caused by the decrease of water surface slope (WWS) and the change of static pressure with the increase of water depth under sea level rise.
Quantifying the contribution of natural variability to September Arctic sea ice decline
SONG Mirong, WEI Lixin, WANG Zhenzhan
2016, 35(5): 49-53. doi: 10.1007/s13131-016-0854-5
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Arctic sea ice extent has been declining in recent decades. There is ongoing debate on the contribution of natural internal variability to recent and future Arctic sea ice changes. In this study, we contrast the trends in the forced and unforced simulations of carefully selected global climate models with the extended observed Arctic sea ice records. The results suggest that the natural variability explains no more than 42.3% of the observed September sea ice extent trend during 35 a (1979-2013) satellite observations, which is comparable to the results of the observed sea ice record extended back to 1953 (61 a, less than 48.5% natural variability). This reinforces the evidence that anthropogenic forcing plays a substantial role in the observed decline of September Arctic sea ice in recent decades. The magnitude of both positive and negative trends induced by the natural variability in the unforced simulations is slightly enlarged in the context of increasing greenhouse gases in the 21st century. However, the ratio between the realizations of positive and negative trends change has remained steady, which enforces the standpoint that external forcing will remain the principal determiner of the decreasing Arctic sea ice extent trend in the future.
Tidal energy budget in the Zhujiang (Pearl River) Estuary
BAI Peng, GU Yanzhen, LI Peiliang, WU Kejian
2016, 35(5): 54-65. doi: 10.1007/s13131-016-0850-9
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Tidal energy budget in the Zhujiang (Pearl River) Estuary (ZE) is evaluated by employing high-resolution baroclinic regional ocean modeling system (ROMS). The results obtained via applying the least square method on the model elevations are compared against the tidal harmonic constants at 18 tide stations along the ZE and its adjacent coast. The mean absolute errors between the simulation and the observation of M2, S2, K1 and O1 are 4.6, 2.8, 3.2 and 2.8 cm in amplitudes and 9.8°, 15.0°, 4.6° and 4.6° in phase-lags, respectively. The comparisons between the simulated and observed sea level heights at 11 tide gauge stations also suggest good model performance. The total tidal energy flux incoming the ZE is estimated to be 343.49 MW in the dry season and larger than 336.18 MW in the wet season, which should due to higher mean sea level height and heavier density in the dry season. M2, K1, S2, O1 and N2, the top five barotropic tidal energy flux contributors for the ZE, import 242.23 (236.79), 52.97 (52.08), 24.49 (23.96), 16.22 (15.91) and 7.10 (6.97) MW energy flux into the ZE in dry (wet) season, successively and respectively. The enhanced turbulent mixing induced by eddies around isolated islands and sharp headlands dominated by bottom friction, interaction between tidal currents and sill topography or constricted narrow waterways together account for the five energy dissipation hotspots, which add up to about 38% of the total energy dissipation inside the ZE.
The improved model of estimating global whitecap coverage based on satellite data
REN Danqin, HUA Feng, YANG Yongzeng, SUN Baonan
2016, 35(5): 66-72. doi: 10.1007/s13131-016-0848-3
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The pro and con of whitecap parameterizations and a statistical wave breaking model are discussed. An improved model is derived by combining satellite-based parameterization and the wave breaking model. The appropriate constants for the general wave state are obtained by considering the breaking condition of the wave slope and fitting with the satellite-based parameterization. The result is close to the constants based on the whitecap data from Monahan. Comparing with satellite-based data and the original model's results, the improved model's results are consistent with satellite-based data and previous studies. The global seasonal distributions of the whitecap coverage averaged from 1998 to 2008 are presented. Spatial and seasonal features of the whitecap coverage are analyzed.
Association between Arctic autumn sea ice concentration and early winter precipitation in China
LIU Na, LIN Lina, KONG Bin, WANG Yingjie, ZHANG Zhanhai, CHEN Hongxia
2016, 35(5): 73-78. doi: 10.1007/s13131-016-0860-7
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Associations between autumn Arctic sea ice concentration (SIC) and early winter precipitation in China are studied using singular value decomposition analysis. The results show that a reduced SIC almost everywhere in the Arctic Ocean, except the northern Greenland Sea and Canadian Basin, are accompanied by dry conditions over central China, extending northeast from the Tibetan Plateau toward the Japan Sea, the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea, and wet conditions over South China and North China. Atmospheric circulation anomalies associated with SIC variability show two wave-train structures, which are persistent from autumn to winter, leading to the identified relationship between autumn Arctic SIC and early winter precipitation in China. Given that the decline in autumn SIC in the Arctic Ocean is expected to continue as the climate warms, this relationship provides a possible long-term outlook for early winter precipitation in China.
Assessment of C-band compact polarimetry SAR for sea ice classification
ZHANG Xi, ZHANG Jie, LIU Meijie, MENG Junmin
2016, 35(5): 79-88. doi: 10.1007/s13131-016-0856-3
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The C-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data from the Bohai Sea of China, the Labrador Sea in the Arctic and the Weddell Sea in the Antarctic are used to analyze and discuss the sea ice full polarimetric information reconstruction ability under compact polarimetric modes. The type of compact polarimetric mode which has the highest reconstructed accuracy is analyzed, along with the performance impact of the reconstructed pseudo quad-pol SAR data on the sea ice detection and sea ice classification. According to the assessment and analysis, it is recommended to adopt the CTLR mode for reconstructing the polarimetric parameters σHH0,σW0,H,and α, while for reconstructing the polarimetric parameters σHV0,ρH-V,λ1 and λ2, it is recommended to use the π/4 mode. Moreover, it is recommended to use the π/4 mode in studying the action effects between the electromagnetic waves and sea ice, but it is recommended to use the CTLR mode for studying the sea ice classification.
The microwave scattering characteristics of sea ice in the Bohai Sea
LIU Meijie, DAI Yongshou, ZHANG Jie, ZHANG Xi, MENG Junmin, ZHU Xiuqin, YIN Yalei
2016, 35(5): 89-98. doi: 10.1007/s13131-016-0861-6
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Microwave remote sensing has become the primary means for sea-ice research, and has been supported by a great deal of field experiments and theoretical studies regarding sea-ice microwave scattering. However, these studies have been barely carried in the Bohai Sea. The sea-ice microwave scattering mechanism was first developed for the thin sea ice with slight roughness in the Bohai Sea in the winter of 2012, and included the backscattering coefficients which were measured on the different conditions of three bands (L, C and X), two polarizations (HH and VV), and incident angles of 20° to 60°, using a ground-based scatterometer and the synchronous physical parameters of the sea-ice temperature, density, thickness, salinity, and so on. The theoretical model of the sea-ice electromagnetic scattering is obtained based on these physical parameters. The research regarding the sea-ice microwave scattering mechanism is carried out through two means, which includes the comparison between the field microwave scattering data and the simulation results of the theoretical model, as well as the feature analysis of the four components of the sea-ice electromagnetic scattering. It is revealed that the sea-ice microwave scattering data and the theoretical simulation results vary in the same trend with the incident angles. Also, there is a visible variant in the sensitivity of every component to the different bands. For example, the C and X bands are sensitive to the top surface, the X band is sensitive to the scatterers, and the L and C bands are sensitive to the bottom surface, and so on. It is suggested that the features of the sea-ice surfaces and scatterers can be retrieved by the further research in the future. This experiment can provide an experimental and theoretical foundation for research regarding the sea-ice microwave scattering characteristics in the Bohai Sea.
Comparison of linear and nonlinear extreme wave statistics
DMITRY Chalikov, ALEXANDER V. Babanin
2016, 35(5): 99-105. doi: 10.1007/s13131-016-0862-5
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An extremely large (“freak”) wave is a typical though rare phenomenon observed in the sea. Special theories (for example, the modulation instability theory) were developed to explain mechanics and appearance of freak waves as a result of nonlinear wave-wave interactions. In this paper, it is demonstrated that the freak wave appearance can be also explained by superposition of linear modes with the realistic spectrum. The integral probability of trough-to-crest waves is calculated by two methods: the first one is based on the results of the numerical simulation of a wave field evolution performed with one-dimensional and two-dimensional nonlinear models. The second method is based on calculation of the same probability over the ensembles of wave fields constructed as a superposition of linear waves with random phases and the spectrum similar to that used in the nonlinear simulations. It is shown that the integral probabilities for nonlinear and linear cases are of the same order of values
Marine Chemistry
Effects of Tamarisk shrub on physicochemical properties of soil in coastal wetland of the Bohai Sea
HE Xiuping, WANG Baodong, XIE Linping, XIN Ming, WANG Wei, WANG Zicheng, ZHANG Wenquan, WEI Qinsheng
2016, 35(5): 106-112. doi: 10.1007/s13131-016-0851-8
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There are many different and even controversial results concerning the effects of Tamarisk on the physicochemical properties of soil. A year-round monitoring of soil salinity, pH and moisture is conducted beneath the Tamarisk shrub in a coastal wetland in the Bohai Sea in China, to ascertain the effects of Tamarisk on the physicochemical properties of soil in coastal wetland. Compared with the control area, the soil moisture content is lower around the area of the taproot when there is less precipitation in the growing season because of water consumption by Tamarisk shrub. However, the soil moisture content is higher around the taproot when there is more precipitation in the growing season or in the non-growing period because of water conservation by the rhizosphere. The absorption of salt by the Tamarisk shrub reduces the soil salinity temporarily, but eventually salt returns to the soil by the leaching of salt on leaves by rainfall or by fallen leaves. The annual average soil moisture content beneath the Tamarisk shrub is lower than the control area by only 6.4%, indicating that the Tamarisk shrub has little effect on drought or water conservation in soils in the temperate coastal wetland with moderate annual precipitation. The annual average salinity beneath the Tamarisk shrub is 18% greater than that of the control area, indicating that Tamarisk does have an effect of rising soil salinity around Tamarisk shrubs. The soil pH value is as low as 7.3 in summer and as high as 10.2 in winter. The pH of soil near the taproot of the Tamarisk shrubs is one pH unit lower than that in the control area during the growing season. The difference in pH is less different from the control area in the non-growing season, indicating that the Tamarisk shrub does have the effect of reducing the alkalinity of soil in coastal wetland.
Marine Geology
The magnetic properties of sediment and sedimentary environment in the Huanghe Delta area after the last glacial maximum
PENG Jun, LI Ping, CHEN Hongquan
2016, 35(5): 113-123. doi: 10.1007/s13131-016-0863-4
Abstract:
On the basis of measuring the magnetic parameters of sediment in Core YDZ1, combined with a grain size analysis and Carbon-14 dating, the magnetic properties of sediment and sedimentary environment in the Huanghe (Yellow River) Delta area after the last glacial maximum have been studied. The results show that the ferrimagnetic minerals of a pseudo single domain and multi domain particles dominate the magnetic properties of sediment in Core YDZ1. The imperfect anti ferrimagnetic minerals have more contribution on sediment in a depth of 24.0-22.1 m, and more stable-single domain and pseudo single domain particles exist. The susceptibility of anhysteretic remanent magnetization and the ratio of the susceptibility of anhysteretic remanent magnetization to saturation isothermal remanent magnetization show a decrease trend below depth of 24 m, a marked increase trend in a depth of 24.0-13.5 m, and a rapid decrease at depth of 13.5 m, then a fluctuation trend upward. The above two magnetic parameters and the ratio of the susceptibility of anhysteretic remanent magnetization to the mass susceptibility can be regarded as the proxy indicators for the content of clay (<4 μm) and the fine-grained size (<32 μm). The sedimentary environment after the last glacial maximum in the Huanghe Delta area has experienced the fluvial facies, the tidal flat facies, the neritic facies, the pro delta facies, the delta front facies and the floodplain facies. Thickness of the Holocene transgression layer is 10.5 m and the depth of substrate is about 24 m according to the YDZ1 core. The sedimentary dynamic has a variation trend with strong-weak-strong, which has been proved by the Flemming triangular schema.
Provenance analysis of surface sediments in the Holocene mud area of the southern coastal waters off Shandong Peninsula, China
ZHANG Xiaobo, BI Shipu, ZHANG Yong, YANG Yuan, LIU Shanshan, KONG Xianghuai, LI Xiaoyue, CHU Hongxian
2016, 35(5): 124-133. doi: 10.1007/s13131-016-0852-7
Abstract:
The sedimentary record of mud areas is an important carrier of information on the Holocene evolution of marine environments. Based on fine interpretations of the shallow stratigraphic section data, a small mud deposit area has been found in the southern coastal waters off Shandong Peninsula. This mud area is mainly distributed in coastal waters north of Laoshantou to the vicinity of Rushan Estuary. Overall, it is parallel to the coastline and spreads in a banded pattern, gradually thinning from offshore to the sea. The isopach map of depth distribution is parallel with the shoreline, and the depocenter lies in coastal waters of the Aoshan Bay where the maximum thickness is up to 22.5 m. Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) 14C dating shows that the mud area was formed in the Holocene. The test data of surface sediments from the mud area, including particle size, mineral characteristics, and rare earth element contents, are used in comparisons with the composition of materials from the major surrounding medium and small rivers flowing into the sea and the Huanghe (Yellow) River. In this paper, the sedimentary characteristics and provenance of the mud deposit area are discussed. The results show that the formation of this mud area resulted from the joint action of the Huanghe River and surrounding rivers flowing into the sea.
Ocean Engineering
Numerical analysis of submarine landslides using a smoothed particle hydrodynamics depth integral model
WANG Zhongtao, LI Xinzhong, LIU Peng, TAO Yanqi
2016, 35(5): 134-140. doi: 10.1007/s13131-016-0864-3
Abstract:
Submarine landslides can cause severe damage to marine engineering structures. Their sliding velocity and runout distance are two major parameters for quantifying and analyzing the risk of submarine landslides. Currently, commercial calculation programs such as BING have limitations in simulating underwater soil movements. All of these processes can be consistently simulated through a smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) depth integrated model. The basis of the model is a control equation that was developed to take into account the effects of soil consolidation and erosion. In this work, the frictional rheological mode has been used to perform a simulation study of submarine landslides. Time-history curves of the sliding body's velocity, height, and length under various conditions of water depth, slope gradient, contact friction coefficient, and erosion rate are compared; the maximum sliding distance and velocity are calculated; and patterns of variation are discussed. The findings of this study can provide a reference for disaster warnings and pipeline route selection.
Sediment mathematical model for sand ridges and sand waves
LI Daming, WANG Xiao, WANG Xin, LI Yangyang
2016, 35(5): 141-149. doi: 10.1007/s13131-016-0853-6
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A new theoretical model is formulated to describe internal movement mechanisms of the sand ridges and sand waves based on the momentum equation of a solid-liquid two-phase flow under a shear flow. Coupling this equation with two-dimensional shallow water equations and wave reflection-diffraction equation of mild slope, a two-dimensional coupling model is established and a validation is carried out by observed hydrogeology, tides, waves and sediment. The numerical results are compared with available observations. Satisfactory agreements are achieved. This coupling model is then applied to the Dongfang 1-1 Gas Field area to quantitatively predict the movement and evolution of submarine sand ridges and sand waves. As a result, it is found that the sand ridges and sand waves movement distance increases year by year, but the development trend is stable.