Observational study of one prototypical mode-2 internal solitary waves in the northern South China Sea

Qian Hongbao; Huang Xiaodong; Tian Jiwei

doi:10.3969/j.issn.0253-4193.2016.09.002

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Qian Hongbao, Huang Xiaodong, Tian Jiwei. Observational study of one prototypical mode-2 internal solitary waves in the northern South China Sea[J]. Haiyang Xuebao, 2016, 38(9): 13-20. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4193.2016.09.002

Citation:

Qian Hongbao, Huang Xiaodong, Tian Jiwei. Observational study of one prototypical mode-2 internal solitary waves in the northern South China Sea[J]. Haiyang Xuebao, 2016, 38(9): 13-20. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4193.2016.09.002

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Observational study of one prototypical mode-2 internal solitary waves in the northern South China Sea

doi: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4193.2016.09.002

1.
Key Laboratory of Physical Oceanography, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China;The Administrative Center for China's Agenda 21, Beijing 100089, China
2.
Key Laboratory of Physical Oceanography, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China

Received Date: 2016-04-26
Rev Recd Date: 2016-05-13

Abstract

Abstract

Mode-2 internal solitary wave (ISW) is seldom observed in real oceans. In this study, the characteristics of one prototypical mode-2 ISW over the continental shelf of northern South China (SCS) were analyzed, by using of mooring measurements with fine spatial and temporal resolutions. It was shown that the current core of mode-2 ISW appeared at a depth of 135 m, with a maximum of 0.66 m/s. The currents along the ISW propagation direction covered a depth range of 80~170 m, and the currents at a reverse direction were observed near the surface and bottom. Vertical mode analysis revealed that observed vertical structure of horizontal current of ISWs matched well with the theoretical results. At the trough of mode-2 ISW, the depth-integrated horizontal kinetic energy (KE) density could reach 14 kJ/m². Along the wave front, the KE of mode-2 ISW was up to 5.98 MJ/m. Although the kinetic energy of the mode-2 ISW was one order smaller than that of strong mode-1 ISW, its current shear of up to 0.045 s^-1 was two times as strong as that of mode-1 ISW, which suggested a more rapid energy dissipation.
- internal solitary wave,
- mode-2,
- mooring,
- observation,
- South China Sea

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