Variability of nonlinear internal waves in the South China Sea affected by the Kuroshio and mesoscale eddies

Abstract

Long-term observations of nonlinear internal waves in the South China Sea reveal seasonal to interannual variability. During two selected segments of inverted echo sounder observations, tidal forcing in Luzon Strait is almost identical, but the observed amplitudes of nonlinear internal waves in the South China Sea are very different. The effects of the Kuroshio and mesoscale eddies, reproduced by HYbrid Cooridnate Ocean Model (HYCOM) reanalysis simulation, are then investigated. The Kuroshio can enhance the zonal tilt of the thermocline and induce intruding flow in Luzon Strait. During the two selected segments, different thermocline slopes did not significantly change the internal tide generation, but the intruding flow may result in a 11% difference in the amplitude of generated M2 internal tides. During the two selected segments, mesoscale eddies appeared on the path of internal wave propagation, a cold eddy in one case and a warm one in the other. The eddies changed local stratification and induced additional background currents, thus affecting the nonlinear evolution of internal tides. In addition, wave front steering due to the mesoscale eddies dramatically affected the observed amplitude changes of the nonlinear internal waves: the edge, rather than the center, of the nonlinear internal wave front passed through the observational stations, resulting in reduced amplitude in the observations.