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Inter‐annual and inter‐decadal variability of Kuroshio heat transport in the East China Sea
Author(s) -
Zhang Qilong,
Hou Yijun,
Yan Tingzhuang
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
international journal of climatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.58
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-0088
pISSN - 0899-8418
DOI - 10.1002/joc.2295
Subject(s) - climatology , pacific decadal oscillation , environmental science , zonal and meridional , china sea , sea surface temperature , china , geology , oceanography , geography , archaeology
High inter‐annual and inter‐decadal variability was identified in the Kuroshio heat transport (KHT), primarily following 5.4‐, 22‐ and 2‐year cycles. The KHT experienced a sharp climatic jump around 1976. Inter‐decadal variability of the KHT was strongly associated with the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). A linear long‐term KHT upward trend was identified from 1956 to 2003, and the KHT increased 0.65 × 10 15 W in this period. The northeastward volume transport of the Kuroshio made a greater contribution to the KHT across the PN section than sea temperature did. Correlation and composite analyses showed that the meridional wind anomalies over the Kuroshio area and the southern portion of the South China Sea were responsible for the inter‐annual variability of the KHT in the East China Sea, i.e. the KHT increased (decreased) when the southerly (northerly) anomalies strengthened. Copyright © 2011 Royal Meteorological Society