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Mesoscale eddies in the South China Sea observed with altimeter data
Author(s) -
Wang Guihua,
Su Jilan,
Chu Peter C.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2003gl018532
Subject(s) - altimeter , eddy , geology , mesoscale meteorology , anticyclone , climatology , sea surface height , anomaly (physics) , geodesy , oceanography , meteorology , geography , turbulence , physics , condensed matter physics
A composite time series (1993–2000) of sea surface height anomaly from several satellites is used to identify eddies in the South China Sea (SCS). The eddy lifetime, radius, strength, and straight‐line travel distance are estimated. Altogether 58 anticyclonic eddies and 28 cyclonic eddies are identified for this period. They are grouped into four geographical zones according to known eddy generation mechanisms, and their statistics are discussed accordingly. Our geographical classification is a useful first step in gaining an overview of their generation.