Open AccessSatellite Observation on the Exceptional Intrusion of Cold Water in the Taiwan Strait
Author(s) -
Yi Chang,
Kuo Tien Lee,
Ming-An Lee,
Kuo Wei Lan
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
terrestrial, atmospheric and oceanic sciences/terrestrial, atmospheric, and oceanic sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.35
H-Index - 46
eISSN - 2223-8964
pISSN - 1017-0839
DOI - 10.3319/tao.2008.08.07.01(oc
Subject(s) - intrusion , satellite , climatology , oceanography , geology , meteorology , geography , engineering , geochemistry , aerospace engineering
We used satellite-derived sea surface temperature (SST) data for the winters of 1996 - 2008 to examine the exceptional intrusion of China Coastal Current into the Taiwan Strait. The long term observation reveals that, in 1999 and 2000, the strong wind (> 6 m s-1) lasted for 12 and 16 days with a drop of 5.35 and 5.5 degree in SST, respectively. The satellite data also showed that the China Coastal Current intruded from the north of the Chang-Yuen Ridge into the waters surrounding the Peng-Hu Islands, with wind speeds of more than 6.7 m s-1 lasted for 30 days during the same period. The exceptional intrusion resulted in the minimum SST of 12.6 degree on 16 February 2008, 7.8 degree lower than the 12-year average of February (20.4 degree). The higher SST (> 18 degree) appeared after 21 February 2008 indicating the north ward withdrawal of the cold water. During the period of 15 - 21 February 2008, the China Coastal Current intruded to as far south as the water around Peng-Hu Islands