Title :
Effect of Cylindrically Shaped Atoll on Westward-Propagating Anticyclonic Eddy—A Case Study
Author :
Chang, Yu-Chia ; Chen, Guan-Yu ; Tseng, Ruo-Shan ; Chu, Peter C.
Author_Institution :
Asia-Pacific Ocean Res. Center, Nat. Sun Yat-Sen Univ., Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Abstract :
Mesoscale anticyclonic eddies occasionally propagate westward across the Dongsha atoll situated on the continental slope in the northern South China Sea (SCS). Satellite observations of this phenomenon are used to identify eddy weakening and deforming. Stronger anticyclonic eddies are weakening within a distance of 30-120 km from the atoll. A weaker anticyclone with an eddy diameter of 120 km, a sea-level slope of 8.3 × 10-8, a Reynolds number of 17, and a slow moving speed (2.5 km/d) in the SCS can be split into two smaller eddies.
Keywords :
ocean waves; oceanographic regions; remote sensing; Dongsha atoll; Reynolds number; continental slope; cylindrically shaped atoll; eddy diameter; mesoscale anticyclonic eddies; northern South China Sea; satellite observations; weaker anticyclone; westward-propagating anticyclonic eddy; Altimetry; Force; Satellites; Sea measurements; Sea surface; Viscosity; Deformation; Dongsha atoll; eddy; split;
Journal_Title :
Geoscience and Remote Sensing Letters, IEEE
DOI :
10.1109/LGRS.2011.2159298
