Response of the South China Sea to forcing by Tropical Cyclone Ernie (1996)
By:  Joseph M. Veneziano
Publisher: Naval Postgraduate School; Available from National Technical Information Service
Published: 1998
Place of publication: Monterey, Calif; Springfield, Va
Language: eng
Number of pages: 170
Description: The South China Sea (SCS) response to forcing by Tropical Cyclone Ernie (1996) was studied numerically      using the Princeton Ocean Model (POM) with 20 km horizontal resolution and 23 sigma levels conforming to a      realistic bottom topography. A fourteen day experiment was conducted using a wind model that allowed for      temporal variations of its translational speed, size and intensity. Restoring type salt and heat fluxes were used      along with seasonal inflow/outflow at the open boundaries. The POM adequately simulated ocean responses to      tropical cyclone forcing. Near-surface ocean responses simulated by the POM included strong asymmetrical      divergent currents with near-inertial oscillations, significant sea surface temperature cooling, biased to the right      of the storm track, and sea surface depressions in the wake of the storm. Subsurface responses included      intense upwelling and cooling at the base of the mixed layer to the right of the storm track. Several unique      features, caused by coastal interactions with storm forcing, were also simulated by the model. Along the coast      of Luzon a sub-surface alongshore jet was formed, a warm anomaly off the northern tip of Luzon was      significantly enhanced by surface layer convergence and storm surges simulated along the coasts of Luzon and      Vietnam.
Notes: "March 1998."

Thesis advisor(s): Peter C. Chu, Michael J. Carron.

Thesis (M.S. in Physical Oceanography and Meteorology) Naval Postgraduate School, March 1998.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 161-165).

Approved for public release; distribution unlimited.

Also available online.

Mode of access: World Wide Web.

System requirements:Adobe Acrobat reader.

US Navy (USN) author.

dk/dk cc:9116 8/18/98.