Sea Surface Wind and Rainfall Responses to Marine Heatwaves in the Northern South China Sea

Abstract

In this study, the properties and related anomalies in sea surface wind and rainfall associated with marine heatwaves (MHWs) in the northern South China Sea (SCS) were investigated. The intensity and frequency (duration) of MHWs are high (short) along the coast and decrease (increase) when moving toward the open sea. On the continental shelf of the northern SCS, the wind anomalies associated with MHWs move in a northeastward direction in seasons other than summer. In the summer, MHW-induced wind anomalies were found to be statistically insignificant. In response to MHWs, there is a notable negative rainfall anomaly observed during the spring and summer, whereas a positive anomaly is observed in the fall. In the winter, the MHW-induced rainfall anomalies were deemed insignificant. The presence of an El Niño event can delay the influence of MHWs on rainfall anomalies and attenuate the amplitude of MHW-induced sea surface wind anomalies.

Keywords

• northern South China Sea
• marine heatwaves
• wind anomaly
• rainfall anomaly