Solitons northeast of Tung-Sha Island during the ASIAEX pilot studies | IEEE Journals & Magazine | IEEE Xplore

Solitons northeast of Tung-Sha Island during the ASIAEX pilot studies


Abstract:

In a recent study, satellite images have shown that internal solitons are active in the northern South China Sea (SCS). During the Asian Seas International Acoustic Exper...Show More

Abstract:

In a recent study, satellite images have shown that internal solitons are active in the northern South China Sea (SCS). During the Asian Seas International Acoustic Experiment (ASIAEX) pilot studies, current profiler and thermistor chain moorings were deployed in the spring of 1999 and 2000 to investigate internal solitons northeast of Tung-Sha Island on the continental slope of the northern SCS. Most of the observed internal solitons were first baroclinic mode depression waves. The largest horizontal current velocity, vertical displacement, and temperature variation induced by the internal solitons were around 240 cm/s, 106 m, and 11/spl deg/C, respectively, while the estimated nonlinear phase speed was primarily westward at 152 /spl plusmn/ 4 cm/s. The observed internal solitons could be categorized as four types. The first type is the incoming wave from deep water and can be described reasonably well with the KdV equation. The second and third types are in the transition zone before and close to the turning point (where the upper and lower layer depths are equal), respectively. These two types of solitons were generally near the wave-breaking stage. The fourth type of soliton is a second baroclinic mode and probably was locally generated. The time evolutions are asymmetric, especially at the middle depths. A temperature kink following the main pulse of the soliton is often seen. Higher order nonlinear and shallow topographic effects could be the primary cause for these features. The appearance/disappearance of internal solitons coincides mostly with spring/neap tide. The internal soliton is irregularly seen during the neap tide period and its amplitude is generally small. The time interval between two leading solitons is generally around 12 h. The first baroclinic mode of the semidiurnal tide has a larger amplitude than the diurnal tide and could redistribute its energy into the soliton.
Published in: IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering ( Volume: 29, Issue: 4, October 2004)
Page(s): 1182 - 1199
Date of Publication: 31 October 2004

ISSN Information:

Author image of Ying-Jang Yang
Department of Marine Science, Chinese Naval Academy, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Ying-Jang Yang was born in Taiwan, R.O.C., in 1967. He received the B.S. degree in oceanography from the National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan, in 1990, and the Ph.D. degree in physical oceanography from the National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, in 1996.
He currently is an Assistant Professor with the Department of Marine Science, Chinese Naval Academy, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. His research interests include in...Show More
Ying-Jang Yang was born in Taiwan, R.O.C., in 1967. He received the B.S. degree in oceanography from the National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan, in 1990, and the Ph.D. degree in physical oceanography from the National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, in 1996.
He currently is an Assistant Professor with the Department of Marine Science, Chinese Naval Academy, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. His research interests include in...View more
Author image of Tswen Yung Tang
Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
Tswen Yung Tang was born in Taiwan, R.O.C., in 1952. He received the M.S. degree in physical oceanography from National Taiwan University, Taipei, in 1975, and the Ph.D. degree in physical oceanography from North Carolina State University, Raleigh, in 1984.
In August 1993, he was appointed Professor of Physical Oceanography at the Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University. He was appointed Program Manager of th...Show More
Tswen Yung Tang was born in Taiwan, R.O.C., in 1952. He received the M.S. degree in physical oceanography from National Taiwan University, Taipei, in 1975, and the Ph.D. degree in physical oceanography from North Carolina State University, Raleigh, in 1984.
In August 1993, he was appointed Professor of Physical Oceanography at the Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University. He was appointed Program Manager of th...View more
Author image of M.H. Chang
Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
M. H. Chang was born in Taiwan, R.O.C., in 1975. He received the B.S. degree in oceanography from National Taiwan Ocean University in 2001 and the M.S. degree in physical oceanography from National Taiwan University, Taipei, in 2003.
He is currently a Research Assistant in the Ocean Data Bank, National Center for Ocean Research, Taiwan. He works on hydrographic data management and technical development. His current interes...Show More
M. H. Chang was born in Taiwan, R.O.C., in 1975. He received the B.S. degree in oceanography from National Taiwan Ocean University in 2001 and the M.S. degree in physical oceanography from National Taiwan University, Taipei, in 2003.
He is currently a Research Assistant in the Ocean Data Bank, National Center for Ocean Research, Taiwan. He works on hydrographic data management and technical development. His current interes...View more
Author image of A.K. Liu
Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA, Greenbelt, MD, USA
Antony K. Liu received the B.Sc. degree from National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C., in 1970, specializing in applied mathematics, and the Ph.D. degree in mechanics from the Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, in 1976.
Before he joined the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, in 1986, he was with Dynamics Technology, Inc., Torrance, CA, as a Research Scientist, Group Manager, and later S...Show More
Antony K. Liu received the B.Sc. degree from National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C., in 1970, specializing in applied mathematics, and the Ph.D. degree in mechanics from the Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, in 1976.
Before he joined the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, in 1986, he was with Dynamics Technology, Inc., Torrance, CA, as a Research Scientist, Group Manager, and later S...View more
Author image of Ming-Kuang Hsu
Kuang Wu Institute of Technology Beitou, Taipei, Taiwan
Ming-Kuang Hsu received the B.S. and M.S. degrees in hydraulic and ocean engineering from the National Cheng-Kuang University, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C., in 1973 and 1975, respectively, and the Ph.D. degree in ocean engineering from the Oregon State University, Corvallis, in 1986.
He was as an Associate Professor and Professor in the Department of Oceanography, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, (1991–2004), where h...Show More
Ming-Kuang Hsu received the B.S. and M.S. degrees in hydraulic and ocean engineering from the National Cheng-Kuang University, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C., in 1973 and 1975, respectively, and the Ph.D. degree in ocean engineering from the Oregon State University, Corvallis, in 1986.
He was as an Associate Professor and Professor in the Department of Oceanography, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, (1991–2004), where h...View more
Author image of S.R. Ramp
Department of Oceanography, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterrey, CA, USA
Steven R. Ramp received the M.S. degree in physical oceanography from the University of Washington, Seattle, in 1976, and the Ph.D. degree in physical oceanography from the University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, in 1986.
Since 1986, he has been with the U.S. Navy as a Professor at the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA, and a Program Officer at the Office of Naval Research, Arlington, VA. Prior to this, he spent ti...Show More
Steven R. Ramp received the M.S. degree in physical oceanography from the University of Washington, Seattle, in 1976, and the Ph.D. degree in physical oceanography from the University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, in 1986.
Since 1986, he has been with the U.S. Navy as a Professor at the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA, and a Program Officer at the Office of Naval Research, Arlington, VA. Prior to this, he spent ti...View more

I. Introduction

AN INTERNAL solitary wave is a localized internal gravity wave that occurs in a stratified fluid. It induces strong vertical motion, vertical shear of horizontal velocity, density perturbations, and probably nutrient pumping [1]. It also impacts the stability of oil platforms [2], the security of submarine navigation [3], and underwater acoustic propagation [4]–[7]. In 1834, Russell [8], [9] made the first observation of solitary waves. Boussinseq [10] and Korteweg and deVries [11] gave a theoretical description, hereafter referred to as KdV, which represented the extent of physical understanding of solitary waves up to that time. The solitary wave has a particle-like behavior. Zabusky and Kruskal [12] coined the word “soliton” to describe it.

Author image of Ying-Jang Yang
Department of Marine Science, Chinese Naval Academy, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Ying-Jang Yang was born in Taiwan, R.O.C., in 1967. He received the B.S. degree in oceanography from the National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan, in 1990, and the Ph.D. degree in physical oceanography from the National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, in 1996.
He currently is an Assistant Professor with the Department of Marine Science, Chinese Naval Academy, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. His research interests include internal tides and waves, current variation around Taiwan, and equatorial dynamics.
Dr. Yang is a Member of the American Geophysical Union.
Ying-Jang Yang was born in Taiwan, R.O.C., in 1967. He received the B.S. degree in oceanography from the National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan, in 1990, and the Ph.D. degree in physical oceanography from the National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, in 1996.
He currently is an Assistant Professor with the Department of Marine Science, Chinese Naval Academy, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. His research interests include internal tides and waves, current variation around Taiwan, and equatorial dynamics.
Dr. Yang is a Member of the American Geophysical Union.View more
Author image of Tswen Yung Tang
Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
Tswen Yung Tang was born in Taiwan, R.O.C., in 1952. He received the M.S. degree in physical oceanography from National Taiwan University, Taipei, in 1975, and the Ph.D. degree in physical oceanography from North Carolina State University, Raleigh, in 1984.
In August 1993, he was appointed Professor of Physical Oceanography at the Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University. He was appointed Program Manager of the Division of Marine Science, National Science Council, Taiwan, in January 2004. His research interests include equatorial dynamics, variability of upstream of Kuroshio, Kuroshio intrusion at Luzon Strait, circulation in the South China Sea, and internal waves.
Tswen Yung Tang was born in Taiwan, R.O.C., in 1952. He received the M.S. degree in physical oceanography from National Taiwan University, Taipei, in 1975, and the Ph.D. degree in physical oceanography from North Carolina State University, Raleigh, in 1984.
In August 1993, he was appointed Professor of Physical Oceanography at the Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University. He was appointed Program Manager of the Division of Marine Science, National Science Council, Taiwan, in January 2004. His research interests include equatorial dynamics, variability of upstream of Kuroshio, Kuroshio intrusion at Luzon Strait, circulation in the South China Sea, and internal waves.View more
Author image of M.H. Chang
Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
M. H. Chang was born in Taiwan, R.O.C., in 1975. He received the B.S. degree in oceanography from National Taiwan Ocean University in 2001 and the M.S. degree in physical oceanography from National Taiwan University, Taipei, in 2003.
He is currently a Research Assistant in the Ocean Data Bank, National Center for Ocean Research, Taiwan. He works on hydrographic data management and technical development. His current interests include the development and quality control of hydrographic data and calibration methods for the shipboard Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP).
M. H. Chang was born in Taiwan, R.O.C., in 1975. He received the B.S. degree in oceanography from National Taiwan Ocean University in 2001 and the M.S. degree in physical oceanography from National Taiwan University, Taipei, in 2003.
He is currently a Research Assistant in the Ocean Data Bank, National Center for Ocean Research, Taiwan. He works on hydrographic data management and technical development. His current interests include the development and quality control of hydrographic data and calibration methods for the shipboard Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP).View more
Author image of A.K. Liu
Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA, Greenbelt, MD, USA
Antony K. Liu received the B.Sc. degree from National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C., in 1970, specializing in applied mathematics, and the Ph.D. degree in mechanics from the Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, in 1976.
Before he joined the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, in 1986, he was with Dynamics Technology, Inc., Torrance, CA, as a Research Scientist, Group Manager, and later Section Head of Ocean Technology. He was promoted to Senior Scientist in 1992 at the Oceans and Ice Branch, Laboratory for Hydrospheric Processes, NASA/GSFC. Currently, he is in a three-year assignment detailed from NASA to the Office of Naval Research (ONR) Global-Asia, Tokyo, Japan. He has been a Principal Investigator (PI) of many research programs for the European Space Agency, the Japan Space Agency (JAXA), the Canadian Space Agency, and NASA. He also is a PI on ONR's Surface Wave Dynamics Experiment (SWADE) and Asian Seas International Acoustics Experiment (ASIAEX) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA's) CoastWatch projects. His research interests involve air–sea–ice interaction, satellite image processing, coastal monitoring, and nonlinear internal wave study.
Antony K. Liu received the B.Sc. degree from National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C., in 1970, specializing in applied mathematics, and the Ph.D. degree in mechanics from the Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, in 1976.
Before he joined the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, in 1986, he was with Dynamics Technology, Inc., Torrance, CA, as a Research Scientist, Group Manager, and later Section Head of Ocean Technology. He was promoted to Senior Scientist in 1992 at the Oceans and Ice Branch, Laboratory for Hydrospheric Processes, NASA/GSFC. Currently, he is in a three-year assignment detailed from NASA to the Office of Naval Research (ONR) Global-Asia, Tokyo, Japan. He has been a Principal Investigator (PI) of many research programs for the European Space Agency, the Japan Space Agency (JAXA), the Canadian Space Agency, and NASA. He also is a PI on ONR's Surface Wave Dynamics Experiment (SWADE) and Asian Seas International Acoustics Experiment (ASIAEX) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA's) CoastWatch projects. His research interests involve air–sea–ice interaction, satellite image processing, coastal monitoring, and nonlinear internal wave study.View more
Author image of Ming-Kuang Hsu
Kuang Wu Institute of Technology Beitou, Taipei, Taiwan
Ming-Kuang Hsu received the B.S. and M.S. degrees in hydraulic and ocean engineering from the National Cheng-Kuang University, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C., in 1973 and 1975, respectively, and the Ph.D. degree in ocean engineering from the Oregon State University, Corvallis, in 1986.
He was as an Associate Professor and Professor in the Department of Oceanography, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, (1991–2004), where he worked on using SAR images and field experiments to study the mesoscale and small-scale ocean features near Taiwan. He currently is a Professor with Kung Wu Institute of Technology, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C., and is involved in the study of the generation and evolution of nonlinear internal waves in the South China Sea using in situ measurements and satellite data.
Ming-Kuang Hsu received the B.S. and M.S. degrees in hydraulic and ocean engineering from the National Cheng-Kuang University, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C., in 1973 and 1975, respectively, and the Ph.D. degree in ocean engineering from the Oregon State University, Corvallis, in 1986.
He was as an Associate Professor and Professor in the Department of Oceanography, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, (1991–2004), where he worked on using SAR images and field experiments to study the mesoscale and small-scale ocean features near Taiwan. He currently is a Professor with Kung Wu Institute of Technology, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C., and is involved in the study of the generation and evolution of nonlinear internal waves in the South China Sea using in situ measurements and satellite data.View more
Author image of S.R. Ramp
Department of Oceanography, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterrey, CA, USA
Steven R. Ramp received the M.S. degree in physical oceanography from the University of Washington, Seattle, in 1976, and the Ph.D. degree in physical oceanography from the University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, in 1986.
Since 1986, he has been with the U.S. Navy as a Professor at the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA, and a Program Officer at the Office of Naval Research, Arlington, VA. Prior to this, he spent time at the National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. His research specialty is ocean observations from both ships and oceanographic moorings, and he has organized major expeditions to the Japan Sea, East China Sea, and South China Sea. He was the International Scientific Coordinator for the Asian Seas International Acoustics Experiment (ASIAEX).
Steven R. Ramp received the M.S. degree in physical oceanography from the University of Washington, Seattle, in 1976, and the Ph.D. degree in physical oceanography from the University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, in 1986.
Since 1986, he has been with the U.S. Navy as a Professor at the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA, and a Program Officer at the Office of Naval Research, Arlington, VA. Prior to this, he spent time at the National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA. His research specialty is ocean observations from both ships and oceanographic moorings, and he has organized major expeditions to the Japan Sea, East China Sea, and South China Sea. He was the International Scientific Coordinator for the Asian Seas International Acoustics Experiment (ASIAEX).View more

References

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