Long term warming trend of the South China Sea surface temperature

Abstract

The long term warming trend in the South China Sea surface temperature from 1950 to 2008 is investigated using the Hadley Centre Global Sea Ice and Sea Surface Temperature (HAdISST). In general SST has been increased since 1950. The warming tendency was greater in winter than in summer. Spatially during winter warming rate was greater in the deep basin and during summer over the southeastern SCS. In summer the net surface heat flux was reduced and the warming was due to changes in oceanic processes. The weakening of southwesterly monsoon reduces upwelling east of Vietnam to warm the surface. In winter the net heat flux into the sea increases, but the heat inputwas not great enough to explain the warming tendency. Furthermore the spatial pattern of the heat flux was different from that of the warming. The heat flux is increased over the coastal area where warming is small tendency was greater in winter than in summer. Spatially during winter warming rate was greater in the deep basin and during summer over the southeastern SCS. In summer the net surface heat flux was reduced and the warming was due to changes in oceanic processes. The weakening of southwesterly monsoon reduces upwelling east of Vietnam to warm the surface. In winter the net heat flux into the sea increases, but the heat inputwas not great enough to explain the warming tendency. Furthermore the spatial pattern of the heat flux was different from that of the warming. The heat flux is increased over the coastal area where warming is small