A Modeling Study on the Transport Reversal at Taiwan Strait


D.S. Ko, R.H. Preller, G.A. Jacobs

Naval Research Laboratory


T.Y. Tang, S.F. Lin

National Taiwan University



The transport at Taiwan Strait is in general positive from South China Sea to East China Sea even during the winter when the northern monsoon prevails. During October and November, 1999 currents at the Taiwan Strait were measured with bottom mounted ADCP at four locations. The measurements show strong transport reversals at bi-weekly periods.

Based on the analysis of the nowcast fields from NPACNFS (North Pacific Ocean Nowcast/Forecast System which is based on POM) and the wind stress we found that the observed strong periodic transport reversals during October and November, 1999 might be induced by a combination of local wind and the coastal trapped wave generated by the wintertime wind bursts at Yellow Sea. The coastally trapped waves were further enhanced by the alongshore wind propagating at about the same speed as waves at East China Sea.

Applying a hydrodynamic version of POM and based on the analytic solutions, the individual effect of local wind and the remotely forced coastal trapped wave on the transport reversals were identified.