Variations in Temperature and Salinity at Different Survey Periods in the Central and Eastern Beibu Gulf and Their Relationship with Circulation Patterns
2025
Zhijie Chen | Ziqing Wang | Zhi Zeng | Jinwen Liu
Utilizing data from the four survey voyages in the Beibu Gulf from 2021 to 2022, this study investigates the variations in water temperature and salinity at different survey periods across its central and eastern regions, analyzing their horizontal and vertical distribution patterns. The research further explores the relationship between these distributions and the gulf&rsquo:s circulation dynamics, elucidating their underlying formation mechanisms. The results indicate that the variations of water temperature and salinity are obviously different in different periods. Horizontally, spring and summer survey voyages exhibit a transition from high-temperature (max 31.90 °:C), low-salinity (min 29.54 PSU) waters in the north to low-temperature (min 21.10 °:C), high-salinity (max 34.19 PSU) waters in the south, while autumn and winter survey voyages show low-temperature (min 18.57 °:C), low-salinity (min 29.54 PSU) waters in the north shifting to medium-to-low-temperature (21.52&ndash:28.20 °:C), high-salinity (max 34.19 PSU) waters in the south. Vertically, the spring survey period displays distinct stratification with multiple thermoclines and haloclines in different regions. The summer survey period exhibits the strongest thermohaline gradients, with intensified thermoclines and haloclines accompanied by regional up- and downwelling. In the autumn survey period, vertical mixing homogenizes temperature and salinity, while the winter survey period shows near-complete mixing, effectively eliminating stratification. These patterns are driven by a combination of oceanic dynamics and regional climatic factors, including monsoon forcing, solar radiation, coastal runoff, horizontal circulation, and up-/downwelling processes.
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