Anomalous oceanic characteristics in the South China Sea associated with the large-scale forcing during 2006–2009

Satellite observations of sea level anomalies (SLAs), sea surface temperature (SST) and surface winds are used to investigate the anomalous oceanic characteristics in the South China Sea (SCS) during the 2006–2009 ENSO events. Two different features appeared during the 2007–2009 La Niña events: The SST was colder than normal during winter of 2007–2008, which lasted until May 2008 and was mainly associated with the strong northerly wind anomalies; the SLAs from June 2008 to February 2009 were the highest for the period of 2006–2009, which is part of SLAs in the western tropical Pacific region during the 2007/2009 La Niña events. All the anomalous features during 2007–2009 were well captured by the interannual EOF modes of the SST and SLAs, indicating the impacts of large-scale atmospheric and oceanic forcing.

► The anomalous oceanic conditions in the SCS during 2006–2009 ENSO were investigated.
► Role of the anomalous conditions played in the interannual variability was studied.
► The possible mechanism for the historically highest sea levels was discussed.
► Two different SST anomaly patterns related with large-scale forcing were presented.