REVIEW OF CURRENT CIRCULATION STUDIES IN THE SOUTHERN SOUTH CHINA SEA

Abstract

Studies of current circulations research progress in the region of the southern South China Sea (SCS) are reviewed. Scientifc research exploration in the area is relatively low compared to other areas in the SCS, thus the understanding of the current system and its dynamics are lacking. In general, SCS basins circulation is influenced by monsoon seasons which provide cyclonic circulation in winter (northeast monsoon) and anti-cyclonic circulation in summer (southwest monsoon). Near Peninsular Malaysia, the alongshore current which is part of the bigger circulation flow southward/ northward during winter/summer, respectively. Recently, numerical modeling studies are able to provide more insight of the dynamics by illustrating the influence of bathymetry on circulation and the formation of subsurface eddys in the middle of the region. Furthermore, the current circulation pattern changes throughout monsoon seasons and transition monsoon period were elaborated. This review gathers properties and current dynamics from feld observation and numerical models research and summarized it in terms of the SCS seasonal circulation and interaction between the main basins and the southern region of Peninsular Malaysia.