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The coupling between sea surface temperature (SST) and sea surface wind speed over mesoscale eddies in the South China Sea (SCS) was studied using satellite measurements. Positive correlations between SST anomalies (SSTA) and wind speed anomalies were found over both cyclonic and anticyclonic eddies. In contrast to the open oceans, the spatial patterns of the coupling over mesoscale eddies in the SCS depend largely on the seasonal variations of the background SST gradient, wind speed, and wind directional steadiness. In summer, the maximum SSTA location coincides with the center of eddy-induced sea surface height anomalies. In winter, the eddy-induced SSTA show a clear dipole pattern. The spatial patterns of wind speed anomalies over eddies are similar to those of the SSTA in both seasons. Wind speed anomalies are linearly correlated with SSTA over anticyclonic and cyclonic eddies. The coupling coefficients between SSTA and wind speed anomalies in the SCS are comparable to those in the open oceans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: 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. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]