The accuracy of the initial condition of a global ocean forecasting system and its prediction skill was evaluated against in situ temperature, salinity and satellite salinity observations during the winter of 2015 and the summer of 2016 for the East China Sea. The ocean forecasting system demonstrates better skill for the Yangtze River estuary and the East China Sea during winter time than during summer time. During winter time, the root-mean-square error (RMSE) of the initial fields of the system for salinity is 1.90 psu, and the correlation is 0.56. The model has a salty bias of 0.29 psu. The salinity RMSE reduces with increasing distance from the coast. In contrast, the RMSE for temperature is 0.76°C, and the correlation is as high as 0.95. There is no bias between model temperature and observation. During summer time, the accuracy and forecast skill of the global ocean forecasting system are very poor. The RMSE for salinity is 3.14 psu, and the correlation is 0.28. The model has a salty bias of 0.95 psu. The RMSE for temperature is 7.22°C, and the model has a warm bias as high as 5.52°C.
Part of the book: Coastal Environment, Disaster, and Infrastructure
Using sea surface salinity (SSS) from the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission from September 2015 to August 2016, the spatial distribution and seasonal variation in SSS in the Chinese coastal seas were investigated. First, in situ salinity observation over Chinese East Sea was used to validate SMAP observation. Then, the SSS signature of the Yangtze River fresh water was analyzed using SMAP data and the river discharge data. The SSS around the Yangtze River estuary in the Chinese East Sea, the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea is significantly lower than that of the open ocean. The SSS of Chinese coastal seas shows significant seasonal variation, and the seasonal variation in the adjacent waters of the Yangtze River estuary is the most obvious, followed by that of the Pearl River estuary. The minimum value of SSS appears in summer while maximum in winter. The root-mean-squared difference of daily SSS between SMAP observation and in situ observation is around 3 psu in both summer and winter, which is much lower than the annual range of SSS variation. The path of fresh water from SMAP and in situ observation is consistent during summer time.
Part of the book: Coastal Environment, Disaster, and Infrastructure