Coastal wave generation in the Bohai Bay and propagation along the Chinese coast

Abstract

The Bohai Bay and Yellow Sea experience sea surface height (SSH) changes of 20 cm and larger during wintertime northerly and southerly wind bursts that have a time scale of a few days. These large SSH changes give rise to coastal shelf waves that subsequently propagate southward along the Chinese coast. Two models provide observations of these waves. The first one is a statistical model based on four years of TOPEX/POSEIDON (T/P) altimeter SSH observations and Navy Operational Global Atmospheric Prediction System (NOGAPS) wind stress fields. The second model is a numerical model forced by the wind stress. The numerical model provides an objective interpretation of the wind stress response based on dynamical equations. The statistical model is based on observations with a linear response to the wind forcing and thus complements the numerical model. The observed waves closely resemble gravest mode shelf waves derived by analytical solutions.