The Interaction between Atmospheric and Oceanic Dynamics at Mesoscale and Small Scale

A special issue of Journal of Marine Science and Engineering (ISSN 2077-1312). This special issue belongs to the section "Ocean and Global Climate".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 April 2025) | Viewed by 6904

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Guest Editor
College of Meteorology and Oceanography, National University of Defense Technology, Changsha 410073, China
Interests: wave; tropical cyclone; ocean modelling
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The exchange of momentum and heat between ocean dynamic processes at meso- and small scales is an interesting issue for the oceanography community. Against the background of climate change, the air–sea interaction plays an important role in economic activities. Moreover, with the development of artificial intelligence (AI), the promotion of AI-based oceanography could deepen the understanding of multiscale air–sea interactions. This Special Issue will present relevant research on the interaction between atmospheric and oceanic dynamics at meso- and small scales utilizing traditional techniques, i.e., remote sensing and numerical models. Moreover, it is worthwhile to research these dynamics using AI.

We encourage the submission of high-quality papers directly related to the aspects listed below. Novel techniques of study are encouraged.

  • Topics including oceanic eddy, wind, waves, etc.;
  • Applications using remote-sensed products;
  • Numerical modelling;
  • Climate change;
  • Artificial intelligence.

Prof. Dr. Weizeng Shao
Dr. Jian Shi
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • atmospheric dynamics
  • oceanic dynamics
  • air-sea interaction
  • remote sensing
  • numeric model
  • fluid computation
  • artificial intelligence
  • climate change
  • polar region

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

23 pages, 7939 KiB  
Article
Wind and Wave Climatic Characteristics and Extreme Parameters in the Bohai Sea
by Huayan Zhang, Zhifeng Wang and Xin Ma
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13(5), 826; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13050826 - 22 Apr 2025
Viewed by 234
Abstract
The Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model is employed to conduct numerical simulations and simulated acquisition of a 30-year (1993–2022) wind field dataset for the Bohai Sea. The simulated WRF wind field is subsequently used to drive the Simulating Waves Nearshore (SWAN) model, [...] Read more.
The Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model is employed to conduct numerical simulations and simulated acquisition of a 30-year (1993–2022) wind field dataset for the Bohai Sea. The simulated WRF wind field is subsequently used to drive the Simulating Waves Nearshore (SWAN) model, producing a corresponding wave field dataset for the same period in the Bohai Sea. Using these datasets, we analyzed the extreme value distributions of wind speed and significant wave height in the study area. The results reveal that both the annual mean wind speed and significant wave height exhibit a ring-like spatial pattern. The highest values are concentrated in the southern Liaodong Bay to the central Bohai Sea region, with a gradual radial decrease toward the periphery. Specifically, values decline from the center outward, from southeast to northwest, and from offshore to nearshore regions. The Gumbel extreme value distribution is applied to estimate 100-year return period extremes, yielding maximum wind speeds of 37 m/s and significant wave heights of 6 m in offshore areas. In nearshore regions, the 100-year return period wind speeds range between 20–25 m/s, while significant wave heights vary from 2 to 3 m. This study provides important scientific basis and decision-making reference for the design of offshore extreme conditions. Full article
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21 pages, 7877 KiB  
Article
Variation of Wyrtki Jets Influenced by Indo-Pacific Ocean–Atmosphere Interactions
by Qingfeng Feng, Jiajie Zhou, Guoqing Han and Juncheng Xie
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13(4), 691; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13040691 - 29 Mar 2025
Viewed by 285
Abstract
As important components of the equatorial current system in the Indian Ocean, Wyrtki jets (WJs) play a significant role in distributing heat and matter in the East and West Indian Oceans. By dividing the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) [...] Read more.
As important components of the equatorial current system in the Indian Ocean, Wyrtki jets (WJs) play a significant role in distributing heat and matter in the East and West Indian Oceans. By dividing the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) events into several phases, we find that the spring branch exhibits positive (negative) anomalies during the El Niño (La Niña) decaying phase, while the fall branch exhibits negative (positive) anomalies during the El Niño (La Niña) developing phase. The spring and fall branches are characterized by negative (positive) anomalies under the influence of positive (negative) dipole events, and these anomalies are particularly pronounced during fall. This study systematically analyzes the characteristics of WJs under the interactions between the Indo-Pacific ocean and the atmosphere, based on the phase-locking characteristics of ENSO, and reveals the regulatory mechanisms underlying their different response patterns. Full article
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16 pages, 4406 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Air–Sea Flux Parameterization Methods on Simulating Storm Surges and Ocean Surface Currents
by Li Cai, Bin Wang, Wenqian Wang and Xingru Feng
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13(3), 541; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13030541 - 12 Mar 2025
Viewed by 448
Abstract
As the primary driver of energy transfer between atmospheric and oceanic systems, the air–sea momentum flux fundamentally governs coupled model dynamics through its regulation of wind stress partitioning. Given the complexity of the physical processes involved, simplified representations of these interactions are widely [...] Read more.
As the primary driver of energy transfer between atmospheric and oceanic systems, the air–sea momentum flux fundamentally governs coupled model dynamics through its regulation of wind stress partitioning. Given the complexity of the physical processes involved, simplified representations of these interactions are widely adopted to balance computational efficiency and physical fidelity. This systematic evaluation of five wind stress parameterizations reveals scheme-dependent variability in momentum partitioning efficiency, particularly under typhoon conditions. Our results quantify how the wind stress drag coefficient’s formulation alters atmosphere–ocean feedback, with wave-state aware schemes exhibiting superior surge prediction accuracy compared to wind-speed-dependent approaches. Specifically, a larger wind stress drag coefficient leads to increased atmospheric bottom stress and sea surface stress, resulting in weaker winds and larger sea surface currents and storm surges. These findings provide actionable guidelines into the performance and sensitivity of various air–sea coupled models and offer useful suggestions for improving operational marine forecasting systems. Full article
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26 pages, 9838 KiB  
Article
Impact of Silted Coastal Port Engineering Construction on Marine Dynamic Environment: A Case Study of Binhai Port
by Xiaolong Deng, Zhifeng Wang and Xin Ma
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13(3), 494; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13030494 - 2 Mar 2025
Viewed by 754
Abstract
Siltation around the harbour entrance poses significant challenges to the navigational safety and operational stability of coastal ports. Previous research has predominantly focused on sedimentation mechanisms in sandy coastal environments, while studies on silt-muddy coasts remain scarce. This paper investigates the causes of [...] Read more.
Siltation around the harbour entrance poses significant challenges to the navigational safety and operational stability of coastal ports. Previous research has predominantly focused on sedimentation mechanisms in sandy coastal environments, while studies on silt-muddy coasts remain scarce. This paper investigates the causes of siltation around the entrance of Binhai Port in Jiangsu Province, China, utilising field observation data and a two-dimensional tidal current numerical model, with emphasis on hydrodynamic variations and sediment dynamics. Observations reveal that tidal currents induce sediment deposition in the outer harbour entrance area, whereas pronounced scouring occurs near breakwater heads. During extreme weather events, such as Typhoons Lekima (2019) and Muifa (2022), combined wind–wave interactions markedly intensified sediment transport and accumulation, particularly amplifying siltation at the entrance, with deposition thicknesses reaching 0.5 m and 1.0 m, respectively. The study elucidates erosion–deposition patterns under combined tidal, wave, and wind forces, identifying two critical mechanisms: (1) net sediment transport directionality driven by tidal asymmetry, and (2) a lagged dynamic sedimentary response during sediment migration. Notably, the entrance zone, functioning as a critical conduit for water– sediment exchange, exhibits the highest siltation levels, forming a key bottleneck for navigational capacity. The insights gleaned from this study are instrumental in understanding the morphodynamic processes triggered by artificial structures in silt-muddy coastal systems, thereby providing a valuable reference point for the sustainable planning and management of ports. Full article
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20 pages, 6660 KiB  
Article
Joint Probability Distribution of Wind–Wave Actions Based on Vine Copula Function
by Yongtuo Wu, Yudong Feng, Yuliang Zhao and Saiyu Yu
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13(3), 396; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13030396 - 20 Feb 2025
Viewed by 503
Abstract
During its service life, a deep-sea floating structure is likely to encounter extreme marine disasters. The combined action of wind and wave loads poses a threat to its structural safety. In this study, elliptical copula, Archimedean copula, and vine copula models are employed [...] Read more.
During its service life, a deep-sea floating structure is likely to encounter extreme marine disasters. The combined action of wind and wave loads poses a threat to its structural safety. In this study, elliptical copula, Archimedean copula, and vine copula models are employed to depict the intricate dependence structure between wind and waves in a specific sea area of the Shandong Peninsula. Moreover, hourly significant wave height, spectral peak period, and 10 m average wind speed hindcast data from 2004 to 2023 are utilized to explore the joint distribution of multidimensional parameters and environmental design values. The results indicate the following: (1) There exists a significant correlation between wind speed and wave parameters. Among them, the C-vine copula model represents the optimal trivariate joint distribution, followed by the Gaussian copula, while the Frank copula exhibits the poorest fit. (2) Compared with the high-dimensional symmetric copula models, the vine copula model has distinct advantages in describing the dependence structure among several variables. The wave height and period demonstrate upper tail dependence characteristics and follow the Gumbel copula distribution. The optimal joint distribution of wave height and wind speed is the t copula distribution. (3) The identification of extreme environmental parameters based on the joint probability distribution derived from environmental contour lines is more in line with the actual sea conditions. Compared with the design values of independent variables with target return periods, it can significantly reduce engineering costs. In conclusion, the vine copula model can accurately identify the complex dependency characteristics among marine variables, offering scientific support for the reliability-based design of floating structures. Full article
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23 pages, 9310 KiB  
Article
Interannual Characteristics of Tropical Cyclones in Northwestern Pacific Region in Context of Warm Pool and Monsoon Troughs
by Junru Guo, Shichao Wang, Xin He, Jun Song, Yanzhao Fu and Yu Cai
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13(2), 334; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13020334 - 12 Feb 2025
Viewed by 674
Abstract
This study utilizes the typhoon path ensemble dataset from the Marine Science Big Data Center, surface temperature data from NOAA’s COBE Sea Surface Temperature dataset, and wind field data from the NCEP/DOE Reanalysis II dataset. It employs analytical techniques such as wavelet analysis, [...] Read more.
This study utilizes the typhoon path ensemble dataset from the Marine Science Big Data Center, surface temperature data from NOAA’s COBE Sea Surface Temperature dataset, and wind field data from the NCEP/DOE Reanalysis II dataset. It employs analytical techniques such as wavelet analysis, correlation analysis, and the Mann–Kendall test to investigate the temporal and spatial variations in tropical cyclones in the Northwest Pacific, focusing on aspects such as frequency, genesis regions, and Accumulated Cyclone Energy. The research examines the influence of environmental factors, including warm pool thermal conditions and monsoon troughs, on the behavior of tropical cyclones. Findings indicate that over the past 39 years, there has been an upward trend in the frequency of tropical cyclones, whereas ACE has exhibited a slight downward trend. The results of the M-K test suggest that following a period of rapid increase, cyclone frequency experienced a significant shift in 1996, subsequently displaying a downward trend. Notably, the frequency of cyclones aligns with mutation points corresponding to warm pool thermal conditions and the Monsoon Trough Index. Wavelet analysis reveals that cyclone frequency, ACE, warm pool thermal conditions, and MTI exhibit similar small scale periodic variations. The observed differences in the genesis regions of tropical cyclones are attributed to fluctuations in warm pool thermal conditions. Specifically, years characterized by cooler warm pool conditions correspond with a stronger MTI, while warmer conditions are associated with a weaker MTI. The genesis regions of cyclones predominantly lie within the monsoon trough, where environmental conditions favorable for cyclone development are intensified during years of cooler warm pool conditions, resulting in heightened convective activity. Full article
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23 pages, 12188 KiB  
Article
Tidal Current with Sediment Transport Analysis and Wind Turbine Foundation Pile Scour Trend Studies on the Central Bohai Sea
by Xingtang Hu, Zhifeng Wang and Xin Ma
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13(1), 180; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13010180 - 20 Jan 2025
Viewed by 849
Abstract
This study addresses the local scour problem of monopile foundations in the central Bohai Sea. This study integrates numerical simulations with experimental validation to conduct an in-depth analysis of the tidal current background, sediment transport, sediment sources, and scour characteristics over the past [...] Read more.
This study addresses the local scour problem of monopile foundations in the central Bohai Sea. This study integrates numerical simulations with experimental validation to conduct an in-depth analysis of the tidal current background, sediment transport, sediment sources, and scour characteristics over the past two decades. The analysis of ocean currents and sediment dynamics revealed that the monthly average tidal current speed in the majority of the study region is below 0.6 m·s−1, with annual seabed erosion and accretion changes within 0.02 m, exhibiting minimal variation. The annual erosion and accretion changes in the wind farm areas are less than 0.01 m. The analysis of local scour around monopile foundations indicates that approximately 80% of the scour occurs during the initial phase. A comparative analysis of collar protection effectiveness indicates that the collar can effectively reduce scour depth by 50%, thereby demonstrating significant protective effects. However, the prevailing trend of scouring remains unaltered, indicating that collar protection has inherent limitations in regulating early-stage scouring. The findings of this study provide a theoretical basis for the design and protection of monopile foundations in the central Bohai Sea and offer a valuable reference point for the scour protection of wind turbine foundations in similar regions. Full article
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21 pages, 18678 KiB  
Article
Response of Subsurface Chlorophyll Maximum Depth to Evolution of Mesoscale Eddies in Kuroshio–Oyashio Confluence Region
by Ziwei Chuang, Chunling Zhang, Jiahui Fan and Huangxin Yang
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13(1), 24; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13010024 - 28 Dec 2024
Viewed by 652
Abstract
The subsurface chlorophyll maximum depth (SCMD) is an indicator of the spatial activity of marine organisms and changes in the ecological environment. Ubiquitous mesoscale eddies are among the important factors regulating the Kuroshio–Oyashio confluence region. In this study, we use satellite altimeter observations [...] Read more.
The subsurface chlorophyll maximum depth (SCMD) is an indicator of the spatial activity of marine organisms and changes in the ecological environment. Ubiquitous mesoscale eddies are among the important factors regulating the Kuroshio–Oyashio confluence region. In this study, we use satellite altimeter observations and high-resolution reanalysis data to explore seasonal variations in the SCMD and its responses to different types of eddies based on methods of composite averaging and normalization. The results show that variations in the SCMD induced by the evolution of the eddies were prominent in the summer and autumn. The monopoles of the SCMD exhibited internally shallow and externally deep features in the cyclonic eddies (CEs), while the contrary trend was observed in the anticyclonic eddies (ACEs). The SCMD was positively correlated with the intensity of the eddies and sea surface temperature, and was negatively correlated with the depth of the mixed layer. These correlations were more pronounced in the CEs (summer) and ACEs (autumn). Both the CEs and ACEs prompted the westward transport of chlorophyll-a (Chl-A), where ACEs transported it over a longer distance than the CEs. Full article
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19 pages, 10053 KiB  
Article
Seasonal Variability and Underlying Dynamical Processes of Sea Surface Temperature Fronts in Zhoushan and Its Adjacent Seas
by Hui Chen, Qiyan Ji, Qiong Wu, Tengteng Peng, Yuting Wang and Ziyin Meng
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2024, 12(12), 2335; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse12122335 - 19 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 607
Abstract
The oceanic fronts play an important role in marine ecosystems and fisheries. This study investigates the seasonal variability of sea surface temperature (SST) fronts in Zhoushan and its adjacent seas for the period 1982–2021. The influences of various underlying dynamic processes on the [...] Read more.
The oceanic fronts play an important role in marine ecosystems and fisheries. This study investigates the seasonal variability of sea surface temperature (SST) fronts in Zhoushan and its adjacent seas for the period 1982–2021. The influences of various underlying dynamic processes on the fronts are also discussed. The horizontal gradient of SST is calculated as frontal intensity, and a threshold value of 0.03 °C/km is set to count the frontal frequency. The fronts in Zhoushan and its adjacent seas show significant seasonal variability, with high (0.1 °C/km and 60–90%) and low (0.03 °C/km and 30–60%) frontal activity in winter and summer, respectively. In summer, the fronts along Jiangsu and the north of the Changjiang River Estuary show higher frontal intensity and frequency, which is mainly influenced by the Changjiang diluted water and southerly wind, and fronts around Zhoushan Island are highly related with Zhoushan upwelling. In winter, the fronts strengthen into regular bands offshore and parallel to the coast, which are mainly influenced by coastal currents. Frontal intensity and frequency show a more significant long-term increasing trend in winter than in summer. Full article
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18 pages, 38471 KiB  
Article
Typhoon Intensity Change in the Vicinity of the Semi-Enclosed Sea of Japan
by Soo-Min Choi and Hyo Choi
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2024, 12(9), 1638; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse12091638 - 13 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1050
Abstract
The intensity change of Typhoon Songda (TY-0418) in the vicinity of the semi-enclosed Sea of Japan (SJ) was numerically investigated using 3D-WRF and UM-KMA models and GOES-IR satellite images on 4 to 8 September 2004. After the typhoon originated in the Western Pacific [...] Read more.
The intensity change of Typhoon Songda (TY-0418) in the vicinity of the semi-enclosed Sea of Japan (SJ) was numerically investigated using 3D-WRF and UM-KMA models and GOES-IR satellite images on 4 to 8 September 2004. After the typhoon originated in the Western Pacific Ocean in August, it moved to the East China Sea. Following the north-eastward Kuroshio Warm Current, it developed with horizontal and vertical asymmetrical wind and moisture patterns until 5 September. On 7 September, closing to the Kyushu Island, it was divided into three wind fields near the surface due to the increased friction from the surrounding lands and shallower sea depth close to the land, but it still maintained its circular shape over 1 km in height. As it passed by the Korea Strait and entered the SJ, it became a smaller, deformed typhoon due to the SJ’s surrounding mountains, located between the East Korea and Tsushima Warm Currents inside the SJ. Its center matched a high equivalent potential temperature area, releasing significant latent heat through the condensation of water particles over warm currents. The latent heat converted to kinetic energy could be supplied into the typhoon circulation, causing its development. Moist flux and streamline at 1.5 km in height clearly showed the moisture transportation via the mutual interaction of the cyclonic circulation of the typhoon and the anti-cyclonic circulation of the North Pacific High Pressure from the typhoon’s tail toward both the center of the SJ and the Russian Sakhalin Island in the north of Japan, directly causing large clouds in its right quadrant. Simultaneously, the central pressure decrease with time could converge both transported moist air by the typhoon itself and water particles evaporated from the sea, causing them to rise and resulting in the formation of large clouds and the rapid development of the typhoon circulation. The strong downslope winds from the surrounding mountains of the SJ to its center also produced a cyclonic vortex due to the Coriolis force to the right, enhancing the typhoon’s circulation. Full article
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