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Abstract

Long-term advanced very-high-resolution radiometer (AVHRR) data with a resolution of 0.04° provided clearer views of sea surface temperature (SST) warming and variation associated with ENSO in the Taiwan Strait (TS) during wintertime (1981-2013). Over the 33 year period, the spatial average of winter SST warming in the TS reached to 3°C. From 1981- 2001, the SST exhibited an increasing trend, with the fastest warming taking place from 1991-2001 after which it seemed to pause. From 2002-2012, the SST showed a cooling trend (-0.08°C/yr). Spatial variation of the warming was distinct, with the highest values concentrated in the winter fronts region, formed by the cold China Coastal Current (CCC) and the warm Kuroshio Branch (KB), indicating northwestward movements of the winter fronts. Influence of ENSO events on winter SST was significant, with higher SST in the CCC region in El Niño years. Temporal SST EOF results in modes 1 and 2 show a long-term warming trend and interannual variations, respectively. Consequently, the combined impacts of global ocean warming and climate variability in future will result in increasing the uncertain of SST variability in the TS.

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