Influences of the surface wave-induced mixing and tidal mixing on the vertical temperature structure of the Yellow and East China Seas in summer

After a classification of the physical processes which affect the vertical mixing, diffusivity induced by the surface wave momentum and tidal currents and its influence on the vertical temperature structure are discussed. Based on three mixing schemes, the vertical temperature structure of the Yellow and East China Seas (YECS) is simulated. Results show that in summer, the surface wave-induced mixing plays a key role in forming the upper mixed layer in the YECS. The tidal mixing controls the lower layers within 30 m above the bottom, which is the main factor in forming the platform-shaped temperature structure in the southern Yellow Sea (YS). Together with the strong surface wave-induced mixing, the tidal mixing makes the thermocline ventilate near the east coast of the southern YS. The double cold cores in the deeper layers of the East China Sea have different causes. The western one is the maintenance of the winter cold water, while the eastern one is configured by circulation. The simulated vertical temperature structure of the YECS with the surface wave-induced mixing and tidal mixing has similar features to the observations, which indicates that these mixing processes are key factors in simulating the thermocline and pycnocline of the coastal oceans.