Seasonal variability of the North Equatorial Current-Kuroshio Current-Mindanao Current based on observations

Utilizing the direct mooring observation along 130 degrees E (10.5 degrees N, 13 degrees N, 15.5 degrees N, and 18 degrees N), 18 degrees N (122.7 degrees E, 123 degrees E, and 123.3 degrees E), and 8 degrees N (127 degrees E) and satellite data, the seasonal variabilities of the North Equatorial Current (NEC), Kuroshio Current (KC), and Mindanao Current (MC) were investigated. The southern part of the NEC along 130 degrees E, the KC along 18 degrees N, and the MC along 8 degrees N featured similar seasonal cycles: that is, the currents were strong in spring and weak in autumn, while the KC along 18 degrees N featured another peak in winter. Moreover, the seasonal phase of the NEC along 130 degrees E was latitude-dependent; it advanced slightly from 10 degrees N to 14 degrees N and delayed poleward. The seasonal variabilities of the three currents were mainly controlled by local winds and Rossby waves via a geostrophic relationship, as the mooring observation was consistent with satellite data. The calculation shows that the local wind was dominant in the above mentioned in-phase areas (i.e., the southern part of the NEC, KC, and MC), while Rossby waves played an important role in the northern part of the NEC. The results indicate that the NEC-KC-MC system had the same zonal dynamics but different meridional dynamics across seasons.