[A-OS12] Marine ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles: theory, observation and modeling

[AOS12-P06] Numerical study on seasonality of ocean litters collected at the Dongsha Island in the northern South China Sea

*Yi-Chia Hsin¹, Chia-Ying Ko², Ming-Shiou Jeng³ (1.Research Center for Environmental Changes, Academia Sinica, 2.Institute of Fisheries Science, National Taiwan University, 3.Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica)

Keywords:ocean litters, numercial study, South China Sea

Distribution of ocean litters collected at the Dongsha Island, an isolated island in the northern South China Sea, shows a significant seasonal change. More litters were accumulated in the northern (southern) part of the island in winter (summer). By means of backward-tracking simulation by considering the effect of both ocean currents and winds (i.e., windage), a series of numerical experiments are carried out to clarify the possible source and mechanisms for the observational seasonal change of litters. Results exhibit that, in winter, low-windage litters are mainly from the western Philippine Sea via the Luzon Strait while the high-windage ones are contributed from the Taiwan Strait. In summer, litters from the southwestern South China Sea, i.e. east of Vietnam, could be a major origin.