Study of upwelling and related processes in the coastal area of South Vietnam

• Applicant: Privatdozent Dr. Thomas Pohlmann
• Subject Area: Oceanography
• Term: from 2003 to 2010
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5400462

The governing processes and the variability of the upwelling close to the South Vietnamese coastal area will be investigated by means of ship experiments and modell studies. Altogether four cruises will be conducted in different seasons and years, observing the upwelling phenomenon in summer, the downwelling in winter and the situation in the transition phase. Measurements will be taken on a fixed station grid with an average station distance of 20 nm and one mooring station located in the expexted cente of the upwelling. The modelling study comprises the application of two models on different spatial scales. The large scale model will include the entire South China Sea, whereas the small scale model will only cover the upwelling area and its vicinity. Firstly, both models will be forced by NCAR/NCEP data in order to validate the model but also to get an indication of the variability over the last 50 years. Secondly, the two years 2002 and 2003, i.e., the years of the four cruises will be simulated in order to have the direct link between modelling and observations, using the best available set of actual forcing data for this period.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Participating Person: Dagmar Hainbucher