Abstract

The monthly mean TOPEX/POSEIDON crossover data in the South China Sea are used to investigate the spatial and temporal variability of sea surface height anomaly (SSHA). Multi-time scale variability is found using the empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis. The seasonal variability dominates SSHA with two spatial patterns: basin-wide gyre and north-south double gyres. The intraseasonal variability of SSH has high spatial variability at the continental shelf such as west of Hainan Island and Borneo, and east-west double gyre structure in the deep basin. The interannual variability of SSHA has a north-south double gyre pattern. The scale interaction between seasonal and interannual processes may be taken place at the north-south double gyre pattern.