Characteristics of the sea surface temperature strong front in the Northern South China Sea

The paper analyzed sea surface temperature (SST) front in the South China Sea (SCS) based on satellite remote sensing monthly SST data from 2003 to 2017.The results show that SST fronts exist in the whole year.The region and strength of fronts reach peak in January, and then decrease until November, enhance again in December.There are three strong fronts (Qiongdong-Yuexi front, Qiongdong front, and Taiwan Bank front) and semi-strong fronts (Yuexi continental-slop front, and Southern Nansha Isalnds front) in the northern SCS.In January, the maximum strength of the three strong fronts are 0.036 ℃/km, 0.038 ℃/km and 0.068 ℃/km, and the generate probability of the two semi-strong fronts are larger than 75%.In November, all fronts disappeared except the three strong fronts.The Yuexi continental-slop front moves from continental shelf to slop and deep sea from January to April.The Southern Nansha Isalnds front locates in the south of Dongsha Islands in May.