A three-dimensional distribution of turbulent mixing in the South China Sea (SCS) is obtained for the first time, using the Gregg–Henyey–Polzin parameterization and hydrographic observations from 2005 to 2012. Results indicate that turbulent mixing generally increases with depth in the SCS, reaching the order of 10[superscript −2] m[superscript 2] s[superscript −1] at depth. In the horizontal direction, turbulence is more active in the northern SCS than in the south and is more active in the east than the west. Two mixing “hotspots” are identified in the bottom water of the Luzon Strait and Zhongsha Island Chain area, where diapycnal diffusivity values are around 3 × 10[superscript −2] m[superscript 2] s[superscript −1]. Potential mechanisms responsible for these spatial patterns are discussed, which include internal tide, bottom bathymetry, and near-inertial energy.
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机译：利用Gregg-Henyey-Polzin参数化和2005年至2012年的水文观测资料，首次获得了南海湍流混合的三维分布。结果表明，湍流混合通常随深度的增加而增加。 SCS，深度达到10 [上标-2] m [上标2] s [上标-1]的量级。在水平方向上，南海北部的湍流比南部更活跃，东部的湍流比西方更活跃。在吕宋海峡和中沙岛链区域的底水中确定了两个混合的“热点”，其对流扩散系数约为3×10 [上标-2] m [上标2] s [上标-1]。讨论了造成这些空间格局的潜在机制，包括内部潮汐，底部测深和近惯性能量。
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