The South China Sea (SCS) is abundant with complex multiscale dynamic processes but their spatiotemporal variations, generation and evolution mechanisms, and mutual interactions remain inadequately understood due to the lack of long-term in situ observations. To explore oceanic multiscale dynamics in the SCS, the SCS Mooring Array (SCSMA) was began to be constructed since 2009. The SCSMA consists of ∼40 moorings and is the largest in situ ocean observing system in marginal seas worldwide. The highest spatial resolution of SCSMA is ∼1.5 km, and the longest duration of fixed-location observations reaches ∼15 years. Long-term observations from the SCSMA have allowed significant advances in the understanding of large-scale circulation, mesoscale eddies, submesoscale processes, internal waves, turbulent mixing, and interactions and energy cascades of different processes. In particular, the full chain of forward energy cascade from large-scale currents to turbulence has been revealed. Different dynamic processes in the SCS constitute a three-dimensional multiscale circulation system which transports materials and tracers in a relay. Here, we first describe the SCSMA and its construction process, and then comprehensively review its relevant advances in multiscale dynamics. Prospects for the SCSMA and its future applications are given at the end.
Keywords: Energy cascade; Large-scale circulation; Meso- to submesoscale processes; Oceanic multiscale dynamics; Small-scale internal waves and mixing; South China Sea Mooring Array.
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