Spatiotemporal Characteristics and Dynamical Analysis of Surface Residual Currents in the Southwestern Taiwan Strait Under Low Wind Condition

The residual current is the ocean current after the tidal component has been removed. Understanding the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of sea surface residual currents is key to revealing the local current field evolution and typical physical oceanographic processes. The Taiwan Strait is in the East Asian monsoon region, where residual currents are significantly influenced by monsoons during periods of high wind speeds. However, the characteristics and dynamic mechanisms of residual currents under low wind speed conditions (≤5 m/s) remain unclear. Based on high-frequency surface wave radar current data and wind field reanalysis data, this study analyzed the characteristics of residual currents in the southwestern Taiwan Strait under low wind speed conditions, focusing on two orthogonal directions: cross-shore and along-shore. During these periods, residual currents exhibit counter-wind current characteristics. These currents cross the Taiwan Bank and generate wave signals with wavelengths ranging from 35.6 km to 65.8 km and durations of 6 to 12 h in the Xiapeng Depression area. These fluctuations are triggered by the combined timing of low winds and nonlinear current–topography interactions. In terms of dynamic mechanisms, the Coriolis force term and the acceleration term dominate the momentum equations in both two orthogonal directions, indicating that the current field is in a non-steady inertial adjustment phase during this period. Furthermore, this study constructs a two-layer ocean model of rotationally modified gravity waves to analyze the influences of topography, oceanic stratification, and steady current velocity on the characteristics of residual current fluctuations under low wind speed conditions. The theoretical model yields spatial scales that closely match the observed wavelength characteristics.