Direct Measurements of the Luzon Undercurrent

The Luzon Undercurrent (LUC) was discovered about 20 years ago by geostrophic calculation from conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) data. But it was not directly measured until 2010. From November 2010 to July 2011, the LUC was first directly measured by acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) from a subsurface mooring at 18.0 degrees N, 122.7 degrees E to the east of Luzon Island. A number of new features of the LUC were identified from the measurements of the current. Its depth covers a range from 400 m to deeper than 700 m. The observed maximum velocity of the LUC, centered at about 650 m, could exceed 27.5 cm s(-1), four times stronger than the one derived from previous geostrophic calculation with hydrographic data. According to the time series available, the seasonality of the LUC strength is in winter > summer > spring. Significant intraseasonal variability (ISV; 70-80 days) of the LUC is exposed. Evidence exists to suggest that a large portion of the intraseasonal variability in the LUC is related to the westward propagation of mesoscale eddies from the east of the mooring site.