The first regional mapping of the averaged turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rate <εp> in the upper pycnocline of the northern South China Sea is presented and discussed.At φ=20°N and to the north of this latitude,<εp> appears to be more than two times larger than that to the south of 20°N.It is suggested that this asymmetry is associated with the predominant northwestward propagation and dissipation of the internal waves originated in the Luzon Strait area.An approximately linear relationship between <εp> and the available potential energy of the waves P IW,suggests a characteristic time of the P IW dissipation of about 6 h.
