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KESS observing array of CPIESs (red diamonds), MMPs (blue stars), and KEO buoy (light blue triangle). Profiling T/S floats were deployed within the green boxed region. Thin blue lines indicate T/P-Jason 1 ground tracks. Atmospheric soundingsa
were taken throughout the array region. Solid lines are GDEM mean
surface dynamic height contours in dyn cm from Teague et al. (1990).
The 2000 and 4000 m isobaths are shaded dark and light gray,
respectively. Eddy kinetic energy > 0.18 and 0.24 m2s-2 is shaded yellow and orange, respectively. CTD/SADCP observations were made at all CPIES sites and in three feature studies.
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Kuroshio Extension System Study
The warm, northward-flowing waters of the Kuroshio western boundary
current leave the Japanese coast to flow eastward into the North
Pacific as a free jet — the Kuroshio Extension. The Kuroshio Extension
forms a vigorously meandering boundary between the warm subtropical and cold northern waters of the Pacific. A recirculation gyre exists to the
south of the Kuroshio Extension. Another may exist to the north. This
is also one of the most intense air sea heat exchange regions on the
globe, where the warm Kuroshio waters encounter the cold dry air masses
coming from the Asian continent. The Kuroshio Extension system exhibits
variations which strongly affect North American climate. Among the
diverse fields that will benefit from this work are fisheries and
climate research, and understanding storm tracks.
Understanding the processes that govern the variability of and the
interaction between the Kuroshio Extension and the recirculation gyre
is the goal of this study. Processes coupling the baroclinic and
barotropic circulations will be examined by case studies of the local
dynamical balances, particularly during strong meandering events. The
mechanisms by which water masses are exchanged and modified as they
cross the front will be characterized. The objective is to determine
the processes governing the strength and structure of the recirculation
gyres in relation to the meandering jet.
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