Water characteristics and temporal variations of the warm core ring off Sanriku of Japan observed by Argo floats

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  • Kimizuka Masafumi
    Graduate School of Marine Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology
  • Kobashi Fumiaki
    Faculty of Marine Technology, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology Research Institute for Global Change, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
  • Iwasaka Naoto
    Faculty of Marine Technology, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology

Bibliographic Information

Other Title
  • アルゴフロートで観測された三陸沖暖本渦の海水特性と時間変化
  • アルゴフロートで観測された三陸沖暖水渦の海水特性と時間変化
  • アルゴフロート デ カンソク サレタ サンリクオキダンスイウズ ノ カイスイ トクセイ ト ジカン ヘンカ
  • Potential Predictability of Interannual Variability in the Kuroshio Extension Jet Speed in an Eddy-Resolving OGCM
  • Interannual variations in low potential vorticity water and the subtropical countercurrent in an eddy-resolving OGCM

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Description

<p>Water characteristics and vertical structures of warm core rings that are located off Sanriku (hereinafter WCR1) and off the southeast of Hokkaido (hereinafter WCR2) in Japan were investigated for the period from January to July 2009 using Argo profiling floats and satellite observations. The two WCRs are detached from the Kuroshio Extension almost at the same time around February 2007. The WCR1 and WCR2 have both vertical structures of anticyclonic eddy, containing warmer and saltier water of the Kuroshio within the eddy than ambient water in the surrounding area, on isopycnal surfaces. Calculation of the mixing ratio of Kuroshio and Oyashio waters shows that the mixing ratios of WCR1 and WCR2 are about 20-50% and more than 80%, respectively, indicating that the mixing between the eddy and the ambient occurs more notably for the WCR2, where the ambient water has characteristics closer to the Oyashio water. The analysis of two Argo profiling floats with a high temporal resolution with 2 day observation cycle, and ship observation data reveals that the water characteristics of the WCR1 has a marked temporal change, in which cold and fresh Oyashio water around the eddy intrudes into the eddy intermittently every several days with short time intervals in narrow density ranges. The water characteristics of the eddy gradually change to the Oyashio water, suggesting that the small-scale intrusion of the Oyashio water into the eddy is responsible for the observed change in water characteristics.</p>

Journal

  • Oceanography in Japan

    Oceanography in Japan 20 (5), 149-165, 2011-09-15

    The Oceanographic Society of Japan

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