Andres, M. ., University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, USA, mandres@gso.uri.edu
Park, J. ., University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, USA, jpark@gso.uri.edu
Wimbush, M. ., University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, USA, mwimbush@gso.uri.edu
Chang, K. ., Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic Of Korea, kichang@snu.ac.kr

10−70-DAY VARIABILITY OF KUROSHIO TRANSPORT IN THE EAST CHINA SEA

Absolute transport of the Kuroshio in the East China Sea (ECS) north of Okinawa was determined using Current-and-Pressure-recording Inverted Echo Sounders (CPIESs) and acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCPs) across the Kuroshio from December 2002 to November 2004. This transport exhibits spectral peaks at 11, 15 and ~60 days. The 15-day signal, which appears to come from the Kuroshio off Taiwan, extends through the whole water column in contrast to the 11-day signal which is largely confined above 300 m depth. The 11-day signal is likely due to the local growth of instabilities. Complex Empirical Orthogonal Function (CEOF) analysis of the 60-day signal shows that the first CEOF explains 93% of the variance occurring in the band between 50 and 70 days. This CEOF has larger amplitude towards the northwest (i.e., towards the continental slope) and phase propagation is also in this direction. Phase speed is 4 cm/s and wavelength 200 km. The 60-day signal may be due to short barotropic Rossby waves, generated in the ECS shelf-region, whose energy propagates eastward.

Poster presentation

Presentation is given by student: Yes
Session #:143
Date: 03-05-2008
Time: 17:30 - 19:30