Anticyclonic eddies and Kuroshio meander formation

Humio Mitsudera*, Takuji Waseda, Yasushi Yoshikawa, Bunmei Taguchi

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

54 Scopus citations

Abstract

A meander-formation mechanism of the Kuroshio that involves anticyclonic eddies propagating from the Kuroshio Extension, is presented using the analysis of observations of the TOPEX/POSEIDON (T/P) altimeter data and in-situ data. Support of the mechanism comes also from a numerical simulation. In October 1997, a current meter mooring over the Izu Ridge at 500-m-depth captured large velocity fluctuations of about 50 cm s-1 that were associated with a strong anticyclonic eddy. The observations from T/P show that the anticyclonic eddy propagated westward and collided with the Kuroshio off Kyushu. At collision, the anticyclonic eddy coupled with a cyclonic circulation accompanied by a small meander and formed a vortex pair. They were then advected downstream and finally formed a large-meander-like path off the south coast of Honshu. The meander lasted for a few months. Subsequently, the anticyclonic eddy was detached, and the meander grew smaller in amplitude. Numerical experiments successfully simulate this interaction between the Kuroshio and anticyclonic eddies.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2025-2028
Number of pages4
JournalGeophysical Research Letters
Volume28
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - 2001/05/15

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geophysics
  • General Earth and Planetary Sciences

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