| Towed-CTD using Moving Vessel Profilor and shipboard ADCP survey were performed around the first meander of the Kuroshio Extension in the Soyo-maru May 25 - June 9 2001 cruise. About 5km-resolution data along ship track revealed the confluence of Oyashio and Kuroshio waters and salinity minumum formation process. Along the Kuroshio Extension, remarkable salinity minima were observed corresponding to frontal eddies with the wavelength of about 80km that was pronounced in the intermediate depth and amplified in the downstream direction. This remarkable salinity minimum formation can be interpreted as a rotation of velocity with depth from vorticity balance. In the downstream Kuroshio Extension, original properties of Oyashio and Kuroshio waters rapidly disappeared and new NPIW were formed. Enhanced isopycnal mixing due to the unstable frontal eddies and cabbeling could dominantly contribute to this rapid modification. |
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