Tracing the Pathway and Transport of Proto-NPIW Flowing Out of the Sea of Okhotsk into the Boundary Currents of the NW Pacific

摘要

Synoptic hydrographic and velocity data were obtained in the first meander crest and trough of the Kuroshio Extension (KE) from measurements aboard the RIV Soyo-maru in late May and early June 1998. Measurements indicated that the eastward flowing KE had significant (up to 20 cinls) flow at 1400m depth and that a subsurface velocity maximum could be seen on the equatorward side of the current. Large salinity differences were found on potential densities from 26.2- 27.2 kg m3 that reflected cold, fresh waters of northern origin and warm, salty subtropical waters. Approaching the first meander crest, northward moving water was saltier than southward moving water at the same density on the downstream side of the crest, approaching the first trough.