Diagnostic Study of an Extreme Explosive Cyclone over the Kuroshio/Kuroshio Extension Region

Explosive cyclones(ECs)occur frequently over the Kuroshio/Kuroshio Extension region.The most rapidly intensified EC over the Kuroshio/Kuroshio Extension region during the 42 years(1979-2020)of cold seasons(October-April)was studied to reveal the variations of the key factors at different explosive-developing stages.This EC had weak low-level baroclinicity,mid-level cyclonic-vorticity advection,and strong low-level water vapor convergence at the initial explosive-developing stage.The low-level baroclinicity and mid-level cyclonic-vorticity advection increased substantially during the maximum-deepening-rate stage.The diagnostic analyses using the Zwack-Okossi equation showed that diabatic heating was the main contributor to the initial rapid intensification of this EC.The cyclonic-vorticity advection and warm-air advection enhanced rapidly in the middle and upper troposphere and contributed to the maximum rapid intensification,whereas the diabatic heating weakened slightly in the mid-low troposphere.The relative contribution of the diabatic heating decreased from the initial explosive-developing stage to the maximum-deepening-rate stage due to the enhancement of other factors(the cyclonic-vorticity advection and warm-air advection).Furthermore,the physical factors contributing to this EC varied with the explosive-developing stage.The non-key factors at the initial explosive-developing stage need attention to forecast the rapid intensification.

Different ENSO Impacts on Eastern China Precipitation Patterns in Early and Late Winter Associated with Seasonally-Varying Kuroshio Anticyclonic Anomalies

Winter precipitation over eastern China displays remarkable interannual variability,which has been suggested to be closely related to El Niño-Southern Oscillation(ENSO).This study finds that ENSO impacts on eastern China precipitation patterns exhibit obvious differences in early(November-December)and late(January-February)winter.In early winter,precipitation anomalies associated with ENSO are characterized by a monopole spatial distribution over eastern China.In contrast,the precipitation anomaly pattern in late winter remarkably changes,manifesting as a dipole spatial distribution.The noteworthy change in precipitation responses from early to late winter can be largely attributed to the seasonally varying Kuroshio anticyclonic anomalies.During the early winter of El Niño years,anticyclonic circulation anomalies appear both over the Philippine Sea and Kuroshio region,enhancing water vapor transport to the entirety of eastern China,thus contributing to more precipitation there.During the late winter of El Niño years,the anticyclone over the Philippine Sea is further strengthened,while the one over the Kuroshio dissipates,which could result in differing water vapor transport between northern and southern parts of eastern China and thus a dipole precipitation distribution.Roughly the opposite anomalies of circulation and precipitation are displayed during La Niña winters.Further analysis suggests that the seasonally-varying Kuroshio anticyclonic anomalies are possibly related to the enhancement of ENSO-related tropical central-eastern Pacific convection from early to late winter.These results have important implications for the seasonal-tointerannual predictability of winter precipitation over eastern China.

Intraseasonal variability of the Kuroshio observed via mooring at 18°N

Insufficient observations near the origin of the Kuroshio have led to incomplete understanding of the intraseasonal variability(ISV)of the Kuroshio.Direct measurements of the Kuroshio velocity were performed with an array of three profiler moorings(122.7°E,123°E,and 123.3°E)along 18°N from January 2018 to February 2020.The ISV of the Kuroshio at 18°N was investigated based on a combination of mooring observations and global high-resolution HYbrid Coordinate Ocean Model reanalysis data.The estimated time-averaged transport in the upper 350 m across the observation transect was 6.5±2.6 Sv(1.0 Sv=10^(6)m^(3)/s).Two significant ISV peaks at 50-60 and~100 d were recognized in the power spectra of the meridional velocity and transport.Further analysis indicated that the ISV at 50-60 d was caused by westward-propagating eddies at average propagation speed of~13 cm/s and wavelength of~635 km.Another ISV peak at~100 d was mainly caused by northward-propagating eddies generated in the North Equatorial Current region.Further investigation indicated that the ISV of the Kuroshio at 18°N is dominated by meridional transport,rather than by the zonal migration of the Kuroshio main axis.Our findings provide a better understanding of the ISV of the Kuroshio east of Luzon Island.

Influence of typhoon MITAG on the Kuroshio intrusion in the Luzon Strait during early fall 2019

Typhoons in the western Pacific have a significant impact on the transport of heat,salt and particles through the Luzon Strait.However,there are very limited field observations of this impact because of extreme difficulties and even dangers for ship-based measurements during the rough weather.Here,we present the preliminary results from analyzing a dataset collected by a glider deployed west of the Luzon Strait a few days prior to the arrival of typhoon MITAG.The gilder data revealed an abnormally salinity(>34.8)subsurface water apparently sourced from Kuroshio intrusion during the typhoon.When typhoon MITAG traveled on the east of the Luzon Strait,the positive wind stress curl strengthened the cyclonic eddy and weakened the anti-cyclonic eddy.This led to a slowdown of Kuroshio and made its intrusion easier.The main axis of the Kuroshio at the northern part of the strait shifted westward after the typhoon and did not return to its original position until a week later.The Ekman transport from persistent northerly wind of typhoon MITAG was significant,but its importance in enhancing the Kuroshio intrusion is only secondary relative to the eddies variations.

Spatiotemporal features and vertical structures of four types of mesoscale eddies in the Kuroshio Extension region

Except for conventional mesoscale eddies,there are also abundant warm cyclonic eddies(WCEs)and cold anticyclonic eddies(CAEs)in the global ocean.Based on the global mesoscale eddy trajectory atlas product,satellite altimetric and remote sensing datasets,and three-dimensional temperature/salinity dataset,spatiotemporal features of WCEs and CAEs are compared with traditional cold cyclonic eddies and warm anticyclonic eddies in the Kuroshio Extension(KE;28°−43°N,140°−170°E)region.Characteristics of abnormal eddies like radius,amplitude,eddy kinetic energy,and proportion in all eddies behave in significant asymmetry on the north and south sides of the KE jet.Unlike eddies in the general sense,temporal feature analysis reveals that it is more favorable to the formation and maintenance of WCEs and CAEs in summer and autumn,while winter is the opposite.The spatiotemporal variation of abnormal eddies is likely because the marine environment varying with time and space.Statistically,proportion of abnormal eddies increases rapidly in decaying stage during the whole eddy lifespan,resulting in smaller average radius,amplitude,sea surface temperature anomaly and sea surface height anomaly compared to normal ones.The three-dimensional composite structures for four types of eddies expose that the difference between abnormal and conventional eddies is not just limited to the sea surface,but also exists within the water below the sea surface.Vertical structures also indicate that the anomalous temperature signal is confined in the water from the sea surface to layers at about 30 m in the KE region.

Analysis of Sea Surface Temperature Cooling in Typhoon Events Passing the Kuroshio Current

The aim of this study is to investigate the sea surface temperature(SST) cooling as typhoons pass the Kuroshio Current.A numerical circulation model,denoted as the Stony Brook Parallel Ocean Model(sbPOM),was used to simulate the SST,which includes four wave-induced effect terms(i.e.,radiation stress,nonbreaking waves,Stokes drift,and breaking waves) simulated using the third-generation wave model,called WAVEWATCH-Ⅲ(WW3).The significant wave height(SWH) measurements from the Jason-2 altimeter were used to validate the WW3-simulated results,yielding a root mean square error(RMSE) of less than 0.50 m and a correlation coefficient(COR) of approximately 0.93.The water temperature measured from the Advanced Research and Global Observation Satellite was applied to validate the model simulation.Accordingly,the RMSE of the SST is 0.92℃ with a COR of approximately 0.99.As revealed in the sbPOM-simulated SST fields,a reduction in the SST at the Kuroshio Current region was observed as a typhoon passed,although the water temperature of the Kuroshio Current is relatively high.The variation of the SST is consistent with that of the current,whereas the maximum SST lagged behind the occurrence of the peak SWH.Moreover,the Stokes drift plays an important role in the SST cooling after analyzing four wave-induced terms in the background of the Kuroshio Current.The sensitivity experiment also showed that the accuracy of the water temperature was significantly reduced when including breaking waves,which play a negative role in the inside part of the ocean.The variation in the mean mixing layer depth(MLD) showed that a typhoon could enhance the mean MLD in the Kuroshio Current area in September and October,whereas a typhoon has little influence on the mean MLD in the Kuroshio Current area in May.Moreover,the mean MLD rapidly decreased with the weakening of the strong wind force and wave-induced effects when a typhoon crossed the Kuroshio Current.

Study on the interannual variability of the Kerama Gap transport and its relation to the Kuroshio/Ryukyu Current system

An analysis of a 68-year monthly hindcast output from an eddy-resolving ocean general circulation model reveals the relationship between the interannual variability of the Kerama Gap transport(KGT)and the Kuroshio/Ryukyu Current system.The study found a significant difference in the interannual variability of the upstream and downstream transports of the East China Sea-(ECS-)Kuroshio and the Ryukyu Current.The interannual variability of the KGT was found to be of paramount importance in causing the differences between the upstream and downstream ECS-Kuroshio.Additionally,it contributed approximately 37%to the variability of the Ryukyu Current.The interannual variability of the KGT was well described by a two-layer rotating hydraulic theory.It was dominated by its subsurface-intensified flow core,and the upper layer transport made a weaker negative contribution to the total KGT.The subsurface flow core was found to be mainly driven by the subsurface pressure head across the Kerama Gap,and the pressure head was further dominated by the subsurface density anomalies on the Pacific side.These density anomalies could be traced back to the eastern open ocean,and their propagation speed was estimated to be about 7.4 km/d,which is consistent with the speed of the local first-order baroclinic Rossby wave.When the negative(positive)density anomaly signal reached the southern region of the Kerama Gap,it triggered the increase(decrease)of the KGT towards the Pacific side and the formation of an anticyclonic(cyclonic)vortex by baroclinic adjustment.Meanwhile,there is an increase(decrease)in the upstream transport of the entire Kuroshio/Ryukyu Current system and an offshore flow that decreases(increases)the downstream Ryukyu Current.

Vertical distribution of the Kuroshio velocity in the Pollution Nagasaki section and its formative mechanism

The seasonal and interannual variations of the vertical distribution of the Kuroshio velocity and its formative mechanism were studied by analyzing the Global Ocean Reanalysis Simulation 2 （GLORYS2） dataset in the Pollution Nagasaki （PN） section （126.0°E-128.2°, at depths less than 1000 m）. The results indicated that： 1） the maximum transport in the PN section occurs in summer, followed by spring, and the minimum transport occurs in fall and winter; the maximum velocities are located at the subsurface in both winter and summer and velocities are relatively larger and at a shallower depth in summer; and the velocity core is located at the surface in spring and fall. The isopycnic line has a clear depression around the Kuroshio axis in winter. The depth of maximum velocity and the zero horizontal density gradients both exhibit substantial seasonal and interannual variations, and the interannual variations are larger. 2） The distributions of velocity and density are in accordance with the therma~ wind relation. Although Kuroshio transport is determined by the large-scale wind field and mesoscale motion in the Pacific Ocean; local heat flux and thermohaline circulation influence the density field, modify the vertical structure of the Kuroshio velocity, and adjust the allocation of water fluxes and nutrients transport. 3） Shelf-water offshore transport into the Kuroshio upper layer induced by southwest monsoons might contribute to the maximum velocity up to the surface in summer. Nonlinear and nongeostrophic processes are not considered in the present study, and the thermal wind relation accounts for part of the vertical structure of the Kuroshio velocity.

Influence of Island Chains on the Kuroshio Intrusion in the Luzon Strait

By applying a global high-resolution （0.1°） OGCM, the influence of the island chains in the Luzon Strait （LS） on the Kuroshio intrusion is studied systematically. The island chains in the LS are separated into three parts： the south island chain, the middle and north island chain, and Babuyan Island. One control and three sensitivity experiments are conducted by adding these three parts of the topography gradually. From comparisons of the circulation, temperature, and salinity structures, it is found that the south island chain decreases the westward bending of the main Kuroshio path, the middle and north island chain increases the westward bending, and Babuyan Island also increases the westward bending. These results are extremely clear in winter. Dynamic diagnoses suggest that the westward bending increases with an increase in the incidence angle of the Kuroshio and an increase in the Kuroshio east branch transport. Moreover, the middle and north island chain can split the Kuroshio into two parts, the Kuroshio west and east branches, which can be seen clearly in the satellite altimeter maps.

Position variability of the Kuroshio Extension sea surface temperature front

High spatial resolution sea surface temperature （SST） data from 1993 to 2013 are used to detect the position of the Kuroshio Extension sea surface temperature front （KEF） from 141°E to 158°E, and the seasonal, monthly and interannual-to-decadal variations of the KEF position are investigated. The latitudinal position of the KEF varies with longitudes： the westernmost part of the KEF from 141°E to 144°E is relatively stable, whereas the easternmost part from 153°E to 158°E exhibits the largest amplitude of its north-south displacement. In the light of the magnitudes of the standard deviations at longitudes, then the KEF is divided into three sections： western part of the KEF （KEFw, 141°-144°E）, central part of the KEF （KEFc, 144°-153°E） and eastern part of the KEF （KEFe, 153°-158°E）. Further analysis reveals that the KEFw position is dominated by the decadal variability, while the KEFc and KEFe positions change significantly both on interannual and decadal time scales. In addition, the KEFw position is well correlated with the KEF path length. The possible mode leading to the decadal oscillation of the KEFw is further discussed. The KEFw position exhibits significant connections with the Pacific decadal oscillation （PDO） index and the north Pacific gyre oscillation （NPGO） index with a time lag of 40 and 33 months, respectively.

Principal-component estimates of the Kuroshio Current axis and path based on the mathematical verification between satellite altimeter and drifting buoy data

We used satellite altimetry data to investigate the Kuroshio Current because of the higher resolution and wider range of observations. In previous studies, satellite absolute geostrophic velocities were used to study the spatiotemporal variability of the sea surface velocity field along the current, and extraction methods were employed to detect the Kuroshio axes and paths. However, sea surface absolute geostrophic velocity estimated from absolute dynamic topography should be regarded as the geostrophic component of the actual surface velocity, which cannot represent a sea surface current accurately. In this study, mathematical verification between the climatic absolute geostrophic and bin-averaged drifting buoy velocity was established and then adopted to correct the satellite absolute geostrophic velocities. There were some differences in the characteristics between satellite geostrophic and drifting buoy velocities. As a result, the corrected satellite absolute geostrophic velocities were used to detect the Kuroshio axis and path based on a principal-component detection scheme. The results showed that the detection of the Kuroshio axes and paths from corrected absolute geostrophic velocities performed better than those from satellite absolute geostrophic velocities and surface current estimations. The corrected satellite absolute geostrophic velocity may therefore contribute to more precise day-to-day detection of the Kuroshio Current axis and path.

Study on the Meso-scale process of the Kuroshio front to the east of Taiwan

By using the reanalysis data, the impact of oceanic eddies and frontal wave on Kuroshio front to the east of Taiwan （KFETW） is studied. The result indicates that cold eddies （warm eddies） corresponding to the first baroclinic mode of Rossby wave can weaken （strengthen） the strength of the KFETW and narrow （widen） the width of this front. A frontal wave of the KFETW during January to February in 1991 is detected from the reanalysis data. And the trough （crest） of the frontal wave may weaken （strengthen） the strength of the KFETW and narrow （widen） the width and thickness of this front. It is found through the diagnostic analysis of the energy source of the frontal wave that the contribution of barotropic instability or that of baroclinic instability is more than that of Ketvin-Helmholtz （K-H） instability by 1 - 2 order of magnitude, and the contribution of the baroclinic instability is 5 times than that of the barotropic instability, thereby the frontal wave is basically driven by the baroclinic instability.

The Kuroshio front to the east of Taiwan: seasonal feature, variability and mechanism

Oceanic front, especially Kuroshio front, is an important phenomenon that is of great significance for scientific research, national economy and military uses. However, Kuroshio front to the east of Taiwan （KFETW in brief） was rare investigated. In this study, reanalysis method is used to study the KFETW＇s temporal and spatial variability and frontogenesis mechanism. It is found that although surface thermal front to the east of Taiwan is not obvious, there is an all-year strong Kuroshio thermal front called KFETW under the surface. The KFETW is connected to the south section of Kuroshio front in the East China Sea （KFECS in brief） and distributes along the east coastline of Taiwan. The KFETW has multi-scale variation feature. It has significant seasonal signal, and its intensity and width reach their maximum in summer. By using the reanalysis results obtained from this study, frontogenesis and changing mechanisms of the KFETW are discussed. It is found that both the Kuroshio and up-welling to the east of Taiwan can affect this front, and the up-welling may be the predominant factor in KFETW＇s frontogenesis and maintenance mechanism.

Numerical study on interaction between eddies and the Kuroshio Current east of Taiwan,China

We investigated the interaction between mesoscale eddies and the Kuroshio Current east of Taiwan,China,using a fine-resolution regional general circulation model.Mesoscale eddies are injected into a region east of Taiwan,China,according to the quasi-geostrophic theory of stratified fluids.Modeled eddies propagated westward at the velocity of the first baroclinic mode Rossby wave.When eddies collide with the Kuroshio Current east of Taiwan,China,the spatial structure and volume transport of the Kuroshio Current shows a significant variation.The upper 600 m of the anticyclonic eddy cannot cross the Kuroshio Current to reach the region west of the Kuroshio Current;rather,these waters flow northward along the eastern side of the Kuroshio Current.The upper water carried by the anticyclonic eddies cannot reach the shelf of the East China Sea(ECS).In contrast,the waters in the upper layer of the cyclonic eddy reach the western side of the Kuroshio Current and then flow northward.The dynamic mechanism analysis shows that the interaction between the Kuroshio Current and the cyclonic(anticyclonic)eddy decrease(increase)the horizontal potential vorticity(PV)gradient,or PV barrier,whereby the cyclonic(anticyclonic)eddy can(cannot)cross the Kuroshio Current.This study implies that the continental shelf could potentially be influenced by cyclonic eddies in the open ocean,which can transport heat and material from the upper open ocean across the Kuroshio Current to the shelf waters.

Relationship between East China Sea Kuroshio and Climatic Elements in East China

Using long term observation data in the main part of East China Sea Kuroshio, variations of Kuroshio upper layer temperature and salinity, their relationships with surface temperature and precipitation in east China are studied. Results reveal that the Kuroshio upper layer temperature experienced slight rise while salinity decreased in the past 50 years. In winter, Kuroshio upper layer temperature is closely related to the surface temperature in east China, and large area in east China shows positive correlation to the Kuroshio upper layer temperature, which might be related to the mass temperature reduction as a result of the cold air activities in winter. In summer, the increase of the precipitation causes the increase of diluted Yangtze River water into the shelf sea, thereby results in the salinity decrease of Kuroshio in the upper layer.

Surface current field and seasonal variability in the Kuroshio and adjacent regions derived from satellite-tracked drifter data

The muhiyear averaged surface current field and seasonal variability in the Kuroshio and adjacent regions are studied. The data used are trajectories and （1/4） ° latitude by （1/4） ° longitude mean currents derived from 323 Argos drifters deployed by Chinese institutions and world ocean circulation experiment from 1979 to 2003. The results show that the Kuroshio surface path adapts well to the western boundary topography and exhibits six great turnings. The branching occurs frequently near anticyclonic turnings rather than near cyclonic ones. In the Luzon Strait, the surface water intrusion into the South China Sea occurs only in fall and winter. The Kuroshio surface path east of Taiwan, China appears nearly as straight lines in summer, fall, and winter, when anticyclonic eddies coexist on its right side; while the path may cyclonically turning in spring when no eddy exists. The Kuroshio intrusion northeast of Taiwan often occurs in fall and winter, but not in summer. The running direction, width and velocity of the middle segment of the Kuroshio surface currents in the East China Sea vary seasonally. The northward intrusion of the Kuroshio surface water southwest of Kyushu occurs in spring and fall, but not in summer. The northmost position of the Kuroshio surface path southwest of Kyushu occurs in fall, but never goes beyond 31 °N. The northward surface current east of the Ryukyu Islands exists only along Okinawa-Amami Islands from spring to fall. In particular, it appears as an arm of an anti- cyclonic eddy in fall.

Application of the Conditional Nonlinear Optimal Perturbation Method to the Predictability Study of the Kuroshio Large Meander

A reduced-gravity barotropic shallow-water model was used to simulate the Kuroshio path variations. The results show that the model was able to capture the essential features of these path variations. We used one simulation of the model as the reference state and investigated the effects of errors in model parameters on the prediction of the transition to the Kuroshio large meander （KLM） state using the conditional nonlinear optimal parameter perturbation （CNOP-P） method. Because of their relatively large uncertainties, three model parameters were considered： the interracial friction coefficient, the wind-stress amplitude, and the lateral friction coefficient. We determined the CNOP-Ps optimized for each of these three parameters independently, and we optimized all three parameters simultaneously using the Spectral Projected Gradient 2 （SPG2） algorithm. Similarly, the impacts caused by errors in initial conditions were examined using the conditional nonlinear optimal initial perturbation （CNOP-I） method. Both the CNOP-I and CNOP-Ps can result in significant prediction errors of the KLM over a lead time of 240 days. But the prediction error caused by CNOP-I is greater than that caused by CNOP-P. The results of this study indicate not only that initial condition errors have greater effects on the prediction of the KLM than errors in model parameters but also that the latter cannot be ignored. Hence, to enhance the forecast skill of the KLM in this model, the initial conditions should first be improved, the model parameters should use the best possible estimates.

Study on interaction between the coastal water, shelf water and Kuroshio water in the Huanghai Sea and East China Sea

The main processes of interaction between the coastal water, shelf water and Kuroshio water in the Huanghai Sea (HS) and East China Sea (ECS) are analyzed based on the observation and study results in recent years. These processes include the intrusion of the Kuroshio water into the shelf area of the ECS, the entrainment of the shelf water into the Kuroshio, the seasonal process in the southern shelf area of the ECS controlled alternatively by the Taiwan Strait water and the Kuroshio water intruding into the shelf area, the interaction between the Kuroshio branch water, shelf mixed water and modified coastal water in the northeastern ECS, the water-exchange between the HS and ECS and the spread of the Changjiang diluted water.

Impact of Kuroshio on the dissolved oxygen in the East China Sea region

A marine survey was conducted from 18 May to 13 June 2014 in the East China Sea (ECS) and its adjacent Kuroshio Current to examine the spatial distribution and biogeochemical characteristics of dissolved oxygen (DO) in spring. Waters were sampled at 10?25 m intervals within 100 m depth, and at 25?500 m beyond 100 m. The depth, temperature, salinity, and density (sigma- t ) were measured in situ with a conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) sensor. DO concentrations were determined on board using traditional Winkler titration method. The results show that in the Kuroshio Current, DO content was the highest in the euphotic layer, then decreased sharply with depth to about 1 000 m, and increased with depth gradually thereafter. While in the ECS continental shelf area, DO content had high values in the coastal surface water and low values in the near-bottom water. In addition, a low-DO zone off the Changjiang (Yangtze) River estuary was found in spring 2014, and it was formed under the combined influence of many factors, including water stratification, high primary productivity in the euphotic layers, high accumulation/ sedimentation of organic matter below the euphotic layers, and mixing/transport of oceanic current waters on the shelf. Most notable among these is the Kuroshio intruded water, an oceanic current water which carried rich dissolved oxygen onto the continental shelf and alleviated the oxygen deficit phenomenon in the ECS, could impact the position, range, and intensity, thus the formation/destruction of the ECS Hypoxia Zone.

ADI BAROTROPIC OCEAN MODEL FOR SIMULATON OF KUROSHIO INTRUSION INTO CHINA SOUTHEASTERN WATERS

In this numerical model for simulating the Kuroshio intrusion into the East and South China Seas,vertically averaged marine hydrodynamic equations governing ocean currents and long-period waves areapproximated by a set of two-time-level semi-implicit finite difference equations. The major terms in-cluding the local acceleration, sea-surface slope, Coriolis force and the bottom friction are approxi-mated with the Crank-Nicholson scheme, which is of second order accuracy. The advection terms are app-roximated with the Leith scheme. The difference equations are split into two sets of alternating directionimplicit quations, each of which has a tridiagonal matrix and can be easily solved. The model reproduces a major Kuroshio intrusion north of Luzon Island, one north of Taiwan Island, andone west of the Tokara Strait. The model shows a current system running from the Luzon Strait to the coastof Vietnam and Hainan Island, through the Taiwan Strait and then into the Tsushima Strait. The summerand winter