TY - JOUR
T1 - Distribution of deep near-inertial waves observed in the Kuroshio Extension
AU - Park, Jae Hun
AU - Donohue, Kathleen A.
AU - Watts, D. Randolph
AU - Rainville, Luc
N1 - Funding Information:
We thank Karen Tracey, Maureen Kennelly, and Andrew Greene for their help in processing the KESS data. Thanks are also given to two anonymous reviewers for their useful comments and suggestions on the original manuscript. This work was supported by NSF grants OCE-0221008, OCE-0220161, OCE-0453681, OCE-0827280, and OCE-0851246.
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - The distribution of deep near-inertial waves (NIWs) is investigated using data mainly from an array of 46 near-bottom acoustic current meter sensors spanning a 600 km × 600 km region as part of the Kuroshio Extension System Study during 2004-2006. The deep NIW distribution is interpreted in the context of both upper-layer and near-bottom mapped circulations. The wintertime-mean mixed-layer NIW energy input, modeled from observed wind stress, has the same range of values north and south of the Kuroshio Extension in this region. Yet, the wintertime-mean deep NIW energy distribution reveals a sharp factor-of-5 decrease from north to south of the Kuroshio jet. This direct observational evidence shows that the Kuroshio Extension blocks the equatorward propagation of NIWs. The NIW energy that does reach the sea floor within the subset of wintertime observations in the subtropical gyre arrives with patchy spatial and temporal distribution. Elevated NIW energy in deep water is associated with anticyclones in the deep barotropic flow and unassociated with upper layer eddies.
AB - The distribution of deep near-inertial waves (NIWs) is investigated using data mainly from an array of 46 near-bottom acoustic current meter sensors spanning a 600 km × 600 km region as part of the Kuroshio Extension System Study during 2004-2006. The deep NIW distribution is interpreted in the context of both upper-layer and near-bottom mapped circulations. The wintertime-mean mixed-layer NIW energy input, modeled from observed wind stress, has the same range of values north and south of the Kuroshio Extension in this region. Yet, the wintertime-mean deep NIW energy distribution reveals a sharp factor-of-5 decrease from north to south of the Kuroshio jet. This direct observational evidence shows that the Kuroshio Extension blocks the equatorward propagation of NIWs. The NIW energy that does reach the sea floor within the subset of wintertime observations in the subtropical gyre arrives with patchy spatial and temporal distribution. Elevated NIW energy in deep water is associated with anticyclones in the deep barotropic flow and unassociated with upper layer eddies.
KW - Kuroshio
KW - Kuroshio Extension System Study
KW - Near-inertial wave
KW - acoustic current meter
KW - deep eddies
KW - inverted echo sounder
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77956820897&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10872-010-0058-0
DO - 10.1007/s10872-010-0058-0
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:77956820897
VL - 66
SP - 709
EP - 717
JO - Journal of Oceanography
JF - Journal of Oceanography
SN - 0916-8370
IS - 5
ER -