Ryuichiro Inoue

Mesoscale eddy effects on temporal variability of surface chlorophyll a in the Kuroshio Extension

We investigated the relationship between chlorophyll a (Chl-a) concentrations estimated from satellite observations and the activity of eddies in the Kuroshio Extension region. High (low) area-averaged Chl-a concentrations were frequently observed in the core of cyclonic (anticyclonic) eddies. Such relationships between Chl-a concentrations and eddy cores were not frequently observed in the southern part of the recirculation gyre, and advection of background meridional gradient of Chl-a by eddy-edge currents accounted for Chl-a spatial variability. Decadal-scale changes of Chl-a concentrations around the Kuroshio Extension were strongly affected by eddy activity and transport but not by large-scale near-surface isopycnal heaving. We also found that decadal changes of nutrient concentrations near the main stream could affect Chl-a concentrations in the southern part of the recirculation gyre via southward transport of eddies and mean flow.

Physical oceanographic conditions around the S1 mooring site

We describe physical oceanographic conditions around the S1 biogeochemical mooring site (30°N, 145°E) between February 2010 and July 2013. At the S1 mooring site, there is a clear seasonal variability of the mixed layer depth, wind forcing as well as horizontal kinetic energy in a near-inertial band. Interannual variability of the winter mixed layer was observed. The winter mixed layer depth was shallower in early 2010 and became deeper afterwards. Several mesoscale eddies and typhoons passed by the S1 mooring sites every year. Based on observed events, we suggest that those physical processes possibly affected biogeochemical properties around the S1 mooring site.

Evidence of enhanced double‐diffusive convection below the main stream of the Kuroshio Extension

In this study, a Navis-MicroRider microstructure float and an EM-APEX float were deployed along the Kuroshio Extension Front. The observations deeper than 150 m reveal widespread interleaving thermohaline structures for at least 900 km along the front, presumably generated through mesoscale stirring and near-inertial oscillations. In these interleaving structures, microscale thermal dissipation rates χ are very high O( >10−7 K2s−1), while turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rates ϵ are relatively low O( 10−10−10−9 Wkg−1), with effective thermal diffusivity Kθ of O( 10−3 m2s−1) consistent with the previous parameterizations for double-diffusion, and, Kθ is two orders of magnitude larger than the turbulent eddy diffusivity for density Kρ. The average observed dissipation ratio Γ in salt finger and diffusive convection favorable conditions are 1.2 and 4.0, respectively, and are larger than that for turbulence. Our results suggest that mesoscale subduction/obduction and near-inertial motions could catalyze double-diffusive favorable conditions, and thereby enhancing the diapycnal tracer fluxes below the Kuroshio Extension Front.

Diel vertical migration of zooplankton at the S1 biogeochemical mooring revealed from acoustic backscattering strength

We examined the diel vertical migration of zooplankton by using the backscatter strength obtained from moored acoustic Doppler current profilers at mooring site S1 in the North Pacific subtropical gyre. There was seasonal variability in the vertical distribution and migration of the high-backscatter layers in that they became deeper than the euphotic zone (<100 m) in winter and were confined above this depth in other seasons. Seasonal changes in daylight hours also affected the timing of the diel migration. We found that lunar cycles affected vertical distributions of zooplankton near the surface by changing the light intensity. Physical events, such as mixed-layer deepening and restratification and the passage of a mesoscale eddy, also affected zooplankton behavior possibly by changing food environment in the euphotic zone. Since the comparison with net samples indicated that the backscatter likely represents the bulk biomass, the accuracy of biomass estimates based on net samples could be influenced by the high temporal variability of zooplankton distributions.

Author Correction: First Evidence of Coherent Bands of Strong Turbulent Layers Associated with High-Wavenumber Internal-Wave Shear in the Upstream Kuroshio

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First Evidence of Coherent Bands of Strong Turbulent Layers Associated with High-Wavenumber Internal-Wave Shear in the Upstream Kuroshio

The upstream Kuroshio flows through Okinawa Trough and the Tokara island chain, the region near the continental shelf of the East China Sea and shallow seamounts, where the Kuroshio can induce strong mixing over the shallow topography. Also, tidal currents over the rough topography may produce internal tides, and associated turbulence. The previous observations show energetic high vertical wavenumber near-inertial wave shear in the Kuroshio thermocline, which implies strong turbulent mixing. However, direct turbulence measurements in this region are very scarce. Using high lateral resolution (1–2 km) direct turbulence measurements, we show here, for the first time, that strong turbulent layers form spatially coherent banded structures with lateral scales of >O(10 km), associated with bands of near-inertial wave/diurnal internal tide shear of high vertical wavenumber in the upstream Kuroshio. The turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rates within these turbulent layers are >O(10−7 W kg−1), and estimated vertical eddy diffusivity shows >O(10−4 m2 s−1) on average. These results suggest that the high vertical wavenumber near-inertial waves propagating in the upstream Kuroshio could have large impacts on the watermass modifications, momentum mixing, nutrient supply, and associated biogeochemical responses in its downstream.