Origins of the Kuroshio and Mindanao Current
Abstract
The boundary currents off the east coast of the Philippines are of critical importance to the general circulation of the Pacific Ocean. The westward flowing North Equatorial Current (NEC) runs into the Philippine coast and bifurcates into the northward Kuroshio and the southward Mindanao Current (MC). The partitioning of the flow into the Kuroshio and MC is an important observable. Quantifying these flows and understanding bifurcation dynamics are essential to improving predictions of regional circulation, and to characterizing property transports that ultimately affect Pacific climate. Fluctuations in the Kuroshio and MC can significantly impact variability downstream. For example, the Kuroshio penetrates through Luzon Strait into the South China Sea and onto the East China Sea shelf. The Kuroshio front dramatically alters stratification and may impact internal wave climate. This study incorporates observation, theory, and modeling to make fundamental advances in our knowledge of the origins of the Kuroshio and Mindanao currents. The objectives of this project include quantifying flows and water properties, improving understanding of the dynamics of a bifurcation region, and establishing predictability of the three major currents in the region. The observational approach will have two major thrusts: (1) quantifying the fluxes of mass, heat, and salt in the NEC, Kuroshio, and MC; and (2) establishing Lagrangian patterns of flow. To quantify the seasonal cycle and to obtain an initial measure of interannual variability, these observations will be sustained over a three-year period. The bifurcation region is an interesting target, but the stagnation point of a turbulent flow is not an easy quantity to observe. The sustained observations will provide a test for models of the regions, and at the same time will be available for assimilation in models.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA557051
Entities
People
- Bruce D. Cornuelle
- Daniel L. Rudnick
- Julie L. McClean
- Luca R. Centurioni
Organizations
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography