Life history of a cyclonic ring detached from the Kuroshio Extension as seen by the Geosat altimeter

K. Ichikawa, S. Imawaki

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

47 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The sea surface dynamic topography (SSDT) sea surface height relative to the geoid) is approximately estimated by combining the temporal fluctuation of SSDT determined from altimetry data with the climatological mean SSDT calculated from hydrographic data. This approximated SSDT, or composite SSDT, is obtained in the area southeast of Japan for the first year (1986-1987) of the Geosat Exact Repeat Mission. Variations in the Kuroshio Current System are well described by the composite SSDT. In particular, a complete life history of a cyclonic ring is observed for the first time in this region, namely, westward propagation of a southward meander of the Kuroshio Extension, its pinching-off to form a cyclonic ring, the ring's westward movement, its coalescence with the Kuroshio, and its eastward advection. All available hydrographic data and cloud-free satellite infrared images support the existence of this series of phenomena. -Authors

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)15,953-15,966
JournalJournal of Geophysical Research
Volume99
Issue numberC8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1994
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Geophysics
  • Forestry
  • Oceanography
  • Aquatic Science
  • Ecology
  • Water Science and Technology
  • Soil Science
  • Geochemistry and Petrology
  • Earth-Surface Processes
  • Atmospheric Science
  • Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous)
  • Space and Planetary Science
  • Palaeontology

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