Detailed Observations of the Kuroshio and Its Eddies - October 1976.

Two Kuroshio eddies--one cyclonic and one anticyclonic--were located east of Japan during October 1976 and were the subject of a detailed ship survey. A segment of the Kuroshio between the two eddies was also studied. The data consist of 212 XBTs and 29 deep STD stations. These observations represent some of the most thorough measurements of Kuroshio eddies presently available and the first detailed description of a cyclonic eddy. The cyclonic Kuroshio eddy had an overall diameter of 250 km and was estimated to be 4 months old. Temperature at the eddy center was 7 deg C colder than outside at a depth of 400 m. The anticyclonic eddy was 120 km in diameter and was 7 deg C warmer than surrounding water at 400 m. It was at least 8 months old and was beginning to coalesce with the Kuroshio. Comparison of these two eddies with several Gulf Stream eddies shows them to be similar features in many respects. (Author)