Dynamics of the Low-Frequency Variability of the Kuroshio Current System

9911268研究人员提出的假设是，黑潮年代际变化的一个重要来源在于黑潮与其南面的惯性环流的相互作用。他认为，这种相互作用可能是两种可供选择的持久均衡之间快速转换的一种机制，其中一种是黑潮在流经日本时相对笔直，另一种是黑潮形成准持续的向南蜿蜒。研究人员建议用一个简化的西北太平洋数值模式来检验这一假设，这是一种低垂直分辨率的MICOM版本。特别是，他将研究时变黑潮/惯性再循环系统的位涡预算。还将进行实验以测试环流涡旋上的表面浮力通量对该环流涡旋演变的影响。有关的太平洋区域和北大西洋的动力对应区域是热带以外一些最大的海-气热量交换的地点。

9911268The investigator advances the hypothesis that an important source of decadal variability for the Kuroshio lies in the interaction of the Kuroshio with the inertial recirculation to its immediate south. He argues that this interaction is a possible mechanism for the rapid transitions between two alternative persistent equilibria, one in which the Kuroshio path is relatively straight as it flows past Japan and one in which it develops a quasistationary southward meander. The investigator proposes to test this hypothesis with a simplified numerical model of the north-west Pacific, a low vertical resolution version of MICOM. In particular, he will examine the potential vorticity budget of the time varying Kuroshio/inertial recirculation system. Experiments will also be made to test the influence of surface buoyancy fluxes over the recirculation gyre on the evolution of that gyre. The region of the Pacific concerned and its dynamical counterpart in the North Atlantic are the locations of some of the largest air-sea heat exchanges seen outside the tropics.