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Eddy-Induced Lateral Heat Flux in the Kuroshio Extension Recirculation from Argo, TMI and Altimetry Measurements. Bo Qiu, Shuiming Chen and Peter Hacker Department of Oceanography University of Hawaii. Predictive skill of dSST’/dt by Q’.
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Eddy-Induced Lateral Heat Flux in the Kuroshio Extension Recirculation from Argo, TMI and Altimetry Measurements Bo Qiu, Shuiming Chen and Peter Hacker Department of Oceanography University of Hawaii
Predictive skill of dSST’/dt by Q’ Cayan (1992)
Objective of the study • To evaluate lateral heat fluxes due to mesoscale eddies by combining Argo profiling data and satellite SST and SSH measurements.
x-t plot of SSH anomalies
Lagged Correlation between TMI SSTA and T/P SSHA Kuroshio Extension KE recirculation Subtropical Countercurrent
T’ v’ <T’v’>
T’ v’ <T’v’> eddy heat flux = 0.025 pW eddy heat flux = 0.012 pw
Between 130E and 180: 8 eddies on average => Total northward eddy heat flux = 0.10~0.20 pW
Roemmich and Gilson (2001) Total northward eddy flux = 0.086 pW
Subtropical Countercurrent KE Recirculation Kuroshio Extension
Summary • Warm (cold) SST anomalies associated with mesoscale eddies in the KE recirculation are located ~150km to the west of high (low) SSH anomalies. • This phase shift appears to be largely confined to the surface mixed layer and it contributes to the meridional eddy heat transport (preliminary estimate: 0.10 ~ 0.20 pW). • Future studies are needed to better quantify the eddy heat fluxes and to clarify the causes for the observed phase shift.
(UH, URI, WHOI) (20 in 06/2004 + 20 in 06/2005) KESS Timeline