KESS

The overall goal of the Kuroshio Extension System Study (KESS) is to identify and quantify the dynamic and thermodynamic processes governing the variability of and the interaction between the Kuroshio Extension and the recirculation gyre. Investigators from three US institutions (University of Rhode Island, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and University of Hawaii) deployed a state-of-the-art array consisting of moored-profiler and current-meter moorings and inversted echo sounders equipped with near-bottom pressure and current sensors (CPIES) from 2004 to 2006.

URI Principal Investigators

  • D. Randolph Watts
  • Kathleen A. Donohue

See the full list of US KESS PIs.

US KESS Website

Data at US KESS

KESS Observing Array.

KESS array of inverted echo sounders equipped with bottom pressure gauges and current meters (CPIES, diamonds), moored profilers (MPs, stars) equipped with upward-looking acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCPs) and deep current meters, and KEO surface buoy (triangle). Argo profiling floats were deployed within the green boxed region to measure the temperature and salinity fields. Thin light blue lines indicate Jason 1 ground tracks. Solid lines are the GDEM mean surface dynamic height contours in dyn cm from Teague et al. (1990). The 2000 and 4000 m isobaths are shaded dark and light gray respectively. Eddy kinetic energy > 0.18 and 0.23 m2s-2 is color shaded yellow and orange respectively. CTD/SADCP observations were made at all CPIES sites.

The moored array was designed to measure the time-varying density and velocity fields with the 4-D mesoscale resolution required to determine dynamical balances and cross-frontal exchanges of heat, salt, momentum, and PV. The high-resolution in situ instrument array was centered on the first quasi-stationary meander trough east of Japan, indicated by the GDEM mean surface dynamic height contours (black in above figure). The array was located in the region of highest eddy kinetic energy (yellow and orange shadings).

The in situ observations spanned a two-year period. The instruments were deployed on a cruise aboard the R/V Thompson in Spring 2004 (Deployment Cruise Summary). On a mid-experiment cruise conducted during June-July 2005 aboard the R/V Revelle, the moored profiler moorings were recycled and their data collected. Daily measurements of pressure, travel time and currents were telemetered to the ship from the CPIES and a CTD/ADCP feature survey was conducted. The moored instruments were recovered during May and June 2006 on a cruise aboard the R/V Melville.

Additional information about the KESS cruises, including cruise reports, may be found on the US KESS website under the cruises link.

Mapping Array Highlights

Two States of Variability

Satellite altimetry shows the Kuroshio Extension alternates between relatively stable and vigorous meandering intervals on decadal time scales (Qiu and Chen, 2005). The Kuroshio extension transitioned between these two states in fall 2004. SSH fields for the stable period (below left) show two nearly stationary meanders and a westward propagating warm core ring in the KESS region. During the active period (below right), a steep trough develops and a cold core ring forms.

Upper (contours in cm) and Deep (color in dbar) Mean Streamfunctions

During the stable period (below left), the upper mean streamfunction shows a well-defined KE front and recirculation gyre SW of a mean weak meander trough. Anticyclonic circulation in the deep streamfunction is the deep expression of the southern recirculation gyre. There is weak cross-frontal flow under the trough. During the active period (below right), there is increased meandering which produces weaker lateral gradients across the KE mean front. Both the trough and cold core ring are evident in the mean. Deep features are intensified during the active period.

Mesoscale features alias satellite SSH

From May to September 2004 (below left, the green hatched area in SSH (m) time series) a series of rapid, eastward propagating (25-30 km/d) meanders were observed by the CPIES. These short wavelength (160 km) meanders were not resolved by satellite SSH (below right, SSH colors and contours in cm).

Jet interaction with deep eddies

A meander trough steepens during December 2004 and pinches off a cold core ring. A movie shows this ring formation in more detail. Deep cyclones and anticyclones move from the northeast to southwest. Upper and deep layers interact and jointly intensify. Deep eddies play an important role in the pinch-off process. Velocity is shown by arrows in cm s-1. SSH is shown by contours (in cm) and color (in dbar), red is high and blue is low. Peak values are -0.25 and 0.25 dbar.

Movies (avi format)

Plan-view maps in movies show several observations:

  • Deep pressure field anomaly in color
  • Upper streamfunction by the gray and black contours
  • Bottom velocities vectors: measured (black) and mapped (gray)
  • Argo float tracks with unique colors and symbols used for each float
Movie 1: Movie 2: Movie 3:
Link to two year movie Link to movie with Argo float tracks Link to ring formation movie
Daily Maps for the two-year
period
1 June 2004 to 1 May 2006 (82 Mb) 		Daily Maps with superimposed
Argo Float
tracks for the two year
period 1 June 2004 to 1 May 2006
(80 Mb)		 Daily Maps for the period of Ring 04B formation, 15 November 2004 to
31 January 2005 (13 Kb)

Publications

  • Bishop, S. P. The Role of Eddy Fluxes in the Kuroshio Extension at 144°-148°E. PhD dissertation, University of Rhode Island, Graduate School of Oceanography, 2012. 128 pp. (PDF)
  • Bishop, S. P., and F. O. Bryan. A comparison of mesoscale eddy heat fluxes from observations and a high-resolution ocean model simulation of the Kuroshio Extension. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 45:2563–2570, 2013. (doi:10.1175/JPO-D-13-0150.1)
  • Bishop, S. P., and D. R. Watts. Rapid eddy-induced modification of subtropical mode water during the Kuroshio Extension System Study. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 44:1941–1953, 2014. (doi:10.1175/JPO-D-13-0191.1)
  • Bishop, S. P., D. R. Watts, J.-H. Park, and N. G. Hogg. Evidence of bottom-trapped currents in the Kuroshio Extension region. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 42(2):321–328, 2012. (doi:10.1175/JPO-D-11-0144.1)
  • Bishop, S. P., D. R. Watts, and K. A. Donohue. Divergent eddy heat fluxes in the Kuroshio Extension at 144°–148°E. Part 1: mean structure. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 43:1533‐1550, 2013. (doi:10.1175/JPO-D-12-0221.1)
  • Bishop, S. P. Divergent eddy heat fluxes in the Kuroshio Extension at 144°–148°E. Part II: spatiotemporal variability. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 43:2416‐2431, 2013. (doi:10.1175/JPO-D-13-061.1)
  • Donohue, K., D. R. Watts, K. Tracey, M. Wimbush, J.-H. Park, N. Bond, M. Cronin, S. Chen, B. Qui, P. Hacker, N. Hogg, S. Jayne, J. McClean, L. Rainville, H. Mitsudera, Y. Tanimoto, and S.-P. Xie. Program studies the Kuroshio Extension. EOS, Transactions, AGU, 89(17):161–162, 2008. (doi:10.1029/2008EO170002)
  • Donohue, K. A., D. R. Watts, K. Tracey, A. D. Greene, and M. Kennelly. Mapping circulation in the Kuroshio Extension with an array of Current and Pressure recording Inverted Echo Sounders. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 27:507–527, 2010. (doi:10.1175/2009JTECHO686.1)
  • Fearing, A. L., K. A. Donohue, and D. R. Watts. Sea surface height variability in the Kuroshio Extension. SURFO Technical Report 2006-02, University of Rhode Island, 2006. (PDF)
  • Greene, A. D., G. G. Sutyrin, and D. R. Watts. Deep cyclogenesis by synoptic eddies interacting with a seamount. Journal of Marine Research, 67(3):305–322, 2009. (doi:10.1357/002224009789954775)
  • Greene, A. D., D. R. Watts, G. G. Sutyrin, and H. Sasaki. Evidence of vertical coupling between the Kuroshio Extension and topographically controlled deep eddies. Journal of Marine Research, 70(5):719–747, 2012. (doi:10.1357/002224012806290723)
  • Greene, A. D. Deep Variability in the Kuroshio Extension. PhD dissertation, University of Rhode Island, Graduate School of Oceanography, 2010. 150 pp. (PDF)
  • Howe, P. J. Stream-coordinate structure and variability of the Kuroshio extension. M.S. thesis, University of Rhode Island, Graduate School of Oceanography, 2008. 123pp. (PDF)
  • Howe, P. J., K. A. Donohue, and D. R. Watts. Stream-coordinate structure and variability of the Kuroshio Extension. Deep-Sea Res. I, 56(7):1093–1116, 2009. (doi:10.1016/j.dsr.2009.03.007)
  • Jayne, S. R., N. G. Hogg, S. N. Waterman, L. Rainville, K. A. Donohue, D. R. Watts, K. L. Tracey, J. L. McClean, M. E. Maltrud, B. Qiu, S. Chen, and P. Hacker. The Kuroshio Extension and its recirculation gyres. Deep-Sea Research I, 56(12):2088–2099, 2009. (doi:10.1016/j.dsr.2009.08.006)
  • Kennelly, M., K. Donohue, A. Greene, K. L. Tracey, and D. R. Watts. Inverted echo sounder data report: Kuroshio Extension System Study (KESS), April 2004 to July 2006. GSO Technical Report 2008-02, University of Rhode Island, 2008. (PDF)
  • Na, H., J.-H. Park, D. R. Watts, K. Donohue, and H. J. Lee. Near 13-day barotropic ocean response to the atmospheric forcing in the North Pacific. J. Geophys. Res., 117(C12019), 2012. (doi:10.1029/2012JC008211)
  • Na, H., D. R. Watts, J.-H. Park, C. Jeon, H. J. Lee, M. Nonaka, and A. D. Greene. Bottom pressure variability in the Kuroshio Extension driven by the atmosphere and ocean instabilities. J. Geophys. Res.: Oceans, 121(8):6507–6519, 2016. (doi:10.1002/2016JC012097)
  • Park, J.-H., D. R. Watts, K. A. Donohue, and S. R. Jayne. A comparison of in situ bottom pressure array measurements with GRACE estimates in the Kuroshio Extension. Geophys. Res. Lett., 35(L17601), 2008. (doi:10.1029/2008GL034778)
  • Park, J.-H., K. A. Donohue, D. R. Watts, and L. Rainville. Distribution of deep near-inertial waves observed in the Kuroshio Extension. Journal of Oceanography, 66(5):709–717, 2010. (doi:10.1007/s10872-010-0058-0)
  • Park, J.-H., D. R. Watts, K. A. Donohue, and K. L. Tracey. Comparisons of sea surface height variability observed by pressure-recording inverted echo sounders and satellite altimetry in the Kuroshio Extension. J. Oceanogr., 68:401–416, 2012. (doi:10.1007/s10872-012-0108-x)
  • Qiu, B., S. Chen, K. A. Donohue, D. R. Watts, H. Mitsudera, N. G. Hogg and S. R. Jayne. Observations of the Subtropical Mode Water Evolution from the Kuroshio Extension System Study. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 36:457–473, 2006. (doi:10.1175/JPO2849.1)
  • Tracey, K. L., D. R. Watts, K. A. Donohue, and H. Ichikawa. Propagation of Kuroshio Extension meanders between 143°E and 149°E. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 42:581–601, 2012. (doi:10.1175/JPO-D-11-0138.1)
  • Zamorski, S. E. Kuroshio Extension meanders: model data-intercomparison. M.S. thesis, University of Rhode Island, Graduate School of Oceanography, 2012. 65pp. (PDF)

References

  • Qiu, B., and S. Chen, Variability of the Kuroshio Extension jet, recirculation gyre and mesoscale eddies on decadal timescales. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 35, 2090-2103, 2005. (doi:10.1175/JPO2807.1)
  • Vizcarra, N. B. Probing the Black Current. Sensing our Planet: NASA Earth Science Research Features, 22–25, 2010. (PDF)

KESS is funded by the National Science Foundation under Grant Numbers 0221008 and 0851246.

Disclaimer: Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recomendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation (NSF).