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(1) Kuroshio frontal eddies and subduction of low salinity water

Kuroshio meander or frontal eddies with a hundred kilometer scale are frequently observed around the shelf break in the East China Sea. Subduction associated with the frontal eddies can be sometimes found along the density front reaching about 100 m into the Kuroshio subsurface. The subduction of low salinity water tends to be seen in the downstream side of the frontal eddies.

Typical phenomena for the low salinity　water subduction found around the frontal　eddies ( 1996, and 1997 in the East China Sea) 　　　　　　　　

Horizontal distribution at several levels in (left) temperature and (right) salinity estimated from repeated measurements along a fixed section assuming that a constant velocity mean current would carry the vertical structure.

(2) Intrusion from the bottom layer on the shelf into the Kuroshio subsurface.

Aside from the subduction of low salinity water from the surface, offshore intrusion from bottom layer on the shelf into the Kuroshio subsurface, particularly detected with turbidity and/or dissolved oxygen. It is sometimes slightly low salinity. The horizontal distance of the offshore intrusion sometimes extends 50 km from the shelf break.

　　　　　　　　　　　

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