Atypical seasonal variability of the Kuroshio Current affected by intraseasonal signals at its origin based on direct mooring observations

Abstract

The spatial distribution and temporal variability of the Kuroshio Current (KC) was investigated with three moorings deployed at 122.7° E, 123° E, and 123.3° E along 18° N from January 2018 to the spring of 2020. It is shown that the core of the KC is located to the west of 122.7° E along 18° N. With the increase in longitude, the KC extended its vertical scale and attenuated its intensity gradually. The satellite data indicated that the KC was strongest in winter and spring, while it was weakest in autumn along 18° N. However, the seasonal cycle of the KC from mooring observations was atypical compared with that from the satellite data. The seasonal variation of the KC was not obvious in 2018, and a summer peak of KC occurred in 2019. The atypical seasonal variability of the KC was attributed to the strong intraseasonal signals generated by eddy activity. Eddies propagated from east and were enhanced to the west of 140° E, leading to the westward intensified intraseasonal signals. In addition, the intraseasonal signals varied interannually, that is why the variation of the KC in 2018 was quite different with that in 2019.