BAROCLINIC TRANSPORT OF THE KUROSHIO EXTENSION BETWEEN 141-DEGREES-E AND 165-DEGREES-E

Using a water-mass-based climatology of temperature and salinity, geostrophic transports derived from dynamic height differences across the width of the Kuroshio Extension are presented. The dynamic height differences are obtained by calculating dynamic heights in the warmer water mass south of the Kuroshio and the cooler water mass north of the Kuroshio. The mean baroclinic transport is examined between 141-degrees-E and 165-degrees-E relative to several pressure levels. The baroclinic transports are sensitive to the selection of the northern and southern boundaries. The baroclinic transports increase from 141-degrees-E to about 145-degrees-E and decline east of 145-degrees-E. The computed seasonal variation of the longitudinally averaged baroclinic transport shows a minimum during spring and a broad maximum from July to November.