UC San Diego

Abstract: The Kuroshio Extension (KE) jet transitions between stable and unstable states on interannual time scales. Cross‐jet eddy mixing in the two states is contrasted in the KE region ( ), using a global eddying configuration of the Parallel Ocean Program with online numerical particles. The 4 year period chosen (June 1994 to May 1998) covers a full cycle of the stable state, unstable state and the transition period. Large values of cross‐jet eddy diffusivities within the KE jet are concentrated in the upper 1000 m. In the upper ocean, elevated cross‐jet mixing within the KE jet is mainly concentrated in the downstream part of the KE jet, where the jet is weak but eddy activity is strong. The simulated time‐mean KE jet is more intense and extends further east in the stable state than in the unstable state. Consequently, strong cross‐jet mixing within the KE jet is located west of E during June 1996 to May 1997 (a typical unstable state), but east of during June 1995 to May 1996 (a typical stable state). However, average mixing within the KE jet is indistinguishable in the typical stable and unstable states. In the deep ocean, mixing is strongly influenced by topography, and thus their horizontal structures have less inter‐annual variability than in the upper ocean. One caveat is that results here cover one representative cycle of the two states. To obtain the climate mean mixing structures for the stable or unstable state, one would need numerical output covering a period much longer than 4 years.