Annual Anthropogenic Carbon Transport into the North Pacific Intermediate Water through the Kuroshio/Oyashio Interfrontal Zone: An Estimation from CFCs Distribution

Vertical distribution of anthropogenic carbon content of the water (exDIC) in the Oyashio area just outside of the Kuroshio/Oyashio Interfrontal Zone (K/O Zone) was estimated by the simple 1-D advection-diffusion model calibrated by the distribution of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). The average concentration of exDIC for = 26.60–27.00 is multiplied by the volume transport of Oyashio water into the North Pacific Intermediate Water (NPIW) to estimate the annual transport of exDIC into NPIW through K/O Zone. The estimated transport of exDIC was 0.018–0.020 GtC/y, which corresponds to 15% of the whole total exDIC accumulation in the temperate North Pacific. A simple assessment using the NPIW 1-box model indicates that the current study explains at least 70% of the total annual transport of exDIC into NPIW, and that small exDIC sources for NPIW still exists in addition to K/O Zone.     

Outflow of the Intermediate Oyashio Water from Sagami Bay to the Shikoku Basin

Since the Intermediate Oyashio Water (IOW) gradually accumulates in Sagami Bay, it can reasonably be supposed that the IOW also flows out from Sagami Bay, even though it may be altered by mixing with other waters. We have occasionally observed a water less than 34.2 psu with a potential density of 26.8 at the southeastern area off Izu Peninsula in July 1993 by the training vessel Seisui-maru of Mie University. Observational data supplied by the Japan Meteorological Agency and the Kanagawa Prefectural Fisheries Experimental Station show that the IOW of less than 34.1 psu was observed at northern stations of the line PT (KJ) off the Boso Peninsula and to the east of Oshima in the late spring 1993. Based upon these observations, it is concluded that the IOW flows out from Sagami Bay into the Shikoku Basin along southeastern area off the Izu Peninsula. The less saline water (<34.2 psu) was also observed to the west of Miyake-jima during the same cruise, and the westward intrusion of IOW from south of the Boso Peninsula to the Shikoku Basin through the gate area of the Kuroshio path over the Izu Ridge was detected. This event indicated that the IOW branched south of the Boso Peninsula and flowed into Sagami Bay and/or into the gate area over the Izu Ridge. The southward intrusion of IOW into the south of the Boso Peninsula is discussed in relation to the latitudinal location of the main axes of the Kuroshio and the Oyashio. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Intermediate Circulation in the Northwestern North Pacific Derived from Subsurface Floats

In order to examine the formation, distribution and synoptic scale circulation structure of North Pacific Intermediate Water (NPIW), 21 subsurface floats were deployed in the sea east of Japan. A Eulerian image of the intermediate layer (density range: 26.6–27.0σ_θ) circulation in the northwestern North Pacific was obtained by the combined analysis of the movements of the subsurface floats in the period from May 1998 to November 2002 and historical hydrographic observations. The intermediate flow field derived from the floats showed stronger flow speeds in general than that of geostrophic flow field calculated from historical hydrographic observations. In the intermediate layer, 8 Sv (1 Sv ≡ 10⁶ m³s⁻¹) Oyashio and Kuroshio waters are found flowing into the sea east of Japan. Three strong eastward flows are seen in the region from 150°E to 170°E, the first two flows are considered as the Subarctic Current and the Kuroshio Extension or the North Pacific Current. Both volume transports are estimated as 5.5 Sv. The third one flows along the Subarctic Boundary with a volume transport of 5 Sv. Water mass analysis indicates that the intermediate flow of the Subarctic Current consists of 4 Sv Oyashio water and 1.5 Sv Kuroshio water. The intermediate North Pacific Current consists of 2 Sv Oyashio water and 3.5 Sv Kuroshio water. The intermediate flow along the Subarctic Boundary contains 2 Sv Oyashio water and 3 Sv Kuroshio water. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Structure of Subsurface Intrusion of the Oyashio Water into the Kuroshio Extension and Formation Process of the North Pacific Intermediate Water

In order to understand the actual formation process of the North Pacific Intermediate Water (NPIW), structure of subsurface intrusions of the Oyashio water and the mixing of the Oyashio and the Kuroshio waters in and around the Kuroshio Extension (KE) were examined on the basis of a synoptic CTD observation carried out in May-June 1992. The fresh Oyashio water in the south of Hokkaido was transported into KE region through the Mixed Water Region (MWR) in the form of subsurface intrusions along two main paths. The one was along the east coast of northern Japan through the First Branch of the Oyashio (FBO) and the other along the eastern face of a warm streamer which connected KE with a warm core ring through the Second Branch of the Oyashio (SBO). The fresh Oyashio water extended southward through FBO strongly mixed with the saline NPIW transported by the Kuroshio in the south of Japan (old NPIW) in and around the warm streamer. On the other hand, the one through SBO well preserved its original properties and extended eastward beyond 150°E along KE with a form of rather narrow band. The intrusion ejected Oyashio water lens with a diameter of 50–60 km southward across KE axis and split northward into the MWR involved in the interaction of KE and a warm core ring, which were supposed to be primary processes of new NPIW formation.     

Topographic Effect of Izu Ridge on the Distribution of the North Pacific Intermediate Water South of Japan

The topographic effect of the Izu Ridge on the horizontal distribution of the North Pacific Intermediate Water (NPIW) south of Japan has been studied using observational data obtained by the Seisui-Maru of Mie University (Mie Univ. data) and those compiled by Japan Oceanographic Data Center (JODC data). Both data sets show that water of salinity less than 34.1 psu on potential density () surface of 26.8 is confined to the eastern side of the Izu Ridge, while water of salinity less than 34.2 psu is confined to the southern area over the Izu Ridge at a depth greater than 2000 m and to the southeastern area in the Shikoku Basin. It is also shown by T-S analysis of Mie Univ. data over the Izu Ridge that water of salinity less than 34.2 psu dominates south of 30°N, where the depth of the Izu Ridge is deeper than 2000 m and NPIW can intrude westward over the Izu Ridge. JODC data reveal that relatively large standard deviations of the salinity on surface of 26.7, 26.8 and 26.9 are detected along the mean current path of the Kuroshio and the Kuroshio Extension. Almost all of the standard deviations are less than 0.05 psu in other area with the NPIW, which shows that the time variation in the salinity can be neglected. This observational evidence shows that the topographic effect of the Izu Ridge on the horizontal distribution of the NPIW, which is formed east of 145°E by the mixing of the Kuroshio water and the Oyashio water, is prominent north of 30°N with a depth shallower than 2000 m.     

Influence of Kuroshio Flow on the Horizontal Distribution of North Pacific Intermediate Water in the Shikoku Basin

The influence of the Kuroshio flow on the horizontal distribution of North Pacific Intermediate Water (NPIW) in the Shikoku Basin is examined based upon observational data collected by the training vessel “Seisui-maru” of Mie University together with oceanographic data compiled by the Japan Oceanographic Data Center (JODC). Although it has been stated that the NPIW with salinity less than 34.2 psu had been confined to the south of the Kuroshio main axis along the PT (KJ) Line on the eastern side of the Izu Ridge, a similar tendency can be detected on the western side of the Izu Ridge. Namely, the NPIW on the southern side of the Kuroshio main axis in the Shihoku Basin does not indicate a tendency to go northward across the Kuroshio main axis without an increase in salinity of more than 34.2 psu. However, the JODC data show that less saline water (<34.2 psu) was present on the northern side of the Kuroshio main axis south of the Kii Peninsula in May 1992. Satellite observed sea surface temperature (SST) data suggested that the Kuroshio approaches the Kii Peninsula after forming a small meander off Kyushu and some intrusions of the NPIW into the northern coastal side of the Kuroshio main axis occurred in this period. It is concluded that intrusion of the NPIW with salinity less than 34.2 psu to the northern coastal side through the Kuroshio main axis occurred during the decay period of the small meander path in May 1992. Based on these observational results, the source of the salinity minimum water on the northern coastal side of the Kuroshio main axis is discussed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Transport of Oyashio Water across the Subarctic Front into the Mixed Water Region and Formation of NPIW

Oyashio water flowing into the Mixed Water Region (MWR) and the Kuroshio Extension region that forms North Pacific Intermediate Water (NPIW) has been examined, based on four Conductivity-Temperature-Depth profiler (CTD)/Lowered Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (L-ADCP) surveys of water masses and ocean currents. There are two processes by which the Oyashio water intrudes across the Subarctic Front (SAF): one is a direct cross-nearshore-SAF transport near Hokkaido along the western boundary, and the other is a cross-offshore-SAF process. Seasonal variations were observed in the former process, and the transport of the Oyashio water across SAF near Hokkaido in the density range of 26.6–27.4σ_θ was 5–10 Sv in spring 1998 and 2001, and 0–4 Sv in autumn 2000, mainly corresponding to the change of the southwestward Oyashio transport. Through the latter process, 5–6 Sv of the Oyashio water was entrained across the offshore SAF from south of Hokkaido to 150° in both spring 2001 and autumn 2000. The total cross-SAF Oyashio water transport contributing to NPIW formation is more than 10 Sv, which is larger than previously reported values. Most of the Oyashio water formed through the former process was transported southeastward through the Kuroshio Extension. It is suggested that the Oyashio intrusion via the latter process feeds NPIW in the northern part of the MWR, mainly along the Subarctic Boundary and SAF. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The South China Sea,a <Emphasis Type="Italic">cul-de-sac</Emphasis> of North Pacific Intermediate Water

This study discusses branching of the Kuroshio Current including North Pacific Intermediate Water (NPIW) into the South China Sea (SCS). The spreading path of the subtropical salinity minimum of NPIW is southwestward pointing to the Luzon Strait between Taiwan and Luzon islands. Using a large collection of updated hydrography, results show that the SCS is a cul-de-sac for the subtropical NPIW because even the NPIW’s upper boundary neutral density surface σ _N = 26.5 is completely blocked by the Palawan sill and partly blocked by the southern Mindoro Strait. In autumn, NPIW is driven out of the Luzon Strait by the preceding anticyclonic summer monsoon due to an intraseasonal variation and seasonal phase lag response to the weaker summer monsoon. Stronger inflow under winter monsoon than outflow under summer monsoon results in a net annual transport of NPIW of about 1.1 ± 0.2 Sv (1 Sv = 10⁶ m³s⁻¹) into the SCS. This net transport accounts for the anomaly in NPIW transport across the World Ocean Circulation Experiment section P8 (130° E). An earlier study estimated a large westward NPIW transport of about 3.9 ± 0.2 Sv, resulting in a difference of 1.2 ± 0.2 Sv from the basin-wide mean of 2.7 ± 0.2 Sv. Observations are generally in agreement with numerical results although the intraseasonal signal seems to cause a slight bias and remains to be simulated by future model experiments.     

Modification of North Pacific Intermediate Water around Mixed Water Region

The mixing processes in the Mixed Water Region (MWR) that lead to changes in the properties of North Pacific Intermediate Water (NPIW) have been studied using observational data sets obtained in May–June 1998. Neutral surfaces, the equation of water mass conversion rate on neutral surfaces and the equation of vertical velocity across neutral surfaces have been used to distinguish dominant processes by assuming the horizontal scale to be the streamer scale (under 100 km). The possibility of double diffusive convection is also discussed in relation to the density ratio. These results may be summarized as follows: (1) the difference between the potential density surface and the neutral surface may rise to −0.04 kg/m³ around the source water of NPIW; (2) horizontal diffusion causes strong modifications of the source water of NPIW; (3) the density range within which strong modification of the source water of NPIW occurs becomes dense from the northern part of MWR near the Oyashio Front to the southern part near the Kuroshio Front, and to the eastern part. Our modeling of these processes shows that cabbeling has effects on the density increment of the source water of NPIW in the northern and southern part of MWR. Double diffusive convection has effects on the density increment of the source water of NPIW, mainly in the northern part of MWR. The possible density increment due to cabbeling in these areas is estimated to be 0.01≈0.03 kg/m³. The possible density increment due to double diffusive convection is 0.01≈0.03 kg/m³. The total density increment due to cabbeling and double diffusive convection amounts to 0.06 kg/m³. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

North Pacific Intermediate Water studied chiefly with radiocarbon

The importance of the North Pacific Intermediate Water as a sink for the anthropogenic carbon dioxide has been examined by mapping chemical and radiochemical properties at two isopycnal surfaces of of 26.6 ad 27.2 obtained in 1970's. Its radiocarbon contents in 1980's were determined for comparison. The isopleths of depth and salinity at the two isopycnal surfaces obviously show that the intermediate layer of the entire mid-latitudes of the North Pacific is occupied by a similar water mass. The distributions of dissolved oxygen contents and Si/N ratios in the intermediate water indicate its source in the northwestern North Pacific and its sink in the eastern Pacific. The ¹⁴C values clearly designate the intrusion of the artificial radiocarbon of mostly 1960's origin into the upper intermediate water of the western North Pacific having its maximum in the subarctic zone of 40–45°N and 160–180°E in 1973. The maximum region for tritium is much broader extending to the north. These suggest that the subboreal region is active in the gas exchange and/or the warm water residing for a long time at the surface and flowing into the region across the subarctic front sinks quickly in winter. At the lower isopycnal surface, the increase ¹⁴C value for 14±4 years was around 27, which is smaller than that expected from the total carbonate increase, indicating an active isopycnal mixing.     

Dilution of North Pacific Intermediate Water studied with chlorofluorocarbons

Assessment was made of residual ratio of North Pacific Intermediate Water (NPIW) produced in subpolar region of the North Pacific using chlorofluorocarbons, CFC-11 and CFC-12 (CCl₃F and CCl₂F₂), along 175°E. NPIW on density horizons less than 26.80 remained more than 80% north of 30°N. It was suggested that new NPIW laterally spreads over the northern North Pacific without hardly being diluted by the surroundings. For density horizons greater than 26.80 north of 30°N, NPIW remained less than 60%. The difference in the residual ratio between <26.80 and >26.80 north of 30°N suggests that NPIW is produced on density horizons less than 26.80, which contacts the atmosphere in the subpolar region, and that NPIW is diluted by upwelling deep water on density horizons greater than 26.80 in high latitude of the North Pacific. NPIW on a density horizon of 26.80 remained about 50% south of 30°N. The decrease in the horizontal distribution of the residual ratio of NPIW suggests that half the new NPIW produced in the subpolar region is laterally spread over the North Pacific with the southward movement of NPIW.     

Recent increase of DIC in the western North Pacific

The temporal variation of the total dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) content in the western North Pacific is investigated by comparing the DIC distribution obtained from the data sets of three different periods, the GEOSECS data observed in 1973, the CO₂ dynamics Cruise data observed in 1982, and recent Japanese data sets observed during the early 1990s. The overall feature of the signal of temporal DIC change during 1973 and early 1990s agreed with that of former studies, and did not significantly change with the calculation scheme (the grid-selection method vs. the multiple regression method). The observed increase in DIC among the different time scales showed a good inner consistency, which also indicates the stability of the method used in the DIC change calculation. The apparent rate of increase of the DIC inventory in the upper 1000 m water column, however, differed significantly by the data set used for the calculation: It was 5.6±2.4 g C/m²/year, based on the data comparison between 1982 and the early 1990s, while it became 7.6±2.4 g C/m²/year when based on the data between 1973 and the early 1990s. This result provides us an information about the data-dependency on the former estimation of temporal DIC change.     

The destiny of the North Pacific Intermediate Water in the South China Sea

The previous studies show that the spreading path of the subtropical salinity minimum of the North Pacific Intermediate Water (NPIW) is southwestward pointing to the Luzon Strait. Based on the P -vector method and generalized digital environmental model (GDEM) data, the volume transport of NPIW through Luzon Strait and the upward transport on the NPIW lower and upper boundaries are calculated to examine the destiny of NPIW in the South China Sea (SCS). On the annual mean, the estimation of NPIW transport into the SCS through the Luzon Strait is 1.72 Sv (1Sv=10 6 m 3 /s). The upward transport over the SCS is 0.31 Sv on the NPIW upper boundary and 1.31 Sv on the NPIW lower boundary. There is no strait or passage deeper than the surface for the NPIW to extend, except for the Luzon Strait. For the volume balance in the SCS NPIW, the volume transport of 2.72 Sv has to flow out of the SCS NPIW layer through the Luzon Strait.     

Export Production in the Equatorial and North Pacific Derived from Dissolved Oxygen, Nutrient and Carbon Data

A global ocean inverse model that includes the 3D ocean circulation as well as the production, sinking and remineralization of biogenic particulate matter is used to estimate the carbon export flux in the Pacific, north of 10°S. The model exploits the existing large datasets for hydrographic parameters, dissolved oxygen, nutrients and carbon, and determines optimal export production rates by fitting the model to the observed water column distributions by means of the “adjoint method”. In the model, the observations can be explained satisfactorily with an integrated carbon export production of about 3 Gt C yr⁻¹ (equivalent to 3⋅10¹⁵ gC yr⁻¹) for the considered zone of the Pacific Ocean. This amounts to about a third of the global ocean carbon export of 9.6 Gt C yr⁻¹ in the model. The highest export fluxes occur in the coastal upwelling region off northwestern America and in the tropical eastern Pacific. Due to the large surface area, the open-ocean, oligotrophic region in the central North Pacific also contributes significantly to the total North Pacific export flux (0.45 Gt C yr⁻¹), despite the rather small average flux densities in this region (13 gC m⁻²yr⁻¹). Model e-ratios (calculated here as ratios of model export production to primary production, as inferred from satellite observations) range from as high a value as 0.4 in the tropical Pacific to 0.17 in the oligotrophic central north Pacific. Model e-ratios in the northeastern Pacific upwelling regions amount to about 0.3 and are lower than previous estimates. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Possible Density Change of the Origin of North Pacific Intermediate Water Due to Double Diffusion in the Mixed Water Region

In this study we test Talley's hypothesis that Oyashio winter mixed-layer water (26.5–26.6σ _θ) increases its density to produce the North Pacific Intermediate Water (NPIW) salinity minimum (26.7– 26.8σ_θ) in the Mixed Water Region, assuming a combination of cabbeling and double diffusion. The possible density change of Oyashio winter mixed-layer water is discussed using an instantaneous ratio of the change of temperature and salinity along any particular intrusion (R _l ). We estimate the range of R _l ^DD required to convert Oyashio winter mixed-layer water to the NPIW salinity minimum due to double diffusion, and then assume double-diffusive intrusions as this conversion mechanism. A double-diffusive intrusion model is used to estimate R _l ^DD in a situation where salt fingering dominates vertical mixing, as well as to determine whether Oyashio winter mixed-layer water can become the NPIW salinity minimum. Possible density changes are estimated from the model R _l ^DD by assuming the amount of density change due to cabbeling. From these results, we conclude that Oyashio winter mixed-layer water contributes to a freshening of the lighter layer of the NPIW salinity minimum (around 26.70σ_θ) in the MWR.     

North Pacific Intermediate Water: Progress in SAGE (SubArctic Gyre Experiment) and Related Projects

We survey the recent progress in studies of North Pacific Intermediate Water (NPIW) in SAGE (SubArctic Gyre Experiment), including important results obtained from related projects. Intensive observations have provided the transport distributions relating to NPIW and revealed the existence of the cross-wind-driven gyre Oyashio water transport that flows directly from the subarctic to subtropical gyres through the western boundary current as well as the diffusive contribution across the subarctic front. The anthropogenic CO₂ transport into NPIW has been estimated. The northern part of NPIW in the Transition Domain east of Japan is transported to the Gulf of Alaska, feeding the mesothermal (intermediate temperature maximum) structure in the North Pacific subarctic region where deep convection is restricted by the strong halocline maintained by the warm and salty water transport originating from NPIW. This heat and salt transport is mostly balanced by the cooling and freshening in the formation of dense shelf water accompanied by sea-ice formation and convection in the Okhotsk Sea. Intensive observational and modeling studies have substantially altered our view of the intermediate-depth circulation in the North Pacific. NPIW circulations are related to diapycnal-meridional overturning, generated around the Okhotsk Sea due to tide-induced diapycnal mixing and dense shelf water formation accompanied by sea-ice formation in the Okhotsk Sea. This overturning circulation may possibly explain the direct cross-gyre transport through the Oyashio along the western boundary from the subarctic to subtropical gyres. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Formation, Distribution and Volume Transport of the North Pacific Intermediate Water Studied by Repeat Hydrographic Observations

In order to examine the formation, distribution and transport of North Pacific Intermediate Water (NPIW), repeated hydrographic observations along several lines in the western North Pacific were carried out in the period from 1996 to 2001. NPIW formation can be described as follows: (1) Oyashio water extends south of the Subarctic Boundary and meets Kuroshio water in intermediate layers; (2) active mixing between Oyashio and Kuroshio waters occurs in intermediate layers; (3) the mixing of Oyashio and Kuroshio waters and salinity minimum formation around the potential density of 26.8σ_θ proceed to the east. It is found that Kuroshio water flows eastward even in the region north of 40°N across the 165°E line, showing that Kuroshio water extends north of the Subarctic Boundary. Volume transports of Oyashio and Kuroshio components (relative to 2000 dbar) integrated in the potential density range of 26.6–27.4σθ along the Kuroshio Extension across 152°E–165°E are estimated to be 7–8 Sv (10⁶ m³s⁻¹) and 9–10 Sv, respectively, which is consistent with recent work. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Intrusion events of the intermediate Oyashio Water into Sagami Bay, Japan

Intermediate intrusion of low salinity water (LSW) into Sagami Bay was investigated on the basis of CTD data taken in Sagami Bay and off the Boso Peninsula in 1993–1994. In October 1993, water of low temperature (<7.0°C), low salinity (<34.20 psu) and high dissolved oxygen concentration (>3.5 ml I⁻¹) intruded along the isopycnal surface of {ie29-1} at depths of 320–500 m from the Oshima East Channel to the center of the bay. On the other hand, the LSW was absent in Sagami Bay in the period of September–November 1994, though it was always found to the south off the Boso Peninsula. Salinity and dissolved oxygen distributions on relevant isopycnal surfaces and water characteristics of LSW cores revealed that the LSW intruded from the south off the Boso Peninsula to Sagami Bay through the Oshima East Channel. The LSW cores were distributed on the continental slope along 500–1000 m isobaths and its onshore-offshore scales were two to three times the internal deformation radius. Initial phosphate concentrations in the LSW revealed its origin in the northern seas. These facts suggest that the observed LSW is the submerged Oyashio Water and it flows southwestward along the continental slope as a density current in the rotating fluid. The variation of the LSW near the center of Sagami Bay is closely related to the Kuroshio flow path. The duration of LSW in Sagami Bay is 0.5 to 1.5 months.     

Oxygen Utilization and Organic Carbon Remineralization in the Upper Water Column of the Pacific Ocean

As a part of the JGOFS synthesis and modeling project, researchers have been working to synthesize the WOCE/JGOFS/DOE/NOAA global CO₂ survey data to better understand carbon cycling processes in the oceans. Working with international investigators we have compiled a Pacific Ocean data set with over 35,000 unique samples analyzed for at least two carbon species, oxygen, nutrients, chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) tracers, and hydrographic parameters. We use these data here to estimate in-situ oxygen utilization rates (OUR) and organic carbon remineralization rates within the upper water column of the Pacific Ocean. OURs are derived from the observed apparent oxygen utilization (AOU) and the water age estimates based on CFCs in the upper water and natural radiocarbon in deep waters. The rates are generally highest just below the euphotic zone and decrease with depth to values that are much lower and nearly constant in water deeper than 1200 m. OURs ranged from about 0.02–10 μmol kg⁻¹yr⁻¹ in the upper water masses from about 100–1000 m, and averaged = 0.10 μmol kg⁻¹yr⁻¹ in deep waters below 1200 m. The OUR data can be used to directly estimate organic carbon remineralization rates using the C:O Redfield ratio given in Anderson and Sarmiento (1994). When these rates are integrated we obtain an estimate of 5.3 ± 1 Pg C yr⁻¹ for the remineralization of organic carbon in the upper water column of the Pacific Ocean. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.