Abstract
In this paper, we propose to extract Lagrangian coherent structures (LCSs) based on MADT data to describe the structure of the Kuroshio Current System, and this method helps study the monthly variation in the intensity. By exploiting the improved variational principles, we extract LCSs through a geostrophic velocity vector field derived from the absolute dynamic topography. Specifically, we address hyperbolic LCSs and parabolic LCSs, with the former as the outer bounds of the jet flow and the latter as a more robust depiction of the jet axis. These LCSs delineate the jet with theoretical underpinnings, as opposed to common contours identified in an anecdotal manner. We employ the top 20% most repelling and attracting hyperbolic LCSs to approximate the outer bounds of the Kuroshio Current System, and these structures are apt to enclose the jet. Compared with the results of FTLEs and FSLEs, our results are more reliable. A comparison in the intensity based on the jet axis of months in 2012 demonstrates the effectiveness of our method in extracting LCSs. In situ data, such as drifter tracks and temperature-salinity profiles, are applied to validate the reliability of the axis and outer bounds extracted from the Kuroshio.
Published Version
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