Kuroshio intrusion in the Luzon Strait in an eddy-resolving ocean model and air-sea coupled model

Abstract

The Kuroshio intrusion in a quasi-global eddy-resolving model (LICOMH) and a fully air-sea coupled model (LICOMHC) was evaluated against observations. We found that the Kuroshio intrusion was exaggerated in the former, while biases were significantly attenuated in the latter. Luzon Strait transport (LST) in winter was reduced from −8.8×106 m3/s in LICOMH to −6.0×106 m3/s in LICOMHC. Further analysis showed that different LST values could be explained by different large-scale and local surface wind stresses and the eddies east to the Luzon Strait as well. The relatively stronger cyclonic eddies in LICOMH northeast of the Luzon Island led to weak Kuroshio transport and strong intrusion through the Luzon Strait. The summed transport of all three factors was approximately 2.0×106 m3/s, which was comparable with the difference in LST between the two experiments. The EKE budget showed that strong EKE transport and the baroclinic transformation term led to strong cyclonic eddies east of the Kuroshio in LICOMH, while surface winds contributed little to the differences in the eddies.