Outline of Research Cruises for

2.Main Research Theme:

Research on the Subtropical Gyre and the Subpolar Gyre in the North Pacific Ocean.

3.Objectives:

Ocean in the subtropical and subarcitc gyres, especially in and around the Kuroshio Extension, is thought to be important to the North Pacific decadal/interdecadal climate change. The area could also be a reservoir of greenhouse gases as anthropogenic CO2 by deep oceanic convection in winter. Objectives of this research are to clarify the ocean physical processes in this region such as the variabilities of the Kuroshio Extension and mesoscale eddies, and to clarify those impacts on the climate.

4.Outline of Observation:

In order to clarify the ocean mesoscale features, various kinds of observations will be carried out in and around the Kuroshio Extension region, including subtropical region and the mixed water region.

1. Moorings services (subsurface and/or surface moorings of current meters, CTD instruments: 2sites at 37.5N and 32.5N along 152E)
2. CTD casts along some sections down to 2000m with a small Rosette water sampler for temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen measurements.
3. XBT/XCTD/ADCP/Meteorological observations along ship track.

5.Main Research Area:

Kuroshio Extension region (140E-160E, 30N-40N)

6.Cruise Period:

7.Port of Call:

Yokohama -Sekinehama

8.Chief Scientist on Board:

Yasushi YOSHIKAWA (Physical Oceanography)

9.Contact Person for Questionnaire On this Cruise:

Yasushi YOSHIKAWA (Physical Oceanography)

Ocean Research Department, JAMSTEC

2-15 Natsushima, Yokosuka, 237-0061, Japan

Tel:+81-468-67-3880, Fax:+81-468-65-3202 E-mail:yoshikaway@jamstec.go.jp

Note: YOSHIKAWA will be on MIRAI during Jul.9 to Aug.1, 2000.