Outline of Research Cruises for

Research Vessel "MIRAI" during fiscal year 2002

1. Cruise Code: MR02-K03

2. Main Research Theme:

Research on the sub-tropical and sub-arctic gyres in the North Pacific

3. Objectives:

Western marginal area between sub-tropical and sub-arctic gyres shows a marked variability being associated with phenomena in the surface sub-arctic and subsurface sub-tropical decadal to inter-decadal oceans. The Kuroshio in this area is called as the Kuroshio Extension and forms the clear northern boundary of the sub-tropical gyre. The Kuroshio Extension is active and generates cold and warm eddies very frequently. There is a large possibility that these eddies play important roles in the meridional exchange of heat and freshwater between the sub-arctic and sub-tropical gyres. But there has been no study to evaluate the role of these eddies quantitatively. As the result, the possible relationship between the oceanic variability in the Kuroshio Extension region and phenomena has been left vague. The cruise, MR02-K03 the decadal to inter-decadal is planned as one of activities to clarify the physics and dynamics of eddies in the Kuroshio Extension region. leading to better understandings of heat and material transports in the world ocean.

4. Outline of Observation:

Spatially dense CTD full sections with LADCP and RMS.
Moorings services (current meters, CTD and PIESs)
XBT/XCTD/ADCP/Meteorological observations along ship track.

5. Main Research Area:

Kuroshio Extension region (145E-155E, 30N-40N)

6. Cruise Period:

26.May. 2002 〜21.June.2002 (27days)

7. Port of Call:

Sekinehama - Sekinehama

8. Chief Scientist on Board:

Masao FUKASAWA (Physical Oceanography)

9. Contact Person for Questionnaire On this Cruise:

Yasushi YOSHIKAWA (Physical Oceanography)
Ocean Research Department.
Japan Marine Science and Technology Center (JAMSTEC)
2-15 Natsushima, Yokosuka, 237-0061, Japan
Tel: +81-468-67-3880　Fax: +81-468-65-3202
E-mail: yoshika@mirai.jamstec.go.jp

10. Remark(s)

The ship truck will start from Sekinahama, Aomori heading for the southern(northern)-most area of the research. Observarion stations will be occupied from the south(north). The cruise will be closed at Skinehama, Aomori after the northern(southern)-most station is occupied.