Collaborative Research: Lee Waves and Turbulence Forced by the Kuroshio

Abstract

Energetic submeso-scale internal waves and vortices are generated as the Kuroshio current interacts with the subsurface seamount, Hirase, in Tokara Strait south of Japan. Enhanced turbulent mixing had been reported in the wake of Hirase. This project aims to understand the energy cascade from Kuroshio to turbulence mixing via submeso- and small-scale processes. Strong turbulence mixing was observed at least 20 km downstream of the seamount, presumably sustained by the combination of submesoscale symmetric instability and inertial wave breaking at the critical layer.