During the ASUKA study, IES's provided high temporal sampling
of tau through the Kuroshio.
By combining these measurements with data from other instruments,
daily time series of dynamic height, velocity and temperature sections,
transports , and Kuroshio position were obtained.
The dynamic height, velocity and temperature sections,
and Kuroshio position time series reveal a series of striking Kuroshio
meanders that occurred between November of 1993 and November of 1995.
There were six offshore meander events; each event
accompanied increasing transport and lasted from a few days to two months.
Kuroshio position was normally 50-60 km distant from Cape Ashizuri.
The meanders increased this distance beyond 80 km,
and the three biggest had excursions beyond 140 km from the Cape.
The meanders occurred once every four months,
in February, May/June, and October.
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