Temperature structure across the Kuroshio before and after typhoon Shirley

Abstract

Two temperature sections across the track of Typhoon Shirley (September 1965) in the vicinity of the Kuroshio are shown. The first is based on observations made less than a week before the storm and the second within two days after its passage. The comparison shows: (1) maximum cooling of more than 3°C directly under the eye of the storm; (2) upwelling of 20–25 m on the seaward side of the eye but very little on the inshore side; (3) a slight increase in the depth of the mixed layer; and (4) some evidence that upwelling continued for at least a day after the storm passed. Heat loss to the atmosphere is estimated at 1000 to 3000 cal/cm2.