The top of the North Pacific Intermediate Water (NPIW) in the subtropical North Pacific is identified with the main salinity minimum in the density range ϭ 26.7-26.8. The most likely source of low salinity for the NPIW salinity minimum is the Oyashio winter mixed layer, of density ϭ 26.5-26.65. The Oyashio waters mix with Kuroshio waters in the broad region known as the Mixed Water Region (MWR), between the separated Kuroshio and Oyashio Fronts just east of Japan. It is shown that cabbeling during mixing of the cold, fresh Oyashio winter mixed layer water with the warm, saline Kuroshio water increases the density of the mixture by up to ϭ 0.07 at densities around ϭ 26.6-26.65, regardless of the mixing mechanism. Thus cabbeling accounts for about half of the observed density difference between the Oyashio winter mixed layer water and the top of the NPIW. Double diffusion during mixing of the interleaving layers of Oyashio and Kuroshio waters in the MWR can also change the density of the mixing intrusions. Density ratios favorable to double diffusion are shown to be especially prominent in Oyashio intrusions into a Kuroshio warm core ring in the 1989 data examined here. The average potential temperature-salinity profile of the new subtropical NPIW just east of the MWR, with its nearly uniform salinity, suggests the dominance of salt fingering over diffusive layering. Using the observed salinity and density differences between Oyashio surface water and the NPIW salinity minimum, after subtracting the density difference ascribed to cabbeling, an effective flux ratio of about 0.8 is estimated for possible double diffusive processes in the MWR.

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[1] A 35 yearlong temperature data set is analyzed to investigate the long-term temperature variability in the Korea Strait and its relationship with the temperature variability in the upper layer of the Sea of Japan (East Sea). The second cyclostationary empirical orthogonal function mode of the vertical temperature section in the Korea Strait describes the interannual variability of the Korea Strait Bottom Cold Water (KSBCW). According to the corresponding principal component time series, the strength of the KSBCW fluctuates yearly with a major spectral peak around 3 years. Multiple regression analysis shows that the interannual KSBCW variability is closely linked with the temperature variability in the southwestern region of the Sea of Japan (East Sea) at about 50-100 m depth. Along 40°N, the source of the KSBCW is traced at about 50 m, extending eastward from the east coast of Korea to about 135°E. At 37°N, the source is traced at a deeper level (about 50-100 m), confined more toward the east coast of Korea with a hint of double core characteristics. The interannual KSBCW variability is also related to the southward wind stress along the east coast of Korea. It appears that strong cooling/warming of upper water temperature induced by the basin-scale wind stress results in the interannual KSBCW variability. This connection is verified by showing a reasonable interannual covariability between the KSBCW and the basin-scale wind stress.

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The negative and positive aging effects of quantum dot (QD) light-emitting diodes (QLEDs) have received considerable attention in recent years and various analysis methods have been discussed. Here, we introduce...