Tomographic measurements of the Kuroshio Extension meander and its associated eddies

A 1000-km scale three-dimensional (3D) acoustic tomography experiment has b een conducted in the Kuroshio Extension region from July to September 1997. The 3D temperature fields show the energetic meander of the Kuroshio Exten sion with high time resolution. Mesoscale eddies associated with the meande r with horizontal scale greater than 200-km are resolved in the tomographic inversion. These results are consistent with other measurements such as AD CP, XCTD and TOPEX/POSEIDON satellite altimetry. Variable oceanic structure s in a 1000-km domain, which are difficult targets for conventional point m easurement techniques, can be measured well by ocean acoustic tomography wi th real-time data telemetry.