FRONTAL CONVECTION IN THE KUROSHIO AND SU B-ARCTIC FRONT

We showed that internal mixing in a frontal zone, characterized by sla nt isopycnal surfaces, may break the existing geostrophic balance. The process of geostrophic adjustment to a new equilibrium under the cond ition of conserving of the stable vertical stratification induces isop ycnal motions within the narrow frontal zone. a simple model of the pr ocess is proposed which allowed us to estimate the intensity of the mo tions. A conclusion is made on the basis of observations in the Kurosh io and North Pacific Subarctic Front about an important role of cabbel ing in the generation of frontal convection, formation of the North Pa cific Intermediate Water, and frontogenesys. The drifter data don't co ntradict this conclusion. That physical mechanism along with the subdu ction process may also define the ventilation of the Weld ocean main t hermocline.