Fig. 2. Time series of the Kuroshio transport (solid line with dots; in Sv) south of Japan durirng 1992-1997, estimated from TOPEX/POSEIDON altimetry data using the relationship between the transport and SSDT difference (Fig. 1a). Panel (a) is the transport of the Kuroshio as the eastward flow. The five-year mean of the transport is 57 Sv with a standard deviation of 13 Sv. Also shown are transports (circles) estimated from in situ data. Panel (b) is the transport of the Kuroshio as the throughflow (see text for definition). The five-year mean of the transport is 42 Sv with a standard deviation of 10 Sv. The dotted line shows the transport estimated by a simple a linear theory using surface wind stress data (see text).
