Role of Mixed Layer Depth in Kuroshio Extension Decadal Variability

Sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies in the Kuroshio Extension (KE) have been suggested to play a crucial role decadal climate variability of North Pacific affecting global and marine ecosystem variability. By analyzing mixed layer heat budget, taking into account seasonality depth (MLD) variations, we here show for first time that KE SST front undergoes large variations mainly owing modulations effective capacity sensitivity fluxes during 1982–2015. More specifically, when becomes anomalously thick (shallow) south (north) front, it less (more) sensitive wintertime cooling. As result, is strengthened, with positive (negative) (north). A conservation model suggests MLD are due thermocline anomalies.