FN Archimer Export Format PT J TI A comparison of surface eddy kinetic energy and Reynolds stresses in the Gulf Stream and the Kuroshio Current systems from merged TOPEX/Poseidon and ERS-1/2 altimetric data BT AF DUCET, N LE TRAON, Pierre-Yves AS 1:;2:; FF 1:;2:; C1 Collecte Localisat Satellite, Space Oceanog Div, Toulouse, France. C2 Collecte Localisat Satellite, Space Oceanog Div, Toulouse, France. IF 2.609 TC 70 UR https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00084/19476/17095.pdf LA English DT Article AB (2) > is up to 30% higher than its meridional counterpart, suggesting a zonal acceleration of the eastward flow. EKE seasonal changes are also found in the KS Current (30 degrees -35 degrees N, 130 degrees -140 degrees E) and also show a regular annual cycle during the first 3 years, which precedes by 2 months the EKE seasonal cycle in the KS Extension (maximum in May/June). The maximum in EKE in both regions precedes by 2 months the maximum surface transport found by Qiu et al. [1991] and Zlotnicki [1991], occurring in July and late September, respectively. No such annual cycle is found in the GS region during the first 3 years. Year 1996 is anomalous in both current systems, with mean EKE level that increases by more than 20% compared to the other years. Also, EKE monthly mean changes in the KS reveal a well-marked positive tendency in the eastern part of the current of more than 300 cm(2) s(-2) yr(-1) and a negative tendency both in its eastern part and in the KS Current. This feature is absent from the GS. At last, eddy/mean flow interaction is presented. Both the spatial averaging of turbulent quantities and the relative contribution of the different terms of the horizontal momentum fluxes are discussed. A tentative explanation is given for the anomalously large (2)> at the end of 1996 in the KS Extension. PY 2001 PD AUG SO Journal Of Geophysical Research-oceans SN 0148-0227 PU Amer Geophysical Union VL 106 IS C8 UT 000170326000001 BP 16603 EP 16622 DI 10.1029/2000JC000205 ID 19476 ER EF