The Relationship between Mesoscale Eddies in the Kuroshio Extension Region and Storm Tracks in the North Pacific

Using 18 years of Band-pass filtered sea surface height (SSH) data from satellite altimeters, the relationship between the mesoscale eddy kinetic energy (EKE) in the Kuroshio Extension (KE) region and North Pacific atmospheric storm track is investigated by introducing the EKE area index and using regression analysis. A stronger North Pacific storm track was found to be associated with intensified Kuroshio Extension mesoscale eddy activity. The North Pacific storm track shifts northward (southward) as the maximum EKE core in the KE region shifted to the north (south). However, the variation between the EKE and North Pacific storm track is reversed in the zonal position. Moreover, a lead-lag correlation between the EKE and North Pacific storm track variations exists. The strength of the EKE exhibits a 3-4 year lag positive (negative) correlation with the EOF1 and EOF3 (EOF2) of the North Pacific storm track, while the opposite is true for the position of the EKE. This can arise from the westward propagation of sea surface height anomalies, driven by Atmospheric Teleconnection Patterns associated with the North Pacific storm track.