Kuroshio Current

"Kuroshio" redirects here. For other uses, see Kuroshio (disambiguation).
Map showing 5 circles. The first is between western Australia and eastern Africa. The second is between eastern Australia and western South America. The third is between Japan and western North America. Of the two in the Atlantic, one is in hemisphere.
North Atlantic
gyre
North Atlantic
gyre
North Atlantic
gyre
Indian
Ocean
gyre
North
Pacific
gyre
South
Pacific
gyre
South Atlantic
        gyre
Map showing 5 circles. The first is between western Australia and eastern Africa. The second is between eastern Australia and western South America. The third is between Japan and western North America. Of the two in the Atlantic, one is in hemisphere.
The Kuroshio Current is the west side of the clockwise North Pacific ocean gyre.

The Kuroshio Current (黒潮, "Black Tide"), also known as the Black Current or Japan Current (日本海流, Nihon Kairyū) is a north-flowing, warm ocean current on the west side of the North Pacific Ocean basin. It was named for the deep blue appearance of its waters. Similar to the Gulf Stream in the North Atlantic, the Kuroshio is a powerful western boundary current that transports warm equatorial water poleward and forms the western limb of the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. Off the East Coast of Japan, it merges with the Oyashio Current to form the North Pacific Current.

The Kuroshio Current has significant effects on both physical and biological processes of the North Pacific Ocean, including nutrient and sediment transport, major pacific storm tracks and regional climate, and Pacific mode water formation.[1][2][3] Additionally, the current's significant nutrient transport results in a biologically rich ecoregion supporting an important fishing industry as well as diverse marine food webs. The South China Sea for example has relatively low nutrient concentrations in its upper waters, but experiences enhanced biological productivity due to the input from the Kuroshio Current Intrusion.[4] Ongoing research centered around the Kuroshio Current's response to climate change predicts a strengthening in surface flows of this western boundary current which contrasts the predicted changes in the Atlantic Ocean's Gulf Stream.[5]

History

It was discovered in 1565 by Andrés de Urdaneta, a native of Guipuzcoa, colonial administrator, supervisor of nautical expeditions, corregidor, Augustinian monk and loyal navigator in the service of King Philip II, when, aboard the nao San Pedro, he was the first to open the "tornaviaje" between Cebu (Philippines) and the coasts of Old California (New Spain). The secret of the tornaviaje gave Spain absolute hegemony over the Pacific Ocean for centuries, a hegemony that was embodied in the so-called "Manila Galleon".

Physical properties

Averaged winter sea surface temperatures in the western Pacific Ocean using satellite data. The Kuroshio current is warm, compared to cooler waters in the Yellow Sea, and Sea of Japan.

The Kuroshio is a relatively warm ocean current with an annual average sea-surface temperature of about 24 °C (75 °F), is approximately 100 kilometres (62 mi) wide, and produces frequent small to meso-scale eddies. The Kuroshio originates from the Pacific North Equatorial Current, which splits in two at the east coast of Luzon, Philippines, to form the southward-flowing Mindanao Current and the more significant northward-flowing Kuroshio Current.[6] East of Taiwan, the Kuroshio enters the Sea of Japan through a deep break in the Ryukyu island chain known as the Yonaguni Depression. The Kuroshio then continues northwards and parallel to the Ryukyu islands, steered by the deepest part of the Sea of Japan, the Okinawa Trough, before leaving the Sea of Japan and re-entering the Pacific through the Tokara Strait.[7] It then flows along the southern margin of Japan but meanders significantly.[8] At the Bōsō Peninsula, the Kuroshio finally separates from the Japanese coast and travels eastward as the Kuroshio Extension.[9] The Kuroshio Current is the Pacific analogue of the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic Ocean,[10] transporting warm, tropical water northward toward the polar region.

The Kuroshio's counterparts associated with the North Pacific Gyre are the: east flowing North Pacific Current to the north, the south flowing California Current to the east, and the west flowing North Equatorial Current to the south. The warm waters of the Kuroshio Current sustain the coral reefs of Japan, the northernmost coral reefs in the world. The part of the Kuroshio that branches into the Sea of Japan is called Tsushima Current (対馬海流, Tsushima Kairyū).

The ocean currents surrounding the Japanese archipelago: 1. Kuroshio 2. Kuroshio extension 3. Kuroshio countercurrent 4. Tsushima Current 5. Tsugaru Current 6. Sōya Current 7. Oyashio 8. Liman Current

Similar to the Atlantic Ocean's Gulf Stream, the Kuroshio Current creates warm ocean surface temperatures, and significant moisture in the atmosphere along the western Pacific basin, and thus produces and sustains tropical cyclones. Tropical cyclones, also known as typhoons, are formed when atmospheric instability, warm ocean surface temperatures, and moist air are combined to fuel an atmospheric low-pressure system. The Western North Pacific Ocean experiences an average of 25 typhoons annually.[11] The majority of typhoons occur from July through October during northern hemisphere summer,[11] and typically form where the Kuroshio Current is the warmest near the equator. Typhoons tend to track along the current's warm water poleward until they dissipate in colder waters.[12]

The strength (transport) of the Kuroshio varies along its path and seasonally. Within the Sea of Japan, observations suggest that the Kuroshio transport is relatively steady at about 25Sv[13][14] (25 million cubic metres per second). The Kuroshio strengthens significantly when it rejoins the Pacific Ocean, reaching 65Sv (65 million cubic metres per second) southeast of Japan,[7] although this transport has significant seasonal variability.[15] The Kuroshio Current splits into Kuroshio Current extension and the Tsushima Current, as the currents wrap around Japanese Island and reconnects, changes in flow will impact the flows of the other currents.

The path of the Kuroshio may have been different in the geologic past based on historical sea level and bathymetry, however there is currently[when?] conflicting scientific evidence. It has been proposed that lower sea-level and tectonics may have prevented the Kuroshio from entering the Sea of Japan during the last glacial period, approximately c. 115,000 – c. 11,700 years ago, and remained entirely within the Pacific basin.[16] However, other proxies and ocean models have alternatively suggested that the Kuroshio path was relatively unaltered,[17][18] possibly as far back as 700,000 years ago.[19]

Sediment transport

The magnitude of the Kuroshio Current and seafloor bathymetry results in deep sea erosion and sediment transport in multiple regions. Offshore of Southern Taiwan on the Kenting Plateau erosion is likely caused by the strong bottom currents which increase in velocity along the rise on this plateau.[20] The bottom water accelerates as it travels from a depth of 3500 m to a depth around 400–700 m. The increase in current velocity exacerbates erosion revealing the Kuroshio Knoll, a 3 km × 7 km bean-shaped elevated flat area 60–70 m below surface levels in comparison to the rest of the Plateau which located at around 400–700 m.[2] The Plateau is being uplifted and is balanced with erosion.[2]

The granulometry of the Kenting Plateau and surrounding area demonstrates the eroding qualities of the Kuroshio Current.[20] The sediment grain size of the sand varies along the edge of the Plateau. The deeper down the edge, the larger the grains as smaller grains are swept away by the current. Some of these fine sand particles have settled into a dune field while the remaining sediment is transported and deposited throughout the region by the Kuroshio Current.[2]

The Kuroshio Current also transports Yangtze River sediment. The amount of sediment transport is highly dependent on the relationship between the Kuroshio Current intrusion, the China Coastal Current, and the Taiwan Warm Current. The Yangtze River sediment is being deposited on the East China Sea inner shelf rather than the deep sea due to the interaction of the three currents.[21]

The Kuroshio Current, as idealized from space. The resulting circulation and eddying demonstrate the mixing caused by the input of warm equatorial water poleward. Image by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

Distinct elemental characteristics of sediments from differing sources permits tracking sources of sediments within the Kuroshio. Taiwanese sediment notably contains illite and chlorite. These traceable compounds have been found all the way through the Kuroshio Current up into its branch through the Kuroshio Current Intrusion in the South China Sea.[22] The South China Sea branch of the Kuroshio and the cyclonic eddy west of Luzon Island impact Luzon and Pearl River sediments. The Luzon sediment containing high levels of smectite is unable to travel northwestward. The Pearl River sediments contains high levels of kaolinite and titanium (Ti) and is trapped above the abyssal basin between Hainan Island and the Pearl River mouth.[21] These compounds allow scientists to track sediment transport throughout the Kuroshio Current.

Eddies

There are indications that eddies contribute to the preservation and survival of fish larvae transported by the Kuroshio.[23] Plankton biomass fluctuates yearly and is typically highest in the eddy area of the Kuroshio's edge. Warm-core rings are not known for having high productivity. However, there is evidence of equal distribution of biological productivity throughout the warm-core rings from the Kuroshio Current, supported by the upwelling at the periphery and the convective mixing caused by the cooling of surface water as the rings move north of the current. The thermostad is the deep mixed layer that has discrete boundaries and uniform temperature. Within this layer, nutrient-rich water is brought to the surface, which generates a burst of primary production. Given that the water in the core of a ring has a different temperature regime than the shelf waters, there are times when a warm-core ring is undergoing its spring bloom while the surrounding shelf waters are not.[24]

Western Pacific Ocean tropical cyclone tracks compiled from 1980 to 2005

There are many complex interactions within warm-core rings and thus, lifetime productivity is not very different from the surrounding shelf water. A study from 1998[24] found that the primary productivity within a warm-core ring was almost the same as in the cold jet outside it, with evidence of upwelling of nutrients within the ring. In addition, there was discovery of dense populations of phytoplankton at the nutricline within a ring, presumably supported by the upward mixing of nutrients.[24] Furthermore, there have been acoustic studies in the warm-core ring, which showed intense sound scattering from zooplankton and fish populations in the ring and very sparse acoustic signals outside of it.

Typhoons

Typhoons can produce intense winds which push on the surface layer of the ocean for brief periods of time. These winds induce the warmer surface layer of the ocean to mix with the deeper cooler layer of water that is situated below the pycnocline. This mixing introduces nutrients from deeper cooler water to the warmer surface layer of the ocean.[25] Organisms such as phytoplankton and algae use these newly introduced nutrients to grow. In 2003, two typhoons induced significant surface layer mixing as they passed through the region. This mixing directly produced two algal bloom events in the North Western Pacific Ocean that negatively affected Japan.[26]

Nutrient transport

Annual average chlorophyll concentrations are shaded, and annual average surface (A) nitrate and (B) phosphate concentrations are contoured. The Kuroshio Current transports nitrate and phosphate from the South China Sea, increasing productivity.

The Kuroshio Current is considered a nutrient stream because of high nutrient flux from surrounding oligotrophic waters with primary production of 150 to 300 grams of carbon per square meter per year based on SeaWiFS global primary productivity estimates. The current transports significant amounts of nutrients to support this primary production from the East China Sea continental shelf to the subarctic Pacific Ocean. The maximum chlorophyll value is found around 100 metres (330 ft) depth.[3] Its importance in nutrient transport is demonstrated by the nutrient rich water in the Kuroshio Current is surrounded by ambient water of the same density with lower relative nutrient levels. The downstream of the Kuroshio Current receives large amounts of nutrients at rates of 100–280 kmol N*s-1.[27] Nutrients are brought to the surface water from deeper layers where the Kuroshio Current flows over shallow areas and seamounts. This process occurs over the Okinawa Trough and the Tokara Strait.[28] The Tokara Strait also has high cyclonic activity where the Kuroshio Current passes through. This in combination with the Coriolis effect causes intense upwelling along the continental shelf.[28] This upwelling and nutrient transport into surface layers is essential for primary production because these vital nutrients would otherwise be inaccessible to phytoplankton which need to remain in upper layers where sunlight is available for them to perform photosynthesis. The constant transport of nutrient rich waters to regions with high levels of light therefore supports increased photosynthesis supporting the rest of the biologically diverse ecosystem associated with the Kuroshio current.

Marine life

The Oyashio Current colliding with the Kuroshio Current near Hokkaido. When two currents collide, they create eddies. Phytoplankton growing in the surface waters become concentrated along the boundaries of these eddies, tracing out the motions of the water.

The transportation of nutrients, heat and plankton by the Kuroshio Current and the current's transection of multiple different waterbodies gives way to high species richness in and adjacent to this current. In addition, the Kuroshio is classified as a biodiversity hotspot, meaning the waters circulating through the region are host to many different species, yet many of its resident organisms are at risk of becoming endangered or are already at the brink of extinction as a result of local and/or global human activity. Overfishing and overharvest are the primary risks for many of the threatened or endangered species here.[29]

Photoautotrophs

Phytoplankton

Phytoplankton are responsible for the aforementioned high rates of primary productivity within the current. Warm sea surface temperatures and low turbidity in the region lead to clearer waters which allows for deeper penetration of sunlight and an extension of the epipelagic zone. These particular characteristics, along with lower nutrient availability within the current, correspond well with the requirements of two specific cyanobacteria: Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus.[30] Prochlorococcus is the dominant species of picophytoplankton within the Kuroshio Current and these two species may be responsible for as much as half of the fixation of CO2 in the entire Kuroshio Current photic zone.[30] Further, there are substantial dust deposition events in this region due to Asian Dust Storms from the Gobi desert.[30][31] During these events, dust clouds transport and deposit phosphate and trace metals which subsequently stimulate growth in both Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus as well as diatoms.[30]

Diatoms and Trichodesmium are speculated to play an important role in the redistribution of nitrogen and carbon in and out of the euphotic zone. Trichodesmium is an abundant diazotroph that directly correlates with overall nitrogen fixation within the current.[32] This nitrogen fixation supplies a limiting nutrient (nitrate), to other photoautotrophs for growth and reproduction. Meanwhile, in areas influenced by upwelling with higher nutrient and carbon concentrations, diatoms are important contributors to carbon and nitrogen out of the euphotic zone due to the weight of their "glass houses" made of silica and their tendencies to sink.[33]

Macro-flora

At least ten genera of seaweed reside in waters in and around the Kuroshio Current.[29] Caulerpa, is a green algae that grows densely near shore on the periphery of the Kuroshio Current while brown and red algae also flourish adjacent the current, and like other photosynthesizing organisms, benefit from the nutrient transport and low turbidity of the region.[29]

Invertebrates

Zooplankton

An increase in zooplankton biomass occurs in the significantly lower water temperatures of the upwelling sites within the Kuroshio Current due to high phytoplankton concentrations which are nourished by upwelling northeast of Taiwan.[34] This upwelling event, the Kuroshio Current intrusion through the Luzon Strait and South China Sea, and summer monsoons, represent the convergence of a multitude of oceanic waters of different origin.[35] These water convergence zones and subsequent circulation and mixing, have a major influence on the transport and distribution of many zooplankton species causing zooplankton communities to be more nutritious, unique and diverse.[36] High diversity in copepods in waters adjacent the Kuroshio Current have also been reported.[37] Two dominant copepod species of the current, C. sinicus and E. concinna, are transported northward in high concentrations by the current from the East China Sea in winter.[38]

Like copepods and diatoms, tunicates, specifically salps and doliolids, also play an important role on the biogeochemical cycle as well as on the food web in the Kuroshio.[39] Salps transport carbon to the region's bottom water with their carbon-rich, fast-sinking fecal pellets and carcasses. Thaliaceans (salps and doliolids) are known to feed a minimum of 202 marine species, however, these animal's blooms have been found to cause harmful feeding conditions for pelagic fishes in the region.[39]

Many species of fish larvae are also found in zooplankton communities transported by the current. Fish larvae are important contributor to the Kuroshio Current system food chain. Baleen whales for instance, make use of the current's transport of Japanese sardine and jack mackerel larvae to their feeding grounds in the north pacific. Climate change is reported to alter endemic fish larvae distribution. A fish species composition change analysis by Lu and Lee (2014) showed changes in fish larvae distribution have occurred during the region and suggest this altered clustering is associated with changes in the intensities and flow rates of the Kuroshio Current.[40] These changes impacts the food chain below and above this trophic level. This can influence fish migration, fish population's at large and major fisheries.

The Kuroshio Current has an influence of several species of foraminifera, including species G. ruber and P. obliquiloculate. G. ruber is normally a surface dweller and was found at depths of 1000 meters along the Kuroshio Current. P. obliquiloculate normally resides between 25 and 100 m, yet was found deep in the abyssal basin (>1000 m).[41] The distribution of these species in comparison to their standard dwelling depths observed by Gallagher (2015) demonstrates the ability of this intrusion and the overall Kuroshio Current's to redistribute nutrients vertically[41] making nutrients available many different species with differing requirements for prosperity.

Coral

Acropora hyacinthus is a reef-building coral native to coral reefs in the Kuroshio Current region.

The coral reefs within the Kuroshio Current reside at a higher latitude than any other tropical reef placement in the world (33.48°N).[42] An important reef-building coral to this area, Heliopora coerulea, has been listed as threatened due to anthropogenic stressors to its environment such as: warming sea surface temperatures from climate change, ocean acidification from anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and dynamite fishing.[29] Studies confirming low genotypic diversity within the species further emphasizes this blue coral's threatened status.[43]

Acropora japonica, Acropora secale, and Acropora hyacinthus are 3 more reef-building corals in the region.[44] These species utilize symbiotic relationships with zooxanthellae, peridinin and pyrrhoxanthin, as a source of carotenoids.[44]

In addition to anthropogenic, threats, these corals also have predators in the region such as the Crown-of-thorns starfish, Acanthaster planci, and a regional sea snail, Drupella fragum.[44] The Crown-of-thorns starfish feeds on corals. When conditions are favorable, the population of this native starfish can explode, resulting in significant damage on entire coral communities, as well as the ecosystems these coral reefs support. A Crown-of-thorns starfish outbreak in conjunction with anthropogenic stressors can cause irreversible reef-system damage.[45][46]

The Kuroshio Current controls patterns of connectivity between coral reefs (as well as other marine organisms with a larval phase), transporting larvae from southerly coral reefs to downstream reefs along the Ryukyu Arc.[47]

Squid

Western boundary currents are used by certain species of squid for rapid and easy transport, allowing mature squid to travel with minimum energy expenditure to exploit rich northern feeding grounds, while eggs and larvae develop in the warm current waters during winter. The Japanese flying squid (Todarodes pacificus), for example, has three populations that breed in winter, summer, and autumn. The winter spawning group is associated with the Kuroshio Current, because following spawning events in January to April in the East China Sea the larvae and juveniles travel north with the Kuroshio Current. They are turned inshore and are caught between the islands of Honshu and Hokkaido during the summer. The summer spawning is in another part of the East China Sea, from which the larvae are entrained into the Tsushima current that flows north between the islands of Japan and the mainland. Afterward, the current meets a southward flowing cold coastal current, the Liman Current. The group of squid spawned in the summer are traditionally found around the boundary between the two currents, sustaining rich fisheries. In fact, studies have reported that annual catches in Japan have gradually increased since the late 1980s and it has been proposed that changing environmental conditions have caused the autumn and winter spawning areas in the Tsushima Strait and near the Goto Islands to overlap. In addition, winter spawning sites over the continental shelf and slope in the East China Sea are expanding.

Vertebrates

Parrotfish (Scarus frenatus) are reef fish commonly found in the Kuroshio Current reef systems.

Fish

The Kuroshio Current is home to thousands of fish species occupying nutrient rich and diverse waters in this region. This expansive biomass is influenced by elevated rates of primary production leading to large biomass in the lower trophic levels, facilitated by warmer local oceanic and atmospheric conditions. Resident fish of this area include reef fish like rabbitfish and parrotfish, pelagic fishes such as sardines, anchovies, mackerel, and sailfish, and higher trophic predators such as sharks.[29]

Fisheries have a strong presence in this area and depend strongly on the changing oceanic conditions, largely dependent on the Kuroshio Current. To the north, the Oyashio Current contains subarctic water that is much colder and fresher than the resident water east of Honshu, and the intersection of these two currents is called the Kuroshio-Oyashio region. Here, local oceanographic conditions vary through the year and determine the species assemblage and thus the success of fisheries. For example, when the Oyashio current is well developed and protrudes southward, the cold waters are favorable for capturing sardines. Additionally, when larger meandering flow develops in the Kuroshio Current, sardine availability elevates due to the proximity of the Kuroshio to the southern spawning grounds of sardine. Thus, intrusion and flow paths of these currents affect presence, biomass, and catch of species such as pollock, sardine, and anchovy.

Marine reptiles

Five out of the seven sea turtle species on earth, loggerheads (Caretta caretta), green (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), leatherbacks (Dermochelys coriacea), and Olive ridleys (Lepidochelys olivacea), utilize the Kuroshio Current to access warm waters.[48] Female sea turtles utilize the transport potential of the current to access the warm nesting beaches of Japan's shores, and adolescent green and hawksbill turtles utilize the current transport to access waters surrounding Japan.[49][48]

Marine mammals

Marine mammals such as seals, sea lions and cetaceans also make use of the high biodiversity within the Kuroshio Current. Charismatic megafauna odontocetes in this region include the Spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris), short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus), common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), Dall's porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli), Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus) and the killer whale (Orcinus orca).[50] Three types of whales of the same genus (Balaenoptera) also use this rich area for feeding grounds, including the common Minke (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), the sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis) and Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera edeni).[51] The availability of Japanese sardines and mackerel eggs, larvae, and juveniles are the baleen whales' primary food sources in these areas.[51] Top-tier trophic predators can serve as units in developing conservation management in this region.

Carbonate chemistry

The ocean absorbs approximately one third of the CO2 produced by fossil fuel combustion, cement production, and deforestation. One of the more significant oceanic sinks for atmospheric CO2 is the Kuroshio Current.[52] In its highly biologically productive regions, this uptake of CO2 is carbon burial is facilitated by a strong biological pump. In the less productive northern current transition, the Kuroshio remains an important CO2 sink, through high CO2 solubility. The Kuroshio Extension region is classified as the strongest sink for atmospheric CO2 in the North Pacific. This is especially true in the winter when higher amounts of human-produced CO2 are taken up in the Kuroshio Extension region when compared with the summer. This is likely explained by cooler temperatures facilitating the solubility of CO2 in ocean water. As CO2 levels continue to increase in the atmosphere, so does CO2 uptake in the Kuroshio, making this seasonality more dramatic.[53]

Climate implications

Western boundary currents are integrated parts in the world's climatic balance. The Kuroshio Current plays an important role in influencing regional climate and weather patterns mainly through the input of warm waters from lower latitudes northward into the western edge of the Pacific basin.[1][54] Along with the other western boundary currents in the world, the Kuroshio Current is subject to seasonal changes that manifest in different flow rates, bifurcation latitudes, and water salinity. Circulation within the Pacific Ocean is largely influenced by this northerly transport of warm salty water north along the Western boundary, concurrently providing structure to the western edge of the North Pacific Gyre.[54] The resulting heat fluxes in this area represent some of the largest heat exchanges from ocean to atmosphere within the entire Pacific Basin, being more pronounced during the winter season. Heat transfer from the surface ocean to the atmosphere creates unstable atmospheric conditions, which is to say that air parcels and clouds derived or influenced by this process are warmer than the surrounding air, ultimately rising and enhancing chances of precipitation or shifting weather. In this way, monsoonal rain events and common through the summertime and typhoon storms are enhanced as they pass over the current.[1] The climate of many Asian countries has been affected by the distribution of heat by these processes for millions of years, changing wind patterns, precipitation, and mixing warm tropical waters into the Sea of Japan.[54][55]

Mode water formation

As the Kuroshio Current separates from the equatorial current and flows northward, warm water from the Western Pacific Warm Pool segues into the northwest Pacific Ocean Basin. Principal heat flux in the Kuroshio occurs via the Kuroshio Extension between 132°E and 160°E and 30°N to 35°N, depending on the latitude where the extension splits off from the Kuroshio Current along the coast of Japan.[56][57] The process of warm water injection into the open ocean plays an important role in the formation of North Pacific Subtropical Mode waters and the regulation of sea surface temperatures, affecting moisture transport across the western Pacific Basin.[58] North Pacific subtropical mode waters are created when Kuroshio Extension waters lose large amounts of heat and moisture to the cold and dry northerly winds during boreal wintertime months, creating dense salty surface waters prone to sink and cause convection. The temperature range of the sinking North Pacific Subtropical Mode Waters characteristically falls between 16 °C and 19 °C, however exact temperatures and depths to which these waters sink varies annually depending on the efficiency of water transportation by the extension, which is a function of atmospheric and mesoscale eddy conditions.[56] The resulting homogeneous water mass typically separates the seasonal pycnocline from the surface waters in the mid to late summer months, remaining stratified below the warmer surface waters until shoaling back towards the surface with the mixed layer due to storm perturbation in the fall and winter. The contrast between the temperatures of these stratified vertical layers can be discernable such that the lateral advection of mode water can be traced for thousands of kilometers.[57] Mode water formation is variable and largely dependent on the flow intensity of the Kuroshio Extension and atmospheric heat flux efficiencies.[58] Heat flux processes sometimes experience feedbacks that enhance water temperature contrasts and can cause sea surface temperature features to last well past the end of the boreal winter. For example, with residually cooled surface waters in the late spring and early summer months, warm moist air from the south can cause low cloud formation and reflection of solar radiation, extending temporal sea surface cooling.[1]

The Kuroshio Extension is a dynamic but relatively unstable system, with variability in the associated bifurcation latitude occurring on interannual time scales. The cause of these variations and their effects on the surface flow and total transport of waters has been studied extensively, with recent advances in sea surface height satellite altimetry methods allowing for observational studies on larger timescales.[59][58] Studies suggest that more northerly bifurcation latitudes have been historically correlated with greater surface water transport and mode water formation, associated with less meandering and more direct flow paths closer to the coasts of Japan and Taiwan during the wintertime months.[60]

Climate change

The North Equatorial Current (NEC) splits into the southward flowing Mindanao Current and the northward flowing Kuroshio Current.

Climate change, specifically with respect to increasing sea surface temperatures and decreasing salinity, has been predicted to strengthen the surface flow of the Kuroshio Current as well as other western boundary currents across the Pacific.[1] The predicted effects of warming surface oceans may result in differing impacts between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans; the Atlantic is predicted to experience a slowing of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation while the Pacific western boundary currents, including the Kuroshio Current, may strengthen. These changes are thought to come as a product of wind stress and surface warming resulting from the increased stratification of the surface layers of future oceans.[5] Specifically, predicted poleward shifting of westerly winds within the Hadley Cell is thought to create conditions in which the subtropical gyre wind stress curl would increase. This could cause an increased total geostrophic circulation and subsequently an intensification of the northern leg of the Kuroshio Current, in some predictions increasing flow velocities by almost double.[54] The entire flow of the current is predicted to be strengthened however, from its point of bifurcation near the equator to the Kuroshio Extension. In addition, the general observed southward migration of both the NEC and SEC subcurrent bifurcation latitudes over the past thirty years has been consistent with a strengthening of western boundary currents. With shifting winds and increased gyre circulation in conjunction with a "business as usual" anthropogenic carbon input scenario, bifurcation latitudes are predicted to continue on poleward migrations into the future, contributing to the intensifying Kuroshio Current.[1]

Predictions are made using methods that combine historical data with oceanic modelling output, and one such study used the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) to show the Kuroshio Current interacting with the northern extremity of the subtropical gyre, contrasting older predictions of simple gyre "spin up" forced acceleration.[5] Modelling studies have also suggested that increasing stratification will occur with the strengthening of the surface layer current, creating conditions in which the opposite effect could occur in the deeper layer of the Kuroshio Current, which has been proposed to slow. The exact mechanisms causing this change are not well elucidated, however it is expected to be the result of wind stress changes within the gyre in addition to the increased stratification near the surface that may enhance surface and deep ocean layer separation and maintain different responses to warming oceans.[61]

Economic considerations

A school of Pacific jack mackerel. Jack mackerel represent a large fishing industry in the Pacific: around 1.5 million pounds were harvested in 2020 by California fisheries alone, creating $272,000 in revenue according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database.

The Kuroshio Current can be useful as a shipping lane as the current can save time and fuel usage when underway with the current. However, ships that travel against the current will spend more time and fuel to compensate for the water flowing against the shipping vessel.[62]

The Kuroshio supports many important fisheries. Jack Mackerel populations are one of the most important fishery resources in Japan, Korea and Taiwan. As the Kuroshio flows northeastward from northeast of Taiwan along the shelf slope of the Eastern China Sea, it carries Jack Mackerel eggs and larvae to southern Japan and Honshu Island.[63] These larvae are caught and then raised in aquaculture through adulthood and harvested.[64] Other important fisheries include pollock, sardine, and anchovy.[65]

There are also many developing port cities along the Kuroshio Current. While the Kuroshio Current is historically known to support many fisheries where it meets with the Oyashio current, this region is still recovering from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. In 2011, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake triggered a devastating tsunami in 2011.[66] This tsunami inundated more than 200 miles of Japan's coastline and drastically altered the sea level in some coastal areas by meters. It killed more than 18,500 people and set off a nuclear disaster at the Fukushima nuclear plant, releasing radiocesium into the surrounding waters. While local water bodies were the most severely affected, this radiocesium was transported as far as the entire North Pacific Ocean by the North Pacific Current which is formed by the collision of the Kuroshio and the Oyashio current.[67] Local fisheries lost over 90% of their fleets and were unable to resume operations for up to a year after the accident. The local economy has been working to return to pre-tsunami levels but, even now, fishery yields have not reached nearly the levels they were before the accident. No catches are made within a 10 km radius to the accident site and even catches outside of that zone are subject to inspection for radioactive materials, costing fisheries both time and money.[68] Minamisanriku had most of the town's port and aquaculture facilities restored by 2014, and as of 2018, reconstruction of key infrastructure in the prefectures of Iwate and Miyagi was near completion.[69] Local Japanese fishing fleets hauled 5,928 tons of seafood product valued at over 2.21 billion yen (19.342 million U.S. dollars) in 2021.[69]

Changes in the Kuroshio Current and its warming conditions have impacted pilot whale migration. These animals are considered a delicacy but hunting is strictly regulated and transitions in migration timing is impacting those who depend on these animals as a source of income.[70] Management practices must consider protecting these animals and recognizing the potential economic impacts on local hunters.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Hu, Dunxin; Wu, Lixin; Cai, Wenju; Gupta, Alex Sen; Ganachaud, Alexandre; Qiu, Bo; Gordon, Arnold L.; Lin, Xiaopei; Chen, Zhaohui; Hu, Shijian; Wang, Guojian (2015). "Pacific western boundary currents and their roles in climate". Nature. 522 (7556): 299–308. Bibcode:2015Natur.522..299H. doi:10.1038/nature14504. ISSN 1476-4687. PMID 26085269. S2CID 4404216.
  2. ^ a b c d Das, Prabodha; Lin, Andrew Tien-Shun; Chen, Min-Pen Philip; Miramontes, Elda; Liu, Char-Shine; Huang, Neng-Wei; Kung, Jennifer; Hsu, Shu-Kun; Pillutla, Radha Krishna; Nayak, Kalyani (2021-05-20). "Deep-sea submarine erosion by the Kuroshio Current in the Manila accretionary prism, offshore Southern Taiwan". Tectonophysics. 807: 228813. Bibcode:2021Tectp.80728813D. doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2021.228813. ISSN 0040-1951. S2CID 233823458.
  3. ^ a b Terazaki, Makoto (1989) "Recent Large-Scale Changes in the Biomass of the Kuroshio Current Ecosystem" in Kenneth Sherman and Lewis M. Alexander (eds.), Biomass Yields and Geography of Large Marine Ecosystems (Boulder: Westview) AAAS Selected Symposium 111, pp. 37–65. ISBN 0-8133-7844-3
  4. ^ Du, C.; Liu, Z.; Dai, M.; Kao, S.-J.; Cao, Z.; Zhang, Y.; Huang, T.; Wang, L.; Li, Y. (2013). "Impact of the Kuroshio intrusion on the nutrient inventory in the upper northern South China Sea: Insights from an isopycnal mixing model". Biogeosciences. 10: 6939–6972. doi:10.5194/bgd-10-6939-2013.
  5. ^ a b c Chen, Changlin; Wang, Guihua; Xie, Shang-Ping; Liu, Wei (2019-10-01). "Why Does Global Warming Weaken the Gulf Stream but Intensify the Kuroshio?". Journal of Climate. 32 (21): 7437–7451. Bibcode:2019JCli...32.7437C. doi:10.1175/jcli-d-18-0895.1. ISSN 0894-8755. S2CID 201330185.
  6. ^ Qiu, Bo; Lukas, Roger (1996). "Seasonal and interannual variability of the North Equatorial Current, the Mindanao Current, and the Kuroshio along the Pacific western boundary". Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans. 101 (C5): 12315–12330. Bibcode:1996JGR...10112315Q. doi:10.1029/95JC03204. ISSN 2156-2202.
  7. ^ a b Andres, Magdalena; Jan, Sen; Sanford, Thomas; Mensah, Vegan; Centurioni, Luca; Book, Jeffrey (2015-12-01). "Mean Structure and Variability of the Kuroshio from Northeastern Taiwan to Southwestern Japan". Oceanography. 28 (4): 84–95. doi:10.5670/oceanog.2015.84.
  8. ^ Oka, Eitarou; Kawabe, Masaki (2003). "Dynamic Structure of the Kuroshio South of Kyushu in Relation to the Kuroshio Path Variations". Journal of Oceanography. 59 (5): 595–608. Bibcode:2003JOce...59..595O. doi:10.1023/B:JOCE.0000009589.28241.93. ISSN 0916-8370. S2CID 56009749.
  9. ^ Jayne, Steven R.; Hogg, Nelson G.; Waterman, Stephanie N.; Rainville, Luc; Donohue, Kathleen A.; Randolph Watts, D.; Tracey, Karen L.; McClean, Julie L.; Maltrud, Mathew E.; Qiu, Bo; Chen, Shuiming (December 2009). "The Kuroshio Extension and its recirculation gyres". Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers. 56 (12): 2088–2099. Bibcode:2009DSRI...56.2088J. doi:10.1016/j.dsr.2009.08.006. hdl:1912/3052.
  10. ^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Kuro Siwo" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 15 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 953.
  11. ^ a b "Japan Meteorological Agency | RSMC Tokyo - Typhoon Center | Climatology of Tropical Cyclones". www.jma.go.jp.
  12. ^ Goldberg, Walter M. (2018), "An Introduction to the Tropical Pacific and Types of Pacific Islands", The Geography, Nature and History of the Tropical Pacific and its Islands, World Regional Geography Book Series, Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 1–38, doi:10.1007/978-3-319-69532-7_1, ISBN 978-3-319-69531-0
  13. ^ Kamidaira, Yuki; Uchiyama, Yusuke; Mitarai, Satoshi (July 2017). "Eddy-induced transport of the Kuroshio warm water around the Ryukyu Islands in the Sea of Japan". Continental Shelf Research. 143: 206–218. Bibcode:2017CSR...143..206K. doi:10.1016/j.csr.2016.07.004.
  14. ^ Andres, M.; Wimbush, M.; Park, J.-H.; Chang, K.-I.; Lim, B.-H.; Watts, D. R.; Ichikawa, H.; Teague, W. J. (2008-05-10). "Observations of Kuroshio flow variations in the Sea of Japan". Journal of Geophysical Research. 113 (C5): C05013. Bibcode:2008JGRC..113.5013A. doi:10.1029/2007JC004200. ISSN 0148-0227. S2CID 12624917.
  15. ^ Sekine, Yoshihiko; Kutsuwada, Kunio (1994-02-01). "Seasonal Variation in Volume Transport of the Kuroshio South of Japan". Journal of Physical Oceanography. 24 (2): 261–272. Bibcode:1994JPO....24..261S. doi:10.1175/1520-0485(1994)024<0261:SVIVTO>2.0.CO;2. ISSN 0022-3670.
  16. ^ Ujiié, Hiroshi; Ujiié, Yurika (1999). "Late Quaternary course changes of the Kuroshio Current in the Ryukyu Arc region, northwestern Pacific Ocean". Marine Micropaleontology. 37 (1): 23–40. Bibcode:1999MarMP..37...23U. doi:10.1016/S0377-8398(99)00010-9.
  17. ^ Lee, Kyung Eun; Lee, Ho Jin; Park, Jae-Hun; Chang, Yuan-Pin; Ikehara, Ken; Itaki, Takuya; Kwon, Hyun Kyung (2013). "Stability of the Kuroshio path with respect to glacial sea level lowering: LGM KUROSHIO". Geophysical Research Letters: n/a. doi:10.1002/grl.50102.
  18. ^ Vogt-Vincent, N. S.; Mitarai, S. (2020). "A Persistent Kuroshio in the Glacial Sea of Japan and Implications for Coral Paleobiogeography". Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology. 35 (7): e2020PA003902. doi:10.1029/2020PA003902. ISSN 2572-4525.
  19. ^ Koba, Motoharu (1992). "Influx of the Kuroshio Current into the Okinawa Trough and Inauguration of Quaternary Coral-Reef Building in the Ryukyu Island Arc, Japan". The Quaternary Research (Daiyonki-Kenkyu). 31 (5): 359–373. doi:10.4116/jaqua.31.359. ISSN 1881-8129.
  20. ^ a b Das, Prabodha; Lin, A.; Chen, Min-Pen; Miramontes, E.; Liu, Char-Shine; Huang, N.; Kung, J.; Hsu, S.; Pillutla, Radha Krishna; Nayak, K. (2021). "Deep-sea submarine erosion by the Kuroshio Current in the Manila accretionary prism, offshore Southern Taiwan". Tectonophysics. 807: 228813. Bibcode:2021Tectp.80728813D. doi:10.1016/J.TECTO.2021.228813. S2CID 233823458.
  21. ^ a b Liu, J. P.; Xu, K. H.; Li, A. C.; Milliman, J. D.; Velozzi, D. M.; Xiao, S. B.; Yang, Z. S. (2007-03-30). "Flux and fate of Yangtze River sediment delivered to the East China Sea". Geomorphology. Monsoon Rivers of Asia. 85 (3): 208–224. Bibcode:2007Geomo..85..208L. doi:10.1016/j.geomorph.2006.03.023. ISSN 0169-555X.
  22. ^ Liu, Zhifei; Tuo, Shouting; Colin, Christophe; Liu, James T.; Huang, Chi-Yue; Selvaraj, Kandasamy; Chen, Chen-Tung Arthur; Zhao, Yulong; Siringan, Fernando P.; Boulay, Sébastien; Chen, Zhong (2008). "Detrital fine-grained sediment contribution from Taiwan to the northern South China Sea and its relation to regional ocean circulation". Marine Geology. 255 (3–4): 149–155. Bibcode:2008MGeol.255..149L. doi:10.1016/j.margeo.2008.08.003. ISSN 0025-3227.
  23. ^ Lafond, E. C.; Smith, E. L. (1970-12-31), "Temperature and Current in and near the Kuroshio", The Kuroshio, University of Hawaii Press, pp. 69–78, doi:10.1515/9780824885830-008, ISBN 9780824885830, retrieved 2021-10-22
  24. ^ a b c Mann, K. H.; Lazier, J. R. N. (2005-11-22). Dynamics of Marine Ecosystems. doi:10.1002/9781118687901. ISBN 9781118687901.
  25. ^ Da, Nguyen Dac; Foltz, Gregory R.; Balaguru, Karthik (2021). "Observed Global Increases in Tropical Cyclone-Induced Ocean Cooling and Primary Production". Geophysical Research Letters. 48 (9): e2021GL092574. Bibcode:2021GeoRL..4892574D. doi:10.1029/2021GL092574. ISSN 1944-8007. S2CID 233561962.
  26. ^ Lin, I.-I. (2012). "Typhoon-induced phytoplankton blooms and primary productivity increase in the western North Pacific subtropical ocean: TYPHOON-INDUCED BLOOMS AND PRODUCTIVITY". Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans. 117 (C3): n/a. doi:10.1029/2011JC007626.
  27. ^ Guo, X. Y.; Zhu, X.-H.; Long, Y.; Huang, D. J. (2013-10-10). "Spatial variations in the Kuroshio nutrient transport from the East China Sea to south of Japan". Biogeosciences. 10 (10): 6403–6417. Bibcode:2013BGeo...10.6403G. doi:10.5194/bg-10-6403-2013. ISSN 1726-4189.
  28. ^ a b Nagai, Takeyoshi; Durán, Gloria Silvana; Otero, Diego André; Mori, Yasutaka; Yoshie, Naoki; Ohgi, Kazuki; Hasegawa, Daisuke; Nishina, Ayako; Kobari, Toru (2019). "How the Kuroshio Current Delivers Nutrients to Sunlit Layers on the Continental Shelves With Aid of Near-Inertial Waves and Turbulence". Geophysical Research Letters. 46 (12): 6726–6735. Bibcode:2019GeoRL..46.6726N. doi:10.1029/2019GL082680. ISSN 1944-8007. S2CID 181672077.
  29. ^ a b c d e Aldea, K. Q., Morales, M. I., Arajo, A. E., & Masagca, J. T. (2015). Biodiversity in the Kuroshio Region: Challenges and Trends in the Upstream.
  30. ^ a b c d Chung, Chih-Ching; Chang, Jeng; Gong, Gwo-Ching; Hsu, Shih-Chieh; Chiang, Kuo-Ping; Liao, Chia-Wen (2011-08-01). "Effects of Asian Dust Storms on Synechococcus Populations in the Subtropical Kuroshio Current". Marine Biotechnology. 13 (4): 751–763. Bibcode:2011MarBt..13..751C. doi:10.1007/s10126-010-9336-5. ISSN 1436-2236. PMID 21153675. S2CID 19096722.
  31. ^ Bishop, James K. B.; Davis, Russ E.; Sherman, Jeffrey T. (2002-10-25). "Robotic Observations of Dust Storm Enhancement of Carbon Biomass in the North Pacific". Science. 298 (5594): 817–821. Bibcode:2002Sci...298..817B. doi:10.1126/science.1074961. PMID 12399588. S2CID 38762011.
  32. ^ Shiozaki, T.; Takeda, S.; Itoh, S.; Kodama, T.; Liu, X.; Hashihama, F.; Furuya, K. (2015-12-04). "Why is Trichodesmium abundant in the Kuroshio?". Biogeosciences. 12 (23): 6931–6943. Bibcode:2015BGeo...12.6931S. doi:10.5194/bg-12-6931-2015. ISSN 1726-4170.
  33. ^ Lee Chen, Yl; Tuo, Sh; Chen, Hy (2011-01-17). "Co-occurrence and transfer of fixed nitrogen from Trichodesmium spp. to diatoms in the low-latitude Kuroshio Current in the NW Pacific". Marine Ecology Progress Series. 421: 25–38. Bibcode:2011MEPS..421...25L. doi:10.3354/meps08908. ISSN 0171-8630.
  34. ^ "Airiti Library". www.airitilibrary.com. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
  35. ^ Lo, Wen-Tseng; Dahms, Hans-Uwe; Hwang, Jiang-Shiou (2014-09-16). "Water mass transport through the northern Bashi Channel in the northeastern South China Sea affects copepod assemblages of the Luzon Strait". Zoological Studies. 53 (1): 66. doi:10.1186/s40555-014-0066-7. ISSN 1810-522X. S2CID 8351129.
  36. ^ "Airiti Library". www.airitilibrary.com. Retrieved 2021-12-12.
  37. ^ Hwang, Jiang-Shiou; Dahms, Hans-Uwe; Tseng, Li-Chun; Chen, Qing-Chao (2007-11-30). "Intrusions of the Kuroshio Current in the northern South China Sea affect copepod assemblages of the Luzon Strait". Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 352 (1): 12–27. Bibcode:2007JEMBE.352...12H. doi:10.1016/j.jembe.2007.06.034. ISSN 0022-0981.
  38. ^ Hwang, Jiang-Shiou; Dahms, Hans-Uwe; Tseng, Li-Chun; Chen, Qing-Chao (November 2007). "Intrusions of the Kuroshio Current in the northern South China Sea affect copepod assemblages of the Luzon Strait". Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 352 (1): 12–27. Bibcode:2007JEMBE.352...12H. doi:10.1016/j.jembe.2007.06.034.
  39. ^ a b Ishak, Nurul Huda Ahmad; Tadokoro, Kazuaki; Okazaki, Yuji; Kakehi, Shigeho; Suyama, Satoshi; Takahashi, Kazutaka (2020). "Distribution, biomass, and species composition of salps and doliolids in the Oyashio–Kuroshio transitional region: potential impact of massive bloom on the pelagic food web". Journal of Oceanography. 76 (5): 351–363. Bibcode:2020JOce...76..351I. doi:10.1007/s10872-020-00549-3. ISSN 0916-8370. S2CID 218682442.
  40. ^ Lu, Hsueh-Jung; Lee, Hsiao-Ling (2014-07-01). "Changes in the fish species composition in the coastal zones of the Kuroshio Current and China Coastal Current during periods of climate change: Observations from the set-net fishery (1993–2011)". Fisheries Research. 155: 103–113. Bibcode:2014FishR.155..103L. doi:10.1016/j.fishres.2014.02.032. ISSN 0165-7836.
  41. ^ a b Gallagher, Stephen J.; Kitamura, Akihisa; Iryu, Yasufumi; Itaki, Takuya; Koizumi, Itaru; Hoiles, Peter W. (2015-06-27). "The Pliocene to recent history of the Kuroshio and Tsushima Currents: a multi-proxy approach". Progress in Earth and Planetary Science. 2 (1): 17. Bibcode:2015PEPS....2...17G. doi:10.1186/s40645-015-0045-6. ISSN 2197-4284. S2CID 129045722.
  42. ^ Nagai, Takeyoshi; Saito, Hiroaki; Suzuki, Koji; Takahashi, Motomitsu, eds. (2019-04-10). "Kuroshio Current". Geophysical Monograph Series. doi:10.1002/9781119428428. ISBN 9781119428343. ISSN 2328-8779. S2CID 241535114.
  43. ^ Yasuda, Nina; Taquet, Coralie; Nagai, Satoshi; Fortes, Miguel; Fan, Tung-Yung; Phongsuwan, Niphon; Nadaoka, Kazuo (2014-01-01). "Genetic structure and cryptic speciation in the threatened reef-building coral Heliopora coerulea along Kuroshio Current". Bulletin of Marine Science. 90 (1): 233–255. doi:10.5343/bms.2012.1105. ISSN 0007-4977.
  44. ^ a b c Maoka, Takashi; Akimoto, Naoshige; Tsushima, Miyuki; Komemushi, Sadao; Mezaki, Takuma; Iwase, Fumihito; Takahashi, Yoshimitsu; Sameshima, Naomi; Mori, Miho; Sakagami, Yoshikazu (2011-08-22). "Carotenoids in Marine Invertebrates Living along the Kuroshio Current Coast". Marine Drugs. 9 (8): 1419–1427. doi:10.3390/md9081419. ISSN 1660-3397. PMC 3164383. PMID 21892355.
  45. ^ Inoue, Jun; Hisata, Kanako; Yasuda, Nina; Satoh, Noriyuki (2020-07-01). "An Investigation into the Genetic History of Japanese Populations of Three Starfish, Acanthaster planci, Linckia laevigata, and Asterias amurensis, Based on Complete Mitochondrial DNA Sequences". G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics. 10 (7): 2519–2528. doi:10.1534/g3.120.401155. ISSN 2160-1836. PMC 7341131. PMID 32471940. Archived from the original on 2021-11-29. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
  46. ^ "Crown-of-Thorns Starfish | AIMS". www.aims.gov.au. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
  47. ^ Uchiyama, Yusuke; Odani, Sachika; Kashima, Motohiko; Kamidaira, Yuki; Mitarai, Satoshi (2018). "Influences of the Kuroshio on Interisland Remote Connectivity of Corals Across the Nansei Archipelago in the East China Sea". Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans. 123 (12): 9245–9265. Bibcode:2018JGRC..123.9245U. doi:10.1029/2018JC014017. ISSN 2169-9291. S2CID 135066100.
  48. ^ a b KAMEZAKI, NAOKI; MATSUI, MASAFUMI (1997). "A Review of Biological Studies on Sea Turtles in Japan". Japanese Journal of Herpetology. 17 (1): 16–32. doi:10.5358/hsj1972.17.1_16. ISSN 0285-3191.
  49. ^ "ウミガメの種類". 日本ウミガメ協議会 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-11-29.
  50. ^ Kanaji, Yu; Okazaki, Makoto; Watanabe, Hikaru; Miyashita, Tomio (March 2016). "Biogeography of small odontocetes in relation to wide-scale oceanographic structure in the North Pacific Ocean". Fisheries Oceanography. 25 (2): 119–132. Bibcode:2016FisOc..25..119K. doi:10.1111/fog.12140. ISSN 1054-6006.
  51. ^ a b Murase, Hiroto; Hakamada, Takashi; Matsuoka, Koji; Nishiwaki, Shigetoshi; Inagake, Denzo; Okazaki, Makoto; Tojo, Naoki; Kitakado, Toshihide (2014-09-01). "Distribution of sei whales (Balaenoptera borealis) in the subarctic–subtropical transition area of the western North Pacific in relation to oceanic fronts". Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography. Fronts, Fish and Top Predators. 107: 22–28. Bibcode:2014DSRII.107...22M. doi:10.1016/j.dsr2.2014.05.002. ISSN 0967-0645.
  52. ^ Qu, Baoxiao; Song, Jinming; Yuan, Huamao; Li, Xuegang; Li, Ning (2018). "Carbon Chemistry in the Mainstream of Kuroshio Current in Eastern Taiwan and Its Transport of Carbon into the East China Sea Shelf". Sustainability. 10 (3): 791. doi:10.3390/su10030791.
  53. ^ Nakano, Hideyuki; Tsujino, Hiroyuki; Hirabara, Mikitoshi; Yasuda, Tamaki; Motoi, Tatsuo; Ishii, Masao; Yamanaka, Goro (2011-12-01). "Uptake mechanism of anthropogenic CO2 in the Kuroshio Extension region in an ocean general circulation model". Journal of Oceanography. 67 (6): 765–783. Bibcode:2011JOce...67..765N. doi:10.1007/s10872-011-0075-7. ISSN 1573-868X. S2CID 129565710.
  54. ^ a b c d Gallagher, Stephen J.; Kitamura, Akihisa; Iryu, Yasufumi; Itaki, Takuya; Koizumi, Itaru; Hoiles, Peter W. (2015). "The Pliocene to recent history of the Kuroshio and Tsushima Currents: a multi-proxy approach". Progress in Earth and Planetary Science. 2 (1): 17. Bibcode:2015PEPS....2...17G. doi:10.1186/s40645-015-0045-6. ISSN 2197-4284. S2CID 129045722.
  55. ^ "Currents, Gyres, & Eddies - Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution". Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Retrieved 2021-12-12.
  56. ^ a b Oka, Eitarou; Suga, Toshio (2003). "Formation region of North Pacific subtropical mode water in the late winter of 2003". Geophysical Research Letters. 30 (23): n/a. Bibcode:2003GeoRL..30.2205O. doi:10.1029/2003gl018581. ISSN 0094-8276. S2CID 56400668.
  57. ^ a b Suga, Toshio; Hanawa, Kimio (1995). "The Subtropical Mode Water Circulation in the North Pacific". Journal of Physical Oceanography. 25 (5): 958–970. Bibcode:1995JPO....25..958S. doi:10.1175/1520-0485(1995)025<0958:TSMWCI>2.0.CO;2. ISSN 0022-3670.
  58. ^ a b c Rainville, L.; Jayne, S.R.; McClean, J.L.; Maltrud, M.E. (2007). "Formation of Subtropical Mode Water in a high-resolution ocean simulation of the Kuroshio Extension region". Ocean Modelling. 17 (4): 338–356. Bibcode:2007OcMod..17..338R. doi:10.1016/j.ocemod.2007.03.002. hdl:1912/1782. ISSN 1463-5003.
  59. ^ Qiu, Bo (2000). "Interannual Variability of the Kuroshio Extension System and Its Impact on the Wintertime SST Field". Journal of Physical Oceanography. 30 (6): 1486–1502. Bibcode:2000JPO....30.1486Q. doi:10.1175/1520-0485(2000)030<1486:IVOTKE>2.0.CO;2. ISSN 0022-3670.
  60. ^ Jan, Sen; Yang, Yiing Jang; Wang, Joe; Mensah, Vigan; Kuo, Tien-Hsia; Chiou, Ming-Da; Chern, Ching-Sheng; Chang, Ming-Huei; Chien, Hwa (2015). "Large variability of the Kuroshio at 23.75°N east of Taiwan". Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans. 120 (3): 1825–1840. Bibcode:2015JGRC..120.1825J. doi:10.1002/2014JC010614. ISSN 2169-9291.
  61. ^ Wang, Guihua; Xie, Shang-Ping; Huang, Rui Xin; Chen, Changlin (2015). "Robust Warming Pattern of Global Subtropical Oceans and Its Mechanism". Journal of Climate. 28 (21): 8574–8584. Bibcode:2015JCli...28.8574W. doi:10.1175/JCLI-D-14-00809.1. ISSN 0894-8755. S2CID 53592412.
  62. ^ Chen, Chen; Shiotani, Shigeaki; Sasa, Kenji (2015-08-01). "Effect of ocean currents on ship navigation in the east China sea". Ocean Engineering. 104: 283–293. Bibcode:2015OcEng.104..283C. doi:10.1016/j.oceaneng.2015.04.062. ISSN 0029-8018.
  63. ^ Sassa, Chiyuki; Konishi, Yoshinobu; Mori, Ken (2006). "Distribution of jack mackerel (Trachurus japonicus) larvae and juveniles in the East China Sea, with special reference to the larval transport by the Kuroshio Current". Fisheries Oceanography. 15 (6): 508–518. Bibcode:2006FisOc..15..508S. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2419.2006.00417.x. ISSN 1365-2419.
  64. ^ "FAO Fisheries & Aquaculture Seriola quinqueradiata". www.fao.org. Retrieved 2021-11-18.
  65. ^ Belkin, I., "Kuroshio Current: LME #49" Archived 2018-02-01 at the Wayback Machine
  66. ^ "10 years after tsunami: A Japanese town rebuilds its homes and heart". Christian Science Monitor. 2021-02-26. ISSN 0882-7729. Retrieved 2021-11-18.
  67. ^ Kumamoto, Yuichiro (2016). "Spreading of Fukushima-derived Radiocesium in the Western North Pacific Ocean by the End of 2014". Bunseki Kagaku. 66 (3): 137–148. doi:10.2116/bunsekikagaku.66.137.
  68. ^ "Fukushima Fishing Industry Still Far from Recovery". nippon.com. 2020-03-09. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
  69. ^ a b "Recovery and Change: Sanriku Fisheries Shifting Focus Seven Years After 3/11". nippon.com. 2018-03-09. Retrieved 2021-11-18.
  70. ^ Alabaster, Jay (7 November 2021). "New Whale Meat on Plates in Taiji as Fishermen Adjust to Whimsical Kuroshio Current | JAPAN Forward". japan-forward.com. Retrieved 2021-11-18.

Read other articles:

581st Air Resupply Group

581st Air Resupply Group Active1951–1956Country United StatesBranch United States Air ForceRoleSpecial OperationsPart ofPacific Air ForcesMotto(s)Latin: Libertas per Veritatem (Liberty Through Truth)InsigniaPatch displaying the 581st emblem (approved 12 June 1952 for the 581st Wing)[1]Military unit The 581st Air Resupply Group is an inactive United States Air Force group. Its last duty assignment was at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, where it was inactivated in 1956. Hist...

 

 

Eve Southern

Eve SouthernPublished 1930LahirElva L. McDowell(1900-08-23)23 Agustus 1900Ranger, Texas, A.S.Meninggal29 November 1972(1972-11-29) (umur 72)Santa Monica, California, A.S.PekerjaanAktrisTahun aktif1916–1936Suami/istriRobert F. Shepherd (m.1925–div.1928) Eve Southern (nee Elva L. McDowell; 23 Agustus 1900 – 29 November 1972) adalah seorang aktris film Amerika. Dia muncul dalam 38 film dari tahun 1916 hingga 1936. Dia terpilih sebagai salah satu dari 16 kecantikan ...

 

 

Élections cantonales de 2011 dans l'Eure

2008 2015 (départementales) Élections cantonales de 2011 dans l'Eure 22 des 43 cantons de l'Eure 20 et 27 mars 2011 Type d’élection Élections cantonales Majorité départementale – Jean-Louis Destans Liste PSDVGPCFPRG Sièges obtenus 24  1 Opposition départementale Liste UMPDVDNC Sièges obtenus 19  1 PCF : 4 sièges PRG : 2 siègesDVG : 6 siègesPS : 12 sièges DVD : 4 sièges NC : 5 sièges UMP : 10 sièges Présiden...

نهائي دوري أبطال أوروبا 2017

نهائي دوري أبطال أوروبا 2017استضاف النهائي ملعب الألفية في كارديف.الحدثدوري أبطال أوروبا 2016–17 يوفنتوس ريال مدريد 1 4 التاريخ3 يونيو 2017 (2017-06-03)الملعبملعب الألفية، كارديفرجل المباراةكريستيانو رونالدو (ريال مدريد)الحكمفيليكس بريش (ألمانيا)[1]الحضور65،842[2]الطقس�...

 

 

Pelvimetry

Measurement of the female pelvis PelvimetryPurposemeasurement of female pelvis Pelvimetry is the measurement of the female pelvis.[1] It can theoretically identify cephalo-pelvic disproportion, which is when the capacity of the pelvis is inadequate to allow the fetus to negotiate the birth canal. However, clinical evidence indicate that all pregnant women should be allowed a trial of labor regardless of pelvimetry results.[2] Indication Theoretically, pelvimetry may identify c...

 

 

Hanetsuki

Foto wanita bermain hanetsuki Hanetsuki (羽根突き, 羽子突きcode: ja is deprecated , arti harfiah: tepuk bulu) adalah permainan tradisional Jepang berupa saling berbalasan memukul kok tanpa jaring. Permainan mirip bulu tangkis ini dimainkan dengan raket yang disebut hagoita. Kok dibuat dari biji buah mukuroji (pohon familia Sapindaceae) yang dicucuk dengan bulu unggas berwarna-warni. Tradisi bermain hanetsuki di kalangan anak perempuan dipercaya membawa nasib baik, dan merupakan salah ...

Gian Pieretti

Gian Pieretti Nazionalità Italia GenerePopRockBeat Periodo di attività musicale1963 – in attività EtichettaVedette, Dischi Ricordi, Dig-It Album pubblicati9 Studio8 Live1 Raccolte2 Modifica dati su Wikidata · Manuale Gian Pieretti, pseudonimo di Dante Luca Pieretti (Ponte Buggianese, 12 maggio 1940), è un cantautore, compositore e paroliere italiano. Indice 1 Biografia 1.1 Gli inizi 1.2 Il successo 1.3 Autore per altri artisti 1.4 Il vestito rosa del mio am...

 

 

List of tallest buildings in Taiwan

Tallest buildings in Taiwan. The buildings in blue indicate that they are currently under construction. Taipei 10185 Sky TowerTaipei Nan Shan PlazaShin Kong Life TowerChang-Gu World Trade Centerclass=notpageimage| Locations of the tallest buildings in Taiwan: are the locations of the five tallest skyscrapers; are the locations of other skyscrapers This list ranks skyscrapers in Taiwan by height. The tallest building in Taiwan is currently the 101–story Taipei 101, which rises 509.2 metres ...

 

 

Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste d'Alès

Cette cathédrale n’est pas la seule cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste. Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste d'Alès Présentation Culte Catholique Dédicataire Saint Jean Baptiste Type Église paroissialeAncienne cathédrale (jusqu'en 1801) Rattachement Diocèse de Nîmes Début de la construction XVIIe siècle Protection  Classée MH (1914) Site web Ensemble paroissial d’Alès Centre-Ville, Ste Bernadette, St Christol Géographie Pays France Région Occitanie Département Gard ...

South Pennines

Region of moorland and hills in northern England Footpath across Inchfield Moor The South Pennines is a region of moorland and hill country in northern England lying towards the southern end of the Pennines. In the west it includes the Rossendale Valley and the West Pennine Moors. It is bounded by the Greater Manchester conurbation in the west and the Bowland Fells and Yorkshire Dales to the north. To the east it is fringed by the towns of West Yorkshire whilst to the south it is bounded by t...

 

 

Anton Gorelkin

Russian politician In this name that follows Eastern Slavic naming customs, the patronymic is Vadimovich and the family name is Gorelkin. You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in Russian. (February 2024) Click [show] for important translation instructions. Machine translation, like DeepL or Google Translate, is a useful starting point for translations, but translators must revise errors as necessary and confirm that the translation is ac...

 

 

Mariko Kaga

Japanese actress Mariko Kaga加賀まりこBornMasako Kaga (1943-12-11) 11 December 1943 (age 80)Kanda-Ogawamachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, JapanOccupationActorYears active1962–present Mariko Kaga (Japanese: 加賀まりこ, Hepburn: Kaga Mariko, born 11 December 1943) is a Japanese actress. Career Scouted in Shibuya, Kaga starred in the television drama Yonjū hassai no teikō in 1962.[1] She became known for playing femme fatale characters in films such as Pale Flower and Gets...

乌克兰总理

 烏克蘭總理Прем'єр-міністр України烏克蘭國徽現任杰尼斯·什米加尔自2020年3月4日任命者烏克蘭總統任期總統任命首任維托爾德·福金设立1991年11月后继职位無网站www.kmu.gov.ua/control/en/（英文） 乌克兰 乌克兰政府与政治系列条目 宪法 政府 总统 弗拉基米尔·泽连斯基 總統辦公室 国家安全与国防事务委员会 总统代表（英语：Representatives of the President of Ukraine） 总...

 

 

哈萨克斯坦总统

此条目序言章节没有充分总结全文内容要点。 (2019年3月21日)请考虑扩充序言，清晰概述条目所有重點。请在条目的讨论页讨论此问题。 哈萨克斯坦總統哈薩克總統旗現任Қасым-Жомарт Кемелұлы Тоқаев卡瑟姆若马尔特·托卡耶夫自2019年3月20日在任任期7年首任努尔苏丹·纳扎尔巴耶夫设立1990年4月24日（哈薩克蘇維埃社會主義共和國總統） 哈萨克斯坦 哈萨克斯坦政府...

 

 

Romanian Americans

Ethnic groups in the United States Not to be confused with Romani Americans. Romanian AmericansTotal population464,814 (2019)[1][2] 1,200,000 (other estimates in 2019)[3]Regions with significant populations New York City Metropolitan Area New Jersey Ohio Colorado California Illinois Michigan Maryland Wisconsin Minnesota Florida Pennsylvania Georgia Iowa Indiana Tennessee Texas Massachusetts Oregon Hawaii District of Columbia Southwest U.S.[4][5][6&#...

Schubert's Dream of Spring

1931 film Schubert's Dream of SpringDirected byRichard OswaldWritten byLeo LaskoArthur Rebner [de]Produced byErich Morawsky [de]Richard OswaldStarringCarl Jöken [de]Gretl TheimerAlfred LäutnerWilly StettnerCinematographyWilly GoldbergerEdited byPaul Falkenberg [de]Music byFelix Günther [de]ProductioncompanyRichard-Oswald-ProduktionDistributed byAtlas-FilmverleihRelease date 30 January 1931 (1931-01-30) (Ber...

 

 

New York City's 25th City Council district

PlaceNew York City's 25th City Council districtGovernment • Council Member  Shekar Krishnan (D—Jackson Heights)Population (2010)[1] • Total161,419Demographics • Hispanic36% • White28% • Asian27% • Black6% • Other3%Registration • Democratic63.1% • Republican9.2% • No party preference25.1%Registered voters (2021) 85,768[2] New York City's 25th City...

 

 

James Gosling

James Arthur GoslingLahir19 Mei 1955 (umur 69)dekat Calgary, Alberta, KanadaTempat tinggalAmerika SerikatKebangsaanKanadaAlmamaterCarnegie Mellon University, University of CalgaryTempat kerjaSun MicrosystemsDikenal atasBahasa pemograman JavaGelarChief Technology Officer, Client Software GroupPenghargaanOfficer of the Order of CanadaSitus webJames Gosling's weblog James A. Gosling O.C., Ph.D. (lahir 19 Mei 1955) adalah seorang pengembang perangkat lunak, yang terkenal terutama sebagai ba...

Ciudad principal

En rojo, los países que no tienen una ciudad principal o primaria. Una ciudad principal o ciudad primaria (traducción del anglicismo primate city) es una aglomeración urbana de gran tamaño, ubicada al interior de una región o un país en particular, que por sus dimensiones y demografía es proporcionalmente superior en su jerarquía urbana, cumpliendo un rol relevante y estratégico en el desarrollo de un sistema económico a nivel regional y/o nacional. Si bien el término se encuentra ...

 

 

Penarikan mundur pasukan Romawi dari Afrika (255 SM)

Penarikan mundur pasukan Romawi dari Afrika, 255 SMBagian dari Perang Punik ITanggal255 SMLokasiSemenanjung Cape Bon, lepas pantai di wilayah Tenggara Sisilia37°N 11°E / 37°N 11°E / 37; 11Hasil Tidak pastiPihak terlibat Kartago RomaTokoh dan pemimpin Tidak diketahui Fulvius Paetinus NobiliorAemilius PaullusKekuatan 200 kapal perangJumlah prajurit tidak diketahui 390 kapal perangJumlah prajurit tidak diketahuiKorban 16 kapal tenggelam114 kapal direbutJumla...