The Kuroshio Current was formed as a result of the tangential wind direction in the eastern and southern parts of Japan. Air masses near the western borders of the mainland, affecting the upper layers of the ocean surface, are so strong that the resulting water flow develops into a powerful border movement of the waters of the Pacific Ocean.
Name
The name "Kuroshio" comes from the fusion of two Japanese words: "kuro" - dark and "shio" - current. "Dark waters" actually have a pleasant bluish tint with high water transparency: the depth is visible at a distance of up to 40 m.
According to oceanological characteristics, the Kuroshio current is a warm circulating current, the waters of which move from the equator to the north pole. The maximum surface temperature reaches +28° C. The level of fluctuation of Kuroshio does not leave the limits of 90°, therefore it is referred to as constant.
Character of water masses
The water masses of the Kuroshio Current originate in the northern partcentral waters of the Pacific Ocean. In the East China Sea, between the straits of the Ryukyu Islands and Taiwan, the waters of the North Equatorial Current rapidly increase in volume up to 2 times. It is this place that is considered to be the beginning of this stream. The Kuroshio Current is warm, fed from springs located in the northeast.
According to the nature of the circulating water masses, Kuroshio is referred to as meandering flows. What does this mean? Simply put, this is a flow with constant wave vortices. The main circulations occur at the borders at the confluence with the Kuril water flows in the north. Mass disturbances cause frequent fluctuations in temperature on the surface of Kuroshio: winds from the northwest cool the temperature near the waters of Cape Shionomisaki to 8°C. The latitude of penetration of northern streams reaches 37–42°, depending on the season.
Due to the influence of thermohaline forces (processes on the water surface associated with uneven distribution of the density and mass of the World Ocean), Kuroshio waters are combined in composition and properties: the lower layer is a subarctic mass with low salinity, the central one is formed in the waters Pacific Ocean (s alt content does not exceed 36 ppm), the surface one is the warmest (+22°C). During the circulation of the World Ocean, water masses mix with deep currents and subtropical currents.
Current flow
The Kuroshio current has an average speed. On the maximum segment of the path, it does not exceed 6 knots. This value is achieved in the process of merging the warm masses of the flow withcold current from the Kuril Islands or in the south of Japan. The speed of Kuroshio is unevenly distributed: in Okinawa and Taiwan it is low (2 knots), and closer to the northern part of the "dark current" it increases again. The pace also varies depending on the season: warm trade winds in summer accelerate the waters to maximum speed, and by autumn it decreases again.
Additional feature
The Kuroshio Current is often compared to the Gulf Stream. It carries warm waters that favor the climate balance in the region. Cold masses on the east coast of Japan mix with the flow of warm Kuroshio masses, creating climate conditions suitable for the ecosystem.
It is generally accepted that the depth of the current is measured by 450 meters of water masses, consisting of two layers of the Pacific Ocean differing in density. Although there is an inaccuracy in this division: the lower layer of subarctic waters is much deeper, but due to the difference in composition and low flow velocity, its characteristics are not taken into account when determining area and depth. The Kuroshio current (warm or cold indicated above) surprises with its characteristics, which you constantly want to talk about. The landscapes are especially impressive. The maximum width of the current reaches 79.9 km. This figure is obtained by confluence with deep waters and cold currents from the eastern coast of Japan.
The Land of the Rising Sun has always pleased with its beauty, which is constantly noted by tourists. The climatic conditions of thisarea is very satisfactory, which allows you to provide comfortable living conditions. Being near the current, you need to be careful, as it is too strong.
After reading this article, it will be easy for any student to answer the question of where the Kuroshio Current is.
