• Journal of the korean society of oceanography
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.196-200
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• 2002

The time variation in the Kuroshio is studied by use of nine observed distances of the main Kuroshio axis from the Japanese coast. The observed distances over 1975 - 1995 are estimated from the Prompt Report of Oceanographic Conditions published by Hydrographic Department of the Maritime Safety Agency of Japan. It is shown that large sea level difference between Naze and Nishinoomote, which represents the volume transport of the southern inflow south of Kyushu, coincides with larger distance of the Kuroshio in the upstream area from off Kyushu to off eastern Kii Peninsula and smaller distance in the downstream area from off Omae-zaki to off Boso Peninsula. In contrast, large sea level difference between Nishinoomote and Aburatsu, which represents the volume transport of northern inflow south of Kyushu, corresponds to smaller distance in the upstream area and larger distance in the downstream area. Path dynamics of the Kuroshio is discussed with reference to the variation in Volume transport south of Kyushu.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.113-121
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• 1998

A relationship between sea level variations in the Korea Strait (the western and the eastern channels) and the Tokara Strait in the Kuroshio region is examined using daily-mean sea level data from 1966 to 1986. The seasonal variation of the sea level difference (SLD) between Izuhara and Pusan (the western channel) is most periodic: the positive anomalies appear from summer to autumn, and the negative anomalies from winter to spring year to year, whereas SLDs neither between Hakata and Izuhara (the eastern channel) nor between Naze and Nishinoomote (the Tokara Strait) show such a periodic variation. Much similarity has been found between SLDs in the eastern channel and the Tokara Strait, and in particular they were closely correlated in a special event of the Kuroshio region, such as a large meander of the Kuroshio. This paper shows that the periodic seasonal variation of the SLDs in the western channel should be less related to the Kuroshio region. This result also implies that the variation of SLD in the western channel is largely influenced by local factors, such as the bottom cold water in the western channel in summer, rather than from the Kuroshio region.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• v.2
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• pp.969-972
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• 2006

The long-range High-Frequency (HF) ocean radar system has observed surface velocity field in the upstream of the Kuroshio north of Ishigaki Island and east of Taiwan since 2001. Applying a new method to extract geostrophic velocity component from the HF surface velocity data with the aid of satellite-born wind data, time series of daily surface geostrophic velocity field has been determined. Despite limited width of the study area of the HF radar, analysis of the sea surface height anomaly determined from the satellite altimetry data in a wider area can provide estimated dates of arrival of mesoscale eddies in the study area of the HF radar. Variations of the Kuroshio position and strength are studied in detail for these cases of interaction with mesoscale eddy, although number of occurrence of direct interaction with the Kuroshio in the study area is not statistically enough. For example, when an anticyclonic eddy approaches to the Kuroshio, the Kuroshio axis is found tend to move northward, keeping away from the approaching eddy from the east.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.141-160
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• 2001

The challenge of predicting the Japanese coastal ocean motivated Frontier Observational Research System for Global Change (FORSGC) and the Japan Marine Science and Technology Center (JAMSTEC) to start a multiyear observational programme in the upstream Kuroshio in November 2000. This field effort, the Kuroshio Observation Program (KOP), should enable us to determine the barotropic and baroclinic components of the western boundary current system, thus, to better understand interactions of the currents with mesoscale eddies, the Kuroshio instabilities, and path bimodality. We, then, will be able to improve modeling predictability of the mesoscale, seasonal, and inter-annual processes in the midstream Kuroshio near the Japanese main islands by using this knowledge. The KOP is focused on an enhanced regional coverage of the sea surface height variability and the baroclinic structure of the mainstream Kuroshio in the East China Sea, the Ryukyu Current east of the Ryukyu's, and the Kuroshio recirculation. An attractive approach of the KOP is a development of a new data acquisition system via acoustic telemetry of the observational data. The monitoring system will provide observations for assimilation into extensive numerical models of the ocean circulation, targeting the real-time monitoring of the Japanese coastal waters.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.193-205
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• 2008

A model of the current and seasonal volume transport in the East China Sea was used to investigate the origin of the Tsushima Warm Current (TSWC). The modeled volume transport field suggested that the current field west of Kyushu ($30^{\circ}-32^{\circ}N$) was divided into two regions, R1 and R2, according to the bottom depth. R1 consisted of the Taiwan Warm Current (TWWC) region and the mixed Kuroshio-TWWC (MKT) water region, while R2 was the modified Kuroshio water (MKW) region west of Kyushu. The MKW branched from the Kuroshio and flowed into the Korea/Tsushima Straits through the Cheju-Kyushu Strait, contributing 41% of the annual mean volume transport of the TSWC. The TWWC and MKT water flowed into the Korea/Tsushima Straits through the Cheju-Kyushu and Cheju Straits, contributing 32% and 27% of the volume transport, respectively. The maximum volume transport of the MKW was 53% of the total volume transport of the TSWC in November, while the maximum volume transport of the water in the R1 region through the Cheju-Kyushu Strait was 41% in July. Hence, there were two peaks per year of volume transport in the TSWC.

• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.1358-1365
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• 2014

This study is to analyze the variability of floating marine debris(FMD) on the Kuroshio Current Area(KCA). A sighting survey was conducted from July 5th to July 16th, 2013 while navigating on KCA from Keelung, Taiwan to Tokyo, Japan using T/V KAYA of Pukyong National University. The sampled zones were divided into 6 transects and observed FMD during daytime in each transect. And also specified with 56 segments by defined one hour tracking distance as one segment on the survey routes. The results are as follows: 1. Hourly deviation of FMD's quality in each transect goes up to 10 times at NT, HS and SK. The others 3 times or so. 2. During the surveys, the largest amounts of it were found as total mean of $31.0num(ea)/km^2$ at NT transect in the northern part of Taiwan. So it is estimated because this area has gotten out of KCA. 3. And also quality of it on KCA was not directly related to Kuroshio Current's strong or weak. In conclusion, For the more detailed results on KCA are required of much more surveys.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.307-313
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• 2004

The trajectories of 8 autonomous profiling floats deployed in the Kuroshio Extension region in February 2001 are used to depict the circulation pattern at the surface and 2000db. The corresponding sea surface topography maps created from satellite altimeter and dynamic height climatology were compared with the tracks of nearly coincident floats and were found to agree well in most cases except for the period June 5 to 16 2001. It is shown that over the period the conspicuous breakaway of the floats from an expected path is possibly associated with the abnormal path of the Kuroshio Extension such as an outbreak event, as revealed by AVHRR infrared and SeaWiFS chlorophyll-a images and cruise data in cross sections.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• 2005.10a
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• pp.434-436
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• 2005

Analysis method using remote sensing data is one of the effective ways to research a spatial and temporal variability of the mesoscale oceanic motions. During past several decades, many researchers have been getting comprehensive results using remote sensing data with application of data fusion methods in many parts of geo-science. For this study, we took the integration and fusion of several remote sensing data, which are different data resolution, timescale and characteristics, for improving accurate analysis of variation of the Kuroshio Extension. Furthermore, we might get advanced ways to understand the variability of the Kuroshio Extension, has close relation to the spatial and temporal variation of the Kuroshio and Oyashio Current.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• v.2
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• pp.926-929
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• 2006

Some features of vertical structure of the frontal interaction zone of the warm Kuroshio Current and cold Oyashio Current are known from 1930 from analysis of ship data. Ship data however do not allow carrying out the area detailed survey opposite to satellite infrared (IR) observations which possess by high spatial and temporal resolution. Analysis of NOAA AVHRR IR images demonstrated that process of formation and development of the Kuroshio warm core rings is highly complex. They are formed as a result of development of anticyclonic meanders of the warm Kuroshio waters and spin off them from the current. Joint analysis of thermal infrared images and altimetry data has also indicated that interaction of eddies to the frontal zone plays a crucial role in formation of large eddies moving to the Southern Kuril region.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 1972

Studies on the circulation and water masses in the continental shelf break region of the East China Sea are Summerized as follows : 1. The main stream of the Kuroshio flowing north-east near $29^{\circ}N\;Lat\;127^{\circ}E$ tong of the East China Sea in summer is narrow in width. Moving toward east, it becomes twice as wide in Tokora Strait, Japan. 2. In the main stream area of the Kuroshio, the surface Waters in the Upper layer (0-250m) are influenced by the coastal waters of China, and the counter current submerges under the surface water. Therefore, the mixing waters are found in its intermediate layer. 3. Water mass between Amami Island and the continental shelf of the East China Sea consists of main stream water, counter current water, gyration water and mixed water with coastal waters. 4. The maximum velocity of current in this waters was 139cm/sec. The volume transport was estimated approximately as $24.2\;\times\;10^6m^3/sec$. It was less than $33\;\times\;10^6m^3/sec$ in the region between Okinawa and continental shelf of the East China Sea. 5. Surface waters east of $29^{\circ}N\;Lat\;128^{\circ}E$ Long flows toward Amami Island, Okinawa Island, and Hachi Ju San Island, while those west of the region flow toward the Korea-strait, Cheju Island, coastal waters of Kyusyu, and the Pacific Ocean through Tokora Strait. The velocity of the current was estimated approximately as $0.3\~0.5$ miles per hour. 6. The bottom waters in the continental shelf break region flow toward the Korea Strait, Cheju Island and the coastal water of Kyusyu, while that of the continental shelf flows toward the Yellow Sea, 7, The characteristics of the Kuroshio water is changed remarkably by the mixing with the coastal water of China.