Current Kuroshio: description and features

The current Kuroshio was formed as a result of the tangential direction of the wind in the eastern and southern parts of Japan. The air masses near the western borders of the continent, acting on the upper layers of the surface of the ocean, are so strong that the resulting water flow develops into a powerful boundary movement of the waters of the Pacific Ocean.

Name

The name "Kuroshio" comes from the fusion of two Japanese words: "Kuro" - dark and "Sio" - current. "Dark Waters" in fact have a pleasant bluish tinge with high water transparency: the depth can be viewed up to a distance of 40 m.

According to the oceanographic characteristic, the current Kuroshio represents a warm circulating flow, the waters of which move from the equator to the north pole. The maximum surface temperature reaches + 28 ° C. The fluctuation level of Kuroshio does not leave the limits of 90 °, therefore it is referred to as constant.

Nature of water masses

The water masses of the Kuroshio Current originate in the northern part of the central waters of the Pacific Ocean. In the East China Sea, between the straits of the Ryukyu Islands and Taiwan, the waters of the Northern Trade wind flow rapidly increase in volume up to 2 times. It is this place that is considered to be the beginning of this stream. The flow of Kuroshio is warm, fed from sources in the northeast.

According to the nature of the circulating water masses, Kuroshio is referred to meandering flows. What does this mean? In simpler terms, this is a current with constant wave vortices. The main cycles occur at the borders of the confluence with the Kuril water streams in the north. The disturbances of the masses are caused by frequent temperature fluctuations on the Kuroshio surface: the winds from the northwest cool the temperature near the Sionmosaki water to 8 ° C. The latitude of penetration of the northern streams reaches 37-42 °, depending on the season.

Due to the impact of thermohaline forces (processes on the water surface associated with the 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 of the Pacific (salt content Does not exceed 36 ppm), surface - the warmest (+ 22 ° C). During the circulation of the World Ocean, water masses are mixed with deep currents and subtropical currents.

Flow rate

The current Kuroshio 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 the fusion of warm masses of a stream with a cold current from the Kurile Islands or in the south of Japan. The speed of the Kuroshio movement is unevenly distributed: it is low in Okinawa and Taiwan (2 knots), and closer to the northern part of the "dark current" again increases. The pace varies depending on the season: the warm trade winds in summer disperse the water to maximum speed, and by autumn it again decreases.

Additional Characteristics

The flow of Kuroshio is often compared to the Gulf Stream. It carries warm waters, favorable to the climate balance in the region. Cold masses on the east coast of Japan are mixed with the flow of warm masses of Kuroshio, forming suitable climatic conditions for the ecosystem.

It is considered that the depth of the current is measured by 450-meter water masses, consisting of two layers of Pacific density differing in density. Although this division has an inaccuracy: the lower layer of subarctic waters is much deeper, but due to the difference in composition and low flow rate, its characteristics are not taken into account in determining the area and depth. The current Kuroshio (warm or cold above) surprises with its characteristics, which you always want to talk about. Especially impressive are the landscapes. The maximum width of the current reaches 79.9 km. This figure is obtained by merging with deep waters and cold currents from the eastern shores of Japan.

The land of the rising sun has always pleased with its beauty, which is constantly noted by tourists. The climatic conditions of this area are very satisfactory, which makes it possible to provide comfortable conditions for life. Being near the current, you need to be careful, because 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 located.