Variability of the Kuroshio in the East China Sea in 1993 and 1994

Abstract-Based on the hydrographic data obtained by the R/V Chofu Maru of eight cruises of 1993-1994, a modified inverse method is used to compute the velocity, volume and heat transports of the Kuroshio in the East China Sea. The calculated results show that:(1) At Section PN, there are two current cores of the Kuroshio in autumn, one of two cores in other seasons. The main cores always lie over the shelf break. Countercurrents always exist east of and in the deep layer under the Kuroshio. (2) At Section TK, the velocity distribution is more complicated, and it may have one, two or three current cores of the Kuroshio. The current cores often appear in the middle and northern parts of the Tokara Strait. There are westward countercurrents in the southern end and deep layer of the strait, and the countercurrent in the southern end of the strait is the strongest in autumn. (3) At Section A, the Tsushima Warm Current (hereafter TSWC) mre lies in the shelf break area, and its V_max varies between 26-46 cm/s. The Huanghai Warm Current (hereafter HWC) lies to the west of the TSWC, and it is weaker.