Bifurcation current along the southwest coast of the Kii Peninsula

Along the southwest coast of the Kii Peninsula, a bifurcation current is regularly observed. By using ADCP data taken on board the R/V Wakayama of the Wakayama Prefectural Fisheries Experimental Station, characteristics of this bifurcation current are analyzed. The occurrence frequency of the bifurcation current reaches about 70% in the period from 1988 to 1996. The bifurcation point appears to be changeable and occurs almost evenly between Cape Ichie and Cape Shionomisaki. The current divergence in the alongshore direction was also investigated. Positive divergence values dominated in the whole analyzed area, and an onshore current appears to be dominant along the southwest coast of the Kii Peninsula, except in 1990 when the Kuroshio flowed in a large meandering path.     

On Structure and Temporal Variation of the Bifurcation Current off the Kii Peninsula

The Kii Bifurcation Current is often found along the southwest coast of the Kii Peninsula, and its frequency of occurrence reaches about 70% in the period from 1988 to 1996 (Takeuchi et al., 1998a). In order to clarify the structure and short-period variability of the Kii Bifurcation Current, detailed observations were made four times on board the R/V Seisui-maru of Mie University on October 29–31, 1996, on June 24–26, 1997, October 14–16, 1997, and December 3–4, 1997. The measured horizontal structure of the Kii Bifurcation Current indicates that the eastern portion of the Current (eastward flow near Cape Shionomisaki) consists of a part of the current zone of the Kuroshio. It is shown that the current structure, including the Kii Bifurcation Current in the vicinity of Cape Shionomisaki, is stable when the Kuroshio is flowing in a stationary straight path, but that the current structure is considerably changed when small-scale eddies pass by the cape. Such short-period variation can be monitored by using the daily variation of the sea level difference between Kushimoto and Uragami. In particular, in the case of October 29–31, 1996, when an eminent small-scale eddy passed by Cape Shionomisaki, and when the Kuroshio axis tentatively moved southwards about 50 km apart from the coast, the Kii Bifurcation Current seems to have disappeared.     

Prediction of slope water intrusion into the Kii channel in summer

Intrusions of the warm, oligotrophic surface slope water (SSW) and the cold, nutrient-rich bottom slope water (BSW) from the continental slope influence the annual variations in water temperature and nutrient concentrations in the Kii Channel in August. In order to evaluate the relationships between both these intrusions and the distance of the Kuroshio axis from Cape Shionomisaki (Kuroshio distance), a Distance-Intrusion-Diagram (DID) for temperature, which can reproduce the vertical temperature profile of the channel, was constructed by analyzing the temperature and Kuroshio distance records in August for 1967–2001. DIDs for nutrients (nitrate and phosphate) are also constructed by using the relationship between the nutrient concentration and water temperature. The only explanatory variable in the DIDs is the Kuroshio distance. The DID for temperature predicts that the SSW occupies almost the entire water column when the Kuroshio approaches Cape Shionomisaki (Kuroshio distance = 18.5 km). When the Kuroshio distance lies in the range 18.5–74 km, the BSW thickness increases proportionally to the Kuroshio distance increment while the SSW thickness decreases. The BSW occupies the largest portion of the channel when the Kuroshio distance is 74 km. Further, beyond 74 km, the BSW thickness reduces gradually. Yearly variations in the temperature and concentrations of nitrate and phosphate were hindcast with the DIDs. The results revealed that the Kuroshio distance contributes 70%, 35%, and 30% of the variances in temperature, nitrate concentration, and phosphate concentration, respectively.     

Hydrographic Structure and Transport of Intermediate Water in the Kuroshio Region off the Boso Peninsula, Japan

Hydrographic structure and transport of intermediate water were observed in the Kuroshio region south of Japan, focusing on the 26.6–27.5σ_θ density in six cruises from May 1998 through September 2001. In the section off the Boso Peninsula where the Kuroshio exfoliates eastward, the intermediate water was clearly clustered into three groups meridionally composed of the coastal water, the Kuroshio water and the offshore water. Compared with the Kuroshio water characterized by warm, salty water transported by the Kuroshio, the coastal and offshore waters significantly degenerated due to mixing with cold, fresh waters originated from the subarctic region: the former was affected by alongshore spread of the coastal Oyashio and the latter by direct intrusion of the new North Pacific Intermediate Water (NPIW) into the southern side of the Kuroshio current axis. Particularly the offshore water showed higher apparent oxygen utilization (AOU) in layers deeper than 26.9σ_θ while it showed lower AOU in layers shallower than 26.9σ_θ, which indicated that colder, fresher and higher AOU water was distributed on the southeastern side of the Kuroshio in deeper layers. In May 1998, the Oyashio-Kuroshio mixing ratio was estimated to be typically 2:8 for the offshore water on the assumption of isopycnal mixing. Moreover, northeastward volume transport of the Kuroshio water was obtained from geostrophic velocity fields adjusted to lowered acoustic Doppler current profiler (LADCP) data to yield 6.1 Sv at 26.6–26.9σ_θ and 11.8 Sv at 26.9–27.5 σ_θ. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Argos表面漂流浮标在黑潮区的若干观测结果

利用近几年国家海洋局第二海洋研究所及国家海洋技术中心在南海和西北太平洋海域布放的部分卫星跟踪表面漂流浮标所取得的观测资料,分析了浮标流经海域的表层海流特征及浮标漂移路径上水温的变化。结果表明:2003年1月,黑潮表层水有入侵南海的趋势,夏季南海表层水经吕宋海峡流出,汇入黑潮主干;夏末冬初,黑潮主干经过东海时明显呈弯曲流动;2003年春季,日本以南海域黑潮弯曲不明显;台湾东北部海域存在一个强反气旋涡;表层海水的温度日变化和季节变化明显,在浮标漂移路径呈反气旋或气旋式转动的区域,对应出现了表层水温的高、低温区。     

基于20年卫星高度计数据的黑潮变异特征分析

本文基于改进的特征线方法,利用1992~2012年间的高度计绝对动力地形数据提取了整个黑潮流区逐月的黑潮主轴和边界位置,并对黑潮沿轴速度、主流宽度、表层水体输运以及路径标准差等黑潮特征量进行了分析研究。结果表明黑潮整体的沿轴速度在夏秋季较大,最大值可达0.95m/s,而在冬季的速度较小;黑潮主流宽度在10、11月份达到最大值;黑潮表层水体输运在夏季最大,春秋两季次之,冬季最小。沿黑潮流路分区域对黑潮特征进行分析,结果表明,越往黑潮下游,黑潮的沿轴速度、主流宽度和表层水体输运越大,同时沿轴速度和表层水体输运量最大值出现的时间也越晚,黑潮主轴位置相对于其多年平均的偏离程度越大,且随时间波动也越强烈。     

地形对东海黑潮锋面弯曲影响研究

作者运用简化的η坐标 POM模式数值研究了地形对东海黑潮锋面弯曲的产生与成长的影响。平底时 ,小扰动迅速发展导致锋面出现大弯曲。考虑到地形因素和黑潮流核远离陆架的情况 ,因其锋区正处在陡的陆坡之上 ,斜压不稳定被减小 ,其锋面不会出现如观测所示的弯曲。结果表明 ,在该实验条件下 ,地形对锋面起到稳定作用     

Dynamic Structure of the Kuroshio South of Kyushu in Relation to the Kuroshio Path Variations

The variation of velocity and potential vorticity (PV) of the Kuroshio at the PN line in the East China Sea and the TK line across the Tokara Strait were examined in relation to the path variations of the Kuroshio in the southern region of Japan, using quarterly data from a conductivity-temperature-depth profiler and a shipboard acoustic Doppler current profiler during 1987–97. At the PN line the Kuroshio has a single stable current core located over the continental slope and a significant maximum of PV located just onshore of the current axis in the middle part of the main pycnocline. On the other hand, the Kuroshio at the TK line has double current cores over the two gaps in the Tokara Strait; the northern core has a much larger velocity than the southern core on average during periods of the large meander of the Kuroshio, while the difference in strength between the double cores is small during the non-large-meander (NLM) period. At the TK line, PV in the middle pycnocline is variable; it is small and nearly uniform throughout the section for 40% of the total observations, while it has a significant maximum near the northern core for 30% and two maxima corresponding to the double current cores for 23%. The small, nearly uniform PV occurs predominantly during the NLM period, and is closely related to the generation of the small meander of the Kuroshio southeast of Kyushu. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Numerical Study of a Kyucho and a Bottom Intrusion in the Bungo Channel,Japan: Disturbances Generated by the Kuroshio Small Meanders

The generation and propagation mechanisms of a Kyucho and a bottom intrusion in the Bungo Channel, Japan, have been studied numerically using the hydrostatic primitive equations by assuming density stratification during summer. The experiments are designed to generate a Kuroshio small meander in Hyuga-Nada, which acts as a trigger for these disturbances. After the current speed of the Kuroshio is changed, a small meander is generated. At the head of the small meander, warm Kuroshio water is engulfed, and encounters the southwest coast of Shikoku. However, convergence of heat flux on the bump off Cape Ashizuri suppresses the generation of a warm disturbance, if the current speed is large. As the cold eddy associated with the small meander approaches Cape Ashizuri, the heat flux diverges on the bump. This heat source forces a warm disturbance, which intrudes along the east coast of the Bungo Channel as a baroclinic Kelvin wave (a Kyucho). After the cold eddy passes off Cape Ashizuri, the Kuroshio approaches the bump again. Strong convergence of heat flux then occurs on the bump, which forces a cold disturbance. This disturbance propagates as a topographic Rossby wave along the shelf break at the mouth of the channel. After the topographic wave reaches the west end of the shelf break, it intrudes along the bottom layer of the channel as a density current (a bottom intrusion). These results suggest that a Kyucho and a bottom intrusion are successive events associated with the propagation of the small meander.     

Spatial variation of abundant picoeukaryotes in the subtropical Kuroshio Current in winter

To understand the importance of picoeukaryotes in the biogeochemical cycle in the subtropical Kuroshio Current, a year-round survey of the hydrography and the distribution of picoeukaryotes were conducted in four oceanographic cruises from October 2012 to July 2013. In comparison with other seasons, the highest abundancy of photosynthetic picoeukaryotes, with concentrations >10⁴ cells/ml, was observed around the eastern boundary of the Kuroshio in the winter. Accordingly, the composition of picoeukaryotes in this cold season was further studied by a metabarcoding analysis of the 18S rRNA gene. The majority of picoeukaryotes comprised Alveolata, followed by Haptophyta and Stramenopiles. Their composition was diverse in the waters affected by the Kuroshio and in the offshore province. For Haptophyta, in contrast to clade A prevailing in the Kuroshio waters, clade B1, which was considered the host of uncultivated diazotrophic cyanobacterium group A (UCYN-A), appeared only in the offshore area. Similarly, in Stramenopiles, Pseudo-nitzschia spp. and MAST-1D, respectively, dominated in the Kuroshio-influenced and offshore areas. While Alveolata was the most abundant group, the distributions of all lineages were similar. The association between picoeukaryote succession and hydrographic change is yet to be fully understood. Our results will assist future studies on the community composition of picoplankton and their relationship with marine ecology in the region.     

根据漂流浮标资料对黑潮15m层流路及流轴特征的分析

利用1979-02—2012-03共33a的水帆位于15m层的Argos漂流浮标资料,绘制黑潮流系15m层的多年年平均和月平均流场,运用特征线方法计算得到黑潮流轴,定义黑潮流动路径的边界为流速大小20~30cm/s的过渡性区域。结果显示:黑潮多年年平均流路大致是一个以(13°30′N,142°00′E)为圆心、2 235km为半径的直角弧段,其在吕宋海峡、台湾东北、九州西南及伊豆海岭附近海区发生气旋式弯曲前先进行反气旋式弯曲调整,弯曲处出现的路径开口主要是支流的并入或分支的流出;黑潮流轴整体性偏向黑潮左边界,其中在吕宋岛东北至台湾以东海域最为显著,在本州岛以南海域次之,而在东海段基本居中;黑潮流路上的流速在总体上由南向北呈增大趋势,但并非沿流路持续性逐渐增加,而是呈现出较平直流段的大流速区和弯曲调整流段的低流速区相互交错的状况,其中四国岛以南至伊豆诸岛以西流段的流速为最大。多年月平均流场显示,2月,5月,8月和11月这4个月份是黑潮流路和流轴发生变化的重要转折期,而1月,4月,7月和10月这4个月份则是各季节的代表月份。其中,冬季月份的黑潮流路和流轴最为曲折,向边缘海发生显著入侵;夏季月份的黑潮流路和流轴最为平直,左侧伴随有北向流动;春、秋两季的过渡性特征则比较明显。     

夏季对马暖流区黑潮水与陆架水的相互作用──兼论对马暖流的起源

根据1994年8月28日至9月7日韩国“Onnuri”号海洋调查船获得的CTD资料及在调查期间投放的11个卫星跟踪漂流浮标资料,分析研究了东海东北部黑潮水的分离及其与陆架水的相互作用,进而探讨了夏季的对马暖流的形成过程。     

Variations of the Kuroshio in the Southern Region of Japan: Conditions for Large Meander of the Kuroshio

Conditions for the formation of large meander (LM) of the Kuroshio are inferred from observational data, mainly obtained in the 1990s. Propagation of the small meander of the Kuroshio from south of Kyushu to Cape Shiono-misaki is a prerequisite for LM formation, and three more conditions must be satisfied. (1) The cold eddy carried by small meander interacts with the cold eddy in Enshu-nada east of the cape. During and just after the propagation of small meander, (2) the Kuroshio axis in the Tokara Strait maintains the northern position and small curvature, and (3) current velocity of the Kuroshio is not quite small. If the first condition is not satisfied, the Kuroshio path changes little. If the first condition is satisfied, but the second or third one is not, the Kuroshio transforms to the offshore non-large-meander path, not the LM path. All three conditions must be satisfied to form the large meander. For continuance of the large meander, the Kuroshio must maintain the small curvature of current axis in the Tokara Strait and a medium or large range of velocity and transport. These conditions for formation and continuance may be necessary for the large meander to occur. Moreover, effects of bottom topography on position and structure of the Kuroshio are described. Due to topography, the Kuroshio changes horizontal curvature and vertical inclination of current axis in the Tokara Strait, and is confined into either of two passages over the Izu Ridge at mid-depth. The former contributes to the second condition for the LM formation.     

Geostrophy in the Intermediate and Deep Layers of the Kuroshio and Its Recirculation Regions South of Japan

Theoretically, the geostrophic approximation holds for the low-frequency flow field, but no detailed examination has been done on how well the estimated geostrophic velocity corresponds with the observed velocity. Intensive surveys were carried out during 1993–1995 in the Kuroshio and its recirculation regions south of Shikoku, Japan, including repeated hydrographic surveys and direct current measurements at nominal depths of 700, 1500 and 3000 m. For these depth intervals, vertical differences of estimated geostrophic velocity are compared with those of observed velocity. For the intermediate layer (between 700 and 1500 m depths), the slope of the regression line is 0.99, correlation coefficient is 0.98, and the root-mean-square of difference from geostrophic balance is 2.8 cm/s which is close to the estimated error of 2.1 cm/s. For the deep layer (between 1500 and 3000 m depths), the corresponding values are 0.82, 0.93, 1.2 cm/s and 2.0 cm/s, respectively. The results indicate that the estimated geostrophic velocity compares well with the observed velocity in these regions. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

东海南部陆架水体2011年夏季温盐结构及其对台湾暖流和黑潮入侵的指示

利用2011年7月5个断面共30个站位的温盐深（CTD）测量资料,分析东海南部陆架水体的温盐结构和温跃层特征,探讨黑潮和台湾暖流对东海陆架水文状况的影响。结果显示,本区广泛存在着浅部温跃层和深部温跃层。浅部温跃层分布于20 m水深以内,跃层强度普遍较弱,具有明显的日内生消变化。深部温跃层分布于中、外陆架和台湾海峡。在中、外陆架的深水区,跃层底界深度约80 m,跃层厚度约10 m;跃层强度大,约为0.8 ℃/m,且较为稳定。在台湾海峡北部,温跃层分布于水深14～30 m,跃层厚度6～10 m,跃层强度偏弱,为0.2～0.5 ℃/m。在温跃层附近,由于上、下层水团温度、盐度的差异,其混合过程常出现盐指现象。在东海陆架90～110 m等深线之间,深部温跃层之下盘踞着一个深层冷水团,水温为16.8～17.6 ℃。黑潮水的入侵,使得外陆架温跃层强度减弱至0.2～0.5 ℃/m;同时,跃层层位上升,厚度加大。温跃层强度可以作为指示黑潮入侵的灵敏指标。当夏季深部温跃层强度低于0.6 ℃/m,同时伴随跃层厚度加大时,可判别为黑潮入侵。本区夏季黑潮锋可以到达110 m等深线附近。在中陆架50～80 m等深线之间,深部温跃层的消失,说明台湾暖流的强烈影响遍及整个水柱;而从南向北,台湾暖流的影响逐渐减弱。台湾海峡北部深层水温度较低,平均值为22.52 ℃,要比东海南部中陆架深层水低3 ℃,这可能意味着台湾暖流深层水主要源于黑潮分支的加入。     

1991-2011年东海黑潮PN断面流结构与季节变化分析

基于日本海洋信息中心提供的东海黑潮PN断面CTD资料,本文采用动力高度法计算了1991-2011年间90个航次的断面流速,并对流场结构、最大流速、流幅和流量进行了统计分析。结果表明:东海黑潮PN断面流场存在单核、双核、多核3种结构;其中单核结构出现的概率为50%,双核结构为39%,多核结构为11%。东海黑潮的流结构存在显著的季节变化:秋季多核结构所占的比重为4个季节最大,平均流核数最多;冬季主要为单核结构,平均流核数最少;夏季和春季则没有明显的倾向性,单核、双核、多核3种结构出现概率相近,平均流核数介于秋季和冬季之间。其次东海黑潮的流量也存在显著的季节变化:冬季与夏季最强,秋季最小,春季居中。最后东海黑潮的最大流速和流幅也存在季节变化:夏季最大,秋季最小,春季和冬季居中。     

黑潮流区次中尺度热量输运特征 ——以2013年1月模拟结果为例

作为中尺度过程与小尺度过程中的过渡,次中尺度过程[空间尺度为O(1～10)km,时间尺度为O(1)天]是海洋动力过程中重要的一环。海洋次中尺度过程具有明显的非地转特征,从而促进垂向热量和物质的输运,因此在海洋上层热量与物质垂直交换中肩负着极为重要的作用。黑潮作为全球最强的西边界流之一,是海洋能量的重要聚集区。针对黑潮流区大尺度环流和中尺度涡旋等动力过程的研究,受到海洋和气象学者的广泛关注,但对黑潮流区次中尺度过程的相关研究相对较少。本文基于高分辨率ROMS数值模式(空间分辨率为1公里),针对黑潮流区(25.5°～29.4°N, 124.4°～131°E)次中尺度过程的空间分布特征及其诱导的热量输运特征进行了研究。模拟结果表明,黑潮流区存在着十分活跃的次中尺度过程,尤其是在黑潮流区及岛屿周边等地形变化剧烈的海区。相对涡度和垂直流速的分布特征表明,次中尺度相对涡度和垂向流速上表现出了明显的不对称性,正相对涡度强于负相对涡度,向下垂向流速强于向上垂向流速,而这主要是由惯性不稳定所导致。通过计算次中尺度引起的热量输运,结果表明次中尺度的水平热量通量为东北方向,从较低纬度朝较高纬度输运,这意味着次中尺度可以促进不同纬度的热量交换;而垂向热量通量则表现出向上输运的特征,即由深层往表层输运,这意味着次中尺度过程可以导致热量在垂直方向上的再分配,从而使得海洋趋于再分层。     

东海黑潮区莹虾类的初步研究

1984年6月和1985年12月,对东海进行了首次黑潮实验性调查.整个调查区涉及到东海及东海黑潮区。作为综合调查项目其中之一的生物调查,在全调查区进行了取样:冬、夏两航次共采集浮游动物样品115份,经分析共鉴定出莹虾类4种。夏季(6月)出现中型莹虾 Luciferintermedius、正型莹虾 Lucifer typus、刷状莹虾 Lnckfer penicillifer、东方莹虾 Lucifer oriental-is;冬季(12月)出现中型莹虾 Lucifer intermedius、正型莹虾 Lucifer typus,可以明显地看出莹虾类的数量分布和种类分布与水温、营养盐、水团、流系等之间有密切的关系。并且莹虾类的数量分布与渔场的位置也有一定关系。据本次调查及资料分析,夏季可将中型莹虾作为东海混合水的指标种;正型莹虾可作为黑潮水的指标种;刷状莹虾可作为台湾暖流的指标种,为水文的调查提供较有价值的参考.     

Tides and short-term variabilities in the Kuroshio west of Yonakuni-jima

INTRODUCFIONTheKuroshioeastofTaiwanIslandflowsnorthwardandenterstheEastChinaalgathroughapaSSagebetweenTaiwanIslandandlriomote-shima.TOstudyfurthertheKuroshiothereandestimateitstransPOrt,itisnecessarytoobservetheKuroshioCurrentdirectly.Therehavebeen*ThisstudywassupportedbytheNationalNaturalaudienceFoundationofChinaundercontractNo.49476278.severaldirectobservationsoftheKuroshionearTaiwanIsland.Forexample,thedirectcurrentmeasurementat(24'24'N1123'35'E)byinabaetal.(1981)showedtheapp…     

Variations of the Kuroshio Axis South of Kyushu in Relation to the Large Meander of the Kuroshio

The characteristics of the Kuroshio axis south of Kyushu, which meanders almost sinusoidally, are clarified in relation to the large meander of the Kuroshio by analyzing water temperature data during 1961–95 and sea level during 1984–95. The shape of the Kuroshio axis south of Kyushu is classified into three categories of small, medium, and large amplitude of meander. The small amplitude category occupies more than a half of the large-meander (LM) period, while the medium amplitude category takes up more than a half of the non-large-meander (NLM) period. Therefore, the amplitude and, in turn, the curvature of the Kuroshio axis is smaller on average during the LM period than the NLM period. The mean Kuroshio axis during the LM period is located farther north at every longitude south of Kyushu than during the NLM period, with a slight difference west of the Tokara Islands and a large difference to the east. A northward shift of the Kuroshio axis in particular east of the Tokara Islands induces small amplitude and curvature of the meandering shape during the LM period. During the NLM period, the meandering shape and position south of Kyushu change little with Kuroshio volume transport. In the LM formation stage, the variation of the Kuroshio axis is small west of the Tokara Islands but large to the east due to a small meander of the Kuroshio. In the LM decay stage, the Kuroshio meanders greatly south of Kyushu and is located stably near the coast southeast of Kyushu. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.