Abstract
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 is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Akitomo, K., T. Awaji and N. Imasato (1991): Kuroshio path variation south of Japan. 1. Barotropic inflow-outflow model. J. Geophys. Res., 96, 2549–2560.
Akitomo, K., S. Masuda and T. Awaji (1997): Kuroshio path variation south of Japan: Stability of the paths in a multiple equilibrium regime. J. Oceanogr., 53, 129–142.
Chao, S.-Y. (1984): Bimodality of the Kuroshio. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 14, 92–103.
Kawabe, M. (1980a): Sea level variations along the south coast of Japan and the large meander in the Kuroshio. J. Oceanogr. Soc. Japan, 36, 97–104.
Kawabe, M. (1980b): Sea level variations around the Nansei Islands and the large meander in the Kuroshio south of central Japan. J. Oceanogr. Soc. Japan, 36, 227–235.
Kawabe, M. (1985): Sea level variations at the Izu Islands and typical stable paths of the Kuroshio. J. Oceanogr. Soc. Japan, 41, 307–326.
Kawabe, M. (1995): Variations of current path, velocity, and volume transport of the Kuroshio in relation with the large meander. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 25, 3103–3117.
Kawabe, M. (1996): Model study of flow conditions causing the large meander of the Kuroshio south of Japan. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 26, 2449–2461.
Masuda, S. and K. Akitomo (2000): Effects of stratification and bottom topography on the Kuroshio path variation south of Japan. Part II: Path transitions in a multiple equilibrium regime. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 30, 1431–1449.
Masuda, S., K. Akitomo and T. Awaji (1999): Effects of stratification and bottom topography on the Kuroshio path variation south of Japan. Part I: Dependence of the path selection on velocity. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 29, 2419–2431.
Nishida, H. (1982): Description of the Kuroshio meander in 1975–1980—Large meander of the Kuroshio in 1975–1980 (I). Rep. Hydrogr. Res., 17, 181–207.
Sakurai, M. and T. Bando (1977): Time variations of the Kuroshio axis south off Kyushu and the large scale meander off Enshu-nada. Mar. Sci., 9, 205–210 (in Japanese).
Shoji, D. (1972): Time variation of the Kuroshio south of Japan. p. 217–234. In Kuroshio—Its Physical Aspects, ed. by H. Stommel and K. Yoshida, Univ. Tokyo Press, Tokyo.
Taft, B. (1972): Characteristics of the flow of the Kuroshio south of Japan. p. 165–216. In Kuroshio—Its Physical Aspects, ed. by H. Stommel and K. Yoshida, Univ. Tokyo Press, Tokyo.
Thompson, R. O. R. Y. (1983): Low-pass filters to suppress inertial and tidal frequency. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 13, 1077–1083.
Yamashiro, T. and M. Kawabe (1996): Monitoring of position of the Kuroshio axis in the Tokara Strait using sea level data. J. Oceanogr., 52, 675–687.
Yamashiro, T., A. Maeda and M. Sakurai (1993): Mean position and deviation of the Kuroshio axis in the East China Sea. Umi to Sora, 69, 125–134 (in Japanese with English abstract and legends).
Yasuda, I., J.-H. Yoon and N. Suginohara (1985): Dynamics of the Kuroshio large meander—Barotropic model. J. Oceanogr. Soc. Japan, 41, 259–273.
Yoon, J.-H. and I. Yasuda (1987): Dynamics of the Kuroshio large meander: Two-layer model. J. Phys. Oceanogr., 17, 66–81.
Yosida, S. (1961): On the variation of Kuroshio and cold water mass off Enshu Nada (Part I). Hydrogr. Bull., New Ser., 67, 54–57 (in Japanese with English abstract and legends).
Yoshida, S. (1964): A note on the variations of the Kuroshio during recent years. Bull. Japan Soc. Fish. Oceanogr., 5, 66–69 (in Japanese).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Yamashiro, T., Kawabe, M. Variations of the Kuroshio Axis South of Kyushu in Relation to the Large Meander of the Kuroshio. Journal of Oceanography 58, 487–503 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021265315858
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021265315858