Abstracts
Historical GEK data provided by JODC is analyzed to investigate the characteristic variation in velocity of the Kuroshio, with special reference to the formation of small meanders south of Kyûshû. It is found that, during or prior to the period of small meander formation, there is a tendency for an abrupt increase in the current velocity west of Yaku-Shima (Yaku-Island), representing an increase in the main current intensity upstream. Also, there are apparent time lags in the variation in current velocity along the path of the Kuroshio between the upstream and the downstream regions of the small meander area. Namely, it is apparent that the increase in Kuroshio velocity in the Satsunan Strait procedes that offshore of Shikoku during the period of the small meander formation, by the order of one month. These results indicate that a nonlinear effect due to the increase in current velocity is a possible cause of the generation of small meanders.
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Sekine, Y., Toba, Y. Velocity variation of the Kuroshio during formation of the small meander south of Kyûshû. Journal of the Oceanographical Society of Japan 37, 87–93 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02072561
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02072561