Alvan Chao

KuroshioWarm water current24°C50-300 cm/s400 m deep100 km wideSimilar to the Gulf StreamJapan currentBlack stream

FlowFlows from Taiwan to

JapanSplits off the coast of

CanadaForms the Alaska and

California CurrentsWestern boundary

current

RingsProduces both warm and

cold rings.Warm rings are generally

150 kilometers in diameterCold rings drift

southwestward into the Western Pacific Ocean.Can move northwest and

reabsorbed into the Kuroshio.

FluctuationsSeasonalStrongest from May to AugustRecedes in late summer and fallIncreases from January to FebruaryCurrents deviate

ImportanceClimate

Warming effect on JapanBiology

Phytoplankton bloomsFish populationsCoral Reefs

FisheriesTuna

Sourceshttp://swfsc.noaa.gov/publications/CR/

1973/7302.PDFhttp://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/

325346/Kuroshiohttp://whatonearth.olehnielsen.dk/currents.asphttp://www.jamstec.go.jp/jamstec-e/earth/p4/

index.htmlhttp://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/

news_content.php?id=1120293&lang=eng_news&cate_img=35.jpg&cate_rss=news_Business