The Kuroshio Nutrient Transport during Winter of 2009

Abstract:

To confirm Spatial variations of Kuroshio nutrient transport from the East China Sea to South of Japan, we apply an inverse method to hydrographic data from sections across the Kuroshio path from the East China Sea (Sections PN and TK) to south of Japan (Sections ASUKA and 137E) to get absolute geostrophic velocity, then the nutrient flux (velocity times concentration) and nutrient transport (integration of flux over a section) were calculated. In addition, Section OK east of the Ryukyu Islands was also examined. The nitrate flux during winter of 2009 shows a subsurface maximum core with a value of 11, 15, 7, 19,and 10 mol m^-2s^-1 at Sections PN, TK, OK, ASUKA and 137E, respectively. The depth of subsurface maximum core is about 280, 470, 800, 200, and 470 m at Sections PN, TK, OK, ASUKA and 137E, respectively. The eastward nitrate transport is 248.6,213.3,97.7,804.3,879.0 k mol s^-1 at Sections PN, TK, OK, ASUKA and 137E, respectively. Comparisons between nitrate transport through Section ASUKA and the sum of transports through Sections TK and OK and nitrate transport of Section 137E, suggest that the Kuroshio recirculation south of Shikoku can significantly intensify the eastward nitrate transport by the Kuroshio and therefore plays an important role in the nitrate transport in the Kuroshio region.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volumes 838-841)
• Pages: 2361-2365
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.838-841.2361
• Online since: November 2013
• Authors: Yu Long, Xiao Hua Zhu, Xin Yu Guo
• Keywords: Kuroshio, Nutrient Flux, Nutrient Transport, Ryukyu Current

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