Kuroshio Current

views updated May 29 2018

Kuroshio Current(Kuro Shiwo Current) The oceanic surface current that flows northwards from the Philippines, along the Japanese coast, and then out into the North Pacific. It is an example of a western boundary current: fast-flowing (up to 3 m/s), narrow (less than 80 km), and relatively deep. It is second in strength only to the Gulf Stream. The warm water transports heat polewards. The volume transport is variable but is normally about 4 × 107 m3/s.

Kuroshio current

views updated May 08 2018

Kuroshio current Oceanic surface current that flows northwards from the Philippines, along the Japanese coast, and then out into the N. Pacific. It is an example of a western boundary current: fast-flowing (up to 3m/s), narrow (less than 80km), and relatively deep. It is second in strength only to the Gulf Stream. The warm water transports heat polewards. The volume transport is variable but is normally about 4 × 107 m3/s.