ACPD Review of “Assessing the impact of the Kuroshio Current on vertical cloud structure using CloudSat data”

Abstract. This study analyzed CloudSat satellite data to determine how the warm ocean Kuroshio Current affects the vertical structure of clouds. Rainfall intensity around the middle troposphere (6 km in height) over the Kuroshio was greater than that over surrounding areas. The drizzle clouds over the Kuroshio have a higher frequency of occurrence of geometrically thin (0.5–3 km) clouds and thicker (7–10 km) clouds compared to those around the Kuroshio. Moreover, the frequency of occurrence of precipitating clouds with a geometric thickness of 7 to 10 km increased over the Kuroshio. Stronger updrafts over the Kuroshio maintain large droplets higher in the upper part of the cloud layer, and the maximum radar reflectivity within a cloud layer in non-precipitating and drizzle clouds over the Kuroshio is higher than that around the Kuroshio.

Download Full-text

Assessing the impact of the Kuroshio Current on vertical cloud structure using CloudSat data

10.5194/acp-2017-1134 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Akira Yamauchi ◽

Kazuaki Kawamoto ◽

Atsuyoshi Manda ◽

Jiming Li

Keyword(s):

Vertical Structure ◽

Rainfall Intensity ◽

Kuroshio Current ◽

Cloud Layer ◽

Frequency Of Occurrence ◽

Surrounding Areas ◽

The Impact ◽

The Kuroshio ◽

Precipitating Clouds ◽

Geometric Thickness

Abstract. This study analysed CloudSat satellite data to determine how the warm ocean Kuroshio Current affects the vertical structure of clouds. Rainfall intensity around the middle troposphere (6 km in height) over the Kuroshio was greater than that over surrounding areas. The drizzle clouds over the Kuroshio have a higher frequency of occurrence of geometrically thin (0.5–3 km) clouds and thicker (7–10 km) clouds compared to those around the Kuroshio. Moreover, the frequency of occurrence of precipitating clouds with a geometric thickness of 7 to 10 km increased over the Kuroshio. Stronger updraft over the Kuroshio maintains large droplets higher in the upper part of the cloud layer, and the maximum radar reflectivity within a cloud layer in non-precipitating and drizzle clouds over the Kuroshio is higher than that around the Kuroshio.

Download Full-text

Internal Tides and Their Intraseasonal Variability on the Continental Slope Northeast of Taiwan Island Derived from Mooring Observations and Satellite Data

Remote Sensing ◽

10.3390/rs14010059 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 59

Author(s):

Yuqi Yin ◽

Ze Liu ◽

Yuanzhi Zhang ◽

Qinqin Chu ◽

Xihui Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Continental Slope ◽

Satellite Data ◽

Bottom Topography ◽

Intraseasonal Variability ◽

Mesoscale Eddies ◽

Kuroshio Current ◽

Internal Tides ◽

Taiwan Island ◽

The Impact ◽

The Kuroshio

In this study, strong internal tides were observed on the continental slope northeast of Taiwan Island. Owing to the lack of long-term observations, these tides’ intraseasonal variability and the impact of the Kuroshio Current remain unclear. This study aimed to fill in the gaps using one-year continuous mooring observations, satellite data and analysis data. The horizontal kinetic energy (HKE) of semidiurnal internal tides showed that there was conspicuous energy from 100 days to 200 days, which was mainly attributed to the cross-term of HKE. The impact of the Kuroshio Current and mesoscale eddies on the HKEs were assessed: Cyclonic (anticyclonic) mesoscale eddies propagated from the open ocean, weakened (strengthened) the Kuroshio and shifted the Kuroshio onshore (offshore) northeast of Taiwan Island. The weakened (strengthened) Kuroshio increased (decreased) the shoreward velocity at the mooring site, and the onshore (offshore) Kuroshio migration increased (decreased) the northeastward velocity and enhanced (weakened) the HKEs of internal tides by modulating the tidal energy horizontal propagation. The weakened (strengthened) Kuroshio also resulted in gentler (steeper) isopycnals across the slope and enhanced (weakened) the HKEs of internal tides by influencing the interaction between ocean stratification and bottom topography.

Download Full-text

Environmental influences on sinking rates and distributions of transparent exopolymer particles after a typhoon surge at the Western Pacific

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-88477-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

M. Shahanul Islam ◽

Jun Sun ◽

Guicheng Zhang ◽

Zhuo Chen ◽

Hui Zhou

Keyword(s):

Water Layer ◽

Kuroshio Current ◽

Western Pacific ◽

Transparent Exopolymer Particles ◽

Chl A ◽

Bottom Water Layer ◽

Regression Curves ◽

The Impact ◽

The Kuroshio ◽

The Western Pacific

AbstractA multidisciplinary approach was used to investigate the causes of the distributions and sinking rates of transparent exopolymer particles (TEPs) during the period of September–October (2017) in the Western Pacific Ocean (WPO); the study period was closely dated to a northwest typhoon surge. The present study discussed the impact of biogeophysical features on TEPs and their sinking rates (sTEP) at depths of 0–150 m. During the study, the concentration of TEPs was found to be higher in areas adjacent to the Kuroshio current and in the bottom water layer of the Mindanao upwelling zone due to the widespread distribution of cyanobacteria, i.e., Trichodesmium hildebrandti and T. theibauti. The positive significant regressions of TEP concentrations with Chl-a contents in eddy-driven areas (R2 = 0.73, especially at 100 m (R2 = 0.75)) support this hypothesis. However, low TEP concentrations and TEPs were observed at mixed layer depths (MLDs) in the upwelling zone (Mindanao). Conversely, high TEP concentrations and high sTEP were found at the bottom of the downwelling zone (Halmahera). The geophysical directions of eddies may have caused these conditions. In demonstrating these relations, the average interpretation showed the negative linearity of TEP concentrations with TEPs (R2 = 0.41 ~ 0.65) at such eddies. Additionally, regression curves (R2 = 0.78) indicated that atmospheric pressure played a key role in the changes in TEPs throughout the study area. Diatoms and cyanobacteria also curved the TEPs significantly (R2 = 0.5, P < 0.05) at the surface of the WPO. This study also revealed that TEP concentration contributes less to the average particulate organic carbon in this oligotrophic WPO.

Download Full-text

THE FIRST CALIBRATED LATE NEOGENE PLANKTIC FORAMINIFERAL BIOSTRATIGRAPHY ACROSS THE KUROSHIO CURRENT EXTENSION, NORTHWEST PACIFIC OCEAN

10.1130/abs/2018am-320819 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Adriane R. Lam ◽

◽

R. Mark Leckie

Keyword(s):

Pacific Ocean ◽

Kuroshio Current ◽

Northwest Pacific ◽

Northwest Pacific Ocean ◽

Late Neogene ◽

The Kuroshio ◽

Foraminiferal Biostratigraphy

Download Full-text

Chemical speciation of iron in the euphotic zone along the Kuroshio Current

Marine Chemistry ◽

10.1016/j.marchem.2021.103966 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 233 ◽

pp. 103966

Author(s):

Mitsuhide Sato ◽

Jun Nishioka ◽

Kazuyuki Maki ◽

Shigenobu Takeda

Keyword(s):

Chemical Speciation ◽

Euphotic Zone ◽

Kuroshio Current ◽

The Kuroshio

Download Full-text

Growth pattern of the siliceous skeletons of living Spumellaria (Radiolaria) from the Kuroshio Current, offshore southwestern Shikoku Island, Japan

Revue de Micropaléontologie ◽

10.1016/j.revmic.2021.100504 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 100504

Author(s):

Rie S. Hori ◽

Takenobu Shinki ◽

Akihiro Iwakiri ◽

Atsushi Matsuoka ◽

Noritoshi Suzuki ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Growth Pattern ◽

Kuroshio Current ◽

The Kuroshio

Download Full-text

Review of the Japanese records of an endangered grouper, Epinephelus tukula, with comments on its population status (Teleostei, Serranidae)

ZooKeys ◽

10.3897/zookeys.772.24374 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 772 ◽

pp. 153-163 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Atsunobu Murase ◽

Ryohei Miki ◽

Masaaki Wada ◽

Masahide Itou ◽

Hiroyuki Motomura ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Distribution Pattern ◽

Continuous Distribution ◽

Kuroshio Current ◽

Red List ◽

The Internet ◽

Ryukyu Islands ◽

Population Status ◽

Warm Current ◽

Japanese Waters ◽

The Kuroshio

The Potato Grouper, Epinephelustukula, is relatively rare worldwide. Records from the northernmost part of its range (Japan) have been few, resulting in a “Critically Endangered” listing on the Red List for Japan. The Japanese records were revised by examining literature, new specimens, photographs, and the internet, and a continuous distribution pattern from the tropical Ryukyu Islands (including adult individuals) to temperate regions affected by the Kuroshio Current were delineated; this suggests the species inhabits tropical Japan and can spread to temperate regions via the warm current. The species possibly reproduces in Japanese waters but further reproductive ecology research is required.

Download Full-text

Sedimentary mercury and antimony revealed orbital-scale dynamics of the Kuroshio Current

Quaternary Science Reviews ◽

10.1016/j.quascirev.2021.107051 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 265 ◽

pp. 107051

Author(s):

Jianjun Zou ◽

Yuan-Pin Chang ◽

Aimei Zhu ◽

Min-Te Chen ◽

Selvaraj Kandasamy ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Kuroshio Current ◽

The Kuroshio

Download Full-text

Impacts of the Kuroshio Intrusion through the Luzon Strait on the Local Precipitation Anomaly

Remote Sensing ◽

10.3390/rs13061113 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (6) ◽

pp. 1113

Author(s):

Wen-Pin Fang ◽

Ding-Rong Wu ◽

Zhe-Wen Zheng ◽

Ganesh Gopalakrishnan ◽

Chung-Ru Ho ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Kuroshio Current ◽

Precipitation Anomaly ◽

Luzon Strait ◽

Sea Surface ◽

Research Quality ◽

Northwestern Pacific ◽

Kuroshio Intrusion ◽

Vertical Advection ◽

Budget Analysis ◽

The Kuroshio

The Kuroshio Current has its origin in the northwestern Pacific, flowing northward to the east of Taiwan and the northern part of Luzon Island. As the Kuroshio Current flows northward, it quasi-periodically intrudes (hereafter referred to as Kuroshio intrusion (KI)) into the northern South China Sea (SCS) basin through the Luzon Strait. Despite the complex generation mechanisms of KI, the purpose of this study is to improve our understanding of the effects of KI through the Luzon Strait on the regional atmospheric and weather variations. Long-term multiple satellite observations, including absolute dynamic topography, absolute geostrophic currents, sea surface winds by ASCAT, multi-scale ultra-high resolution sea surface temperature (MURSST) level-four analysis, and research-quality three-hourly TRMM multi-satellite precipitation analysis (TMPA), was used to systematically examine the aforementioned scientific problem. Analysis indicates that the KI is interlinked with the consequential anomalous precipitation off southwestern Taiwan. This anomalous precipitation would lead to ~560 million tons of freshwater influx during each KI event. Subsequently, independent moisture budget analysis suggests that moisture, mainly from vertical advection, is the possible source of the precipitation anomaly. Additionally, a bulk formula analysis was applied to understand how KI can trigger the precipitation anomaly through vertical advection of moisture without causing an evident change in the low-level flows. These new research findings might reconcile the divisiveness on why winds are not showing a synchronous response during the KI and consequential anomalous precipitation events.

Download Full-text