The Kuroshio Current

Kuroshio Current (Warm)

After passing the Mariana Islands, the major part of the North Equatorial Current turns northward off the Philippines and Taiwan to shape the Kuroshio Current. Some portion of the Kuroshio Current, called the Tsushima Current, moves through Tsushima Strait, amongst Japan and Korea, and the Sea of Japan, following for the most part the northwest bank of Japan. North of Japan it bends eastbound and after that southeastward to rejoin the main part of the Kuroshio.

The volume of the Kuroshio is influenced by the monsoons, being expanded amid the period of southwesterly winds, and decreased when the northeasterly winds are common.

The Kuroshio (Japanese for "Dark Stream") is so named on account of the dark color of its water.

It is similar to the Canary cold current of the Atlantic Ocean in the vast majority of its attributes. In fact, this current is the eastbound expanded segment of the North Pacific drift. The cold California current is generated because of the movement of oceanic water along the Californian coast from north to south in order to compensate the loss of water which is caused because of substantial scale transport of water off the bank of Mexico under the influence of trade winds in the form of the north equatorial current. This current after reaching the Mexican coast turns west-ward and merges with the north equatorial

This current is known as Peru coastal current near the coast and Peru oceanic current off the coast. Mean yearly temperature extends in the vicinity of 14°C and 17°C and the normal speed of moving water is 15 nautical miles (27km) every day. The temperature of sea water increases from the coast towards the ocean.

Occasionally a set directly toward land is encountered. At about Cabo Blanco, where the coast falls away to the right, the current curves toward the left, past the Galapagos Islands, where it takes a westerly set and constitutes the significant segment of the South Equatorial Current, along these lines finishing the counterclockwise circulation of the South Pacific.

East Australia Current (Warm)

South equatorial current is bifurcated near the Australian coast into northern and southern branches. The southern branch flows as east Australia current from north to south along the eastern coasts of Australia. New Zealand is surrounded by this current. It is deflected eastward near 40°S latitude due to deflective force of the earth and flows in easterly direction under the influence of the westerlies. This is a warm and more consistent current. It raises the temperature of east Australian coast for considerable distance southward.

Effects of Currents on Adjoining Areas