Abstract
Intensive current measurements in the area northeast of Taiwan indicate subsurface, southwestward flow existed between the inshore edge of the Kuroshio and the East China Sea continental slope. At 70 km away from Taiwan, this countercurrent has a mean speed about 30 cm s−1 at mid-depth. Closer to Taiwan, the flow turns along with the topography, and subjects to sidewall and bottom friction. Both the magnitude and the vertical shear of this countercurrent are comparable with that inferred from hydrographic survey. The wind field features short-period (a few days) fluctuations associated with the cold front passages, however, this is not reflected on the current records. It appears that the countercurrent is fairly steady. Together with similar reversing flow found at places much further to the north, the overall pattern seems to be a general quasi-steady feature along most part of the shelf edge of the East China Sea.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Chao, S.-Y. (1990): Circulation of the East China Sea, a numerical study.J. Oceanogr. Soc. Japan,46, 273–295
Chern, C.-S., J. Wang and D.-P. Wang (1990): The exchange of Kuroshio and East China Sea shelf water.J. Geophys. Res.,95, 16017–16023.
Chuang, W.-S. and C.-K. Wu (1991): Slope-current fluctuations northeast of Taiwan, winter 1990.J. Oceanogr. Soc. Japan,47, 185–193.
Hsueh, Y., J. Wang and C.-S. Chern (1992): The intrusion of the Kuroshio across the continental shelf northeast of Taiwan.J. Geophys. Res.,97, 14323–14330.
Hsueh, Y., C.-S. Chern and J. Wang (1993): The blocking of the Kuroshio by the continental shelf northeast of Taiwan.J. Geophys. Res. (in press).
Liu, K.-K., G.-C. Gong, C.-Z. Shyu, S.-C. Pai, C.-L. Wei and S.-Y. Chao (1992): Response of Kuroshio upwelling to the onset of northeast monsoon in the sea north of Taiwan: Observations and a numerical simulation.J. Geophys. Res.,97, 12511–12526.
Miyaji, K. and N. Inoue (1983): Characteristics of the flow of the Kuroshio in the vicinity of Senkaku Islands.Bull. Seikai Reg. Fish. Res. Lab.,60, 57–70 (in Japanese with English abstract).
Miyaji, K. and N. Inoue (1986): Characteristics of the flow of the Kuroshio in Northwest waters off Amami Õshima in the East China Sea.Bull. Seikai Reg. Fish. Res. Lab.,63, 1–14 (in Japanese with English abstract).
Nitani, H. (1972): Beginning of the Kuroshio. p. 129–163. InKuroshio, Its Physical Aspects, ed. by H. Stommel and K. Yoshida, Univ. Tokyo Press, Tokyo.
Qiu, B. and N. Imasato (1990): A numerical study on the formation of the Kuroshio countercurrent and the Kuroshio branch current in the East China Sea.Cont. Shelf Res.,10, 165–184.
Qiu, B., T. Toda and N. Imasato (1990): On Kuroshio front fluctuations in the East China Sea using satellite and in situ observational data.J. Geophys. Res.,95, 18191–18204.
Tang, T. Y. and Y. J. Yang (1993): Low frequency current variability on the shelf break northeast of Taiwan.J. Oceanogr.,49, 193–210.
Wong, G. T. F., S.-C. Pai, K.-K. Liu, C.-T. Liu and C. T. A. Chen (1991): Variability of the chemical hydrography at the frontal region between the East China Sea and the Kuroshio northeast of Taiwan.Estuarine Coastal Shelf Sci.,33, 105–120.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chuang, WS., Li, HW., Tang, T.Y. et al. Observations of the countercurrent on the inshore side of the Kuroshio northeast of Taiwan. J Oceanogr 49, 581–592 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02237464
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02237464