Structure and dynamics of the sudden acceleration of Kuroshio off Cape Shionomisaki

Abstract

A sudden acceleration of the Kuroshio jet appears off Cape Shionomisaki in the high-resolution (horizontal resolution of 1/36°) JCOPE 2 ocean reanalysis data. Using this dataset, we investigated the structure of the Kuroshio acceleration. The increase in the velocity of the current is accompanied by a downstream flow separation from the coast and an outcrop of cold temperature inshore. The acceleration of Kuroshio appears when it takes a near-shore path. Cape Shionomisaki amplifies the responses to the Kuroshio flow by creating the zonal velocity acceleration toward the downstream region when the Kuroshio flows closer to the coast. The Kuroshio acceleration coincided with the topographic ridge on the continental shelf near Cape Shionomisaki. This relation suggests that the dynamics of the acceleration is linked to the topographic feature. We proposed an explanation of the Kuroshio acceleration using a hydraulic control theory. An analytical solution was applied to the coastal topography around the Kii Peninsula. The solution captured some aspects of the Kuroshio acceleration.