North Pacific Currents

The currents of the North Pacific Ocean are very similar to the currents of the North Atlantic Ocean. Even so, there are some distinct differences. These differences are due mainly to the large amounts of subarctic water in the North Pacific, compared with the small amount in the North Atlantic.

NORTH EQUATORIAL CURRENT. —The North Equatorial Current of the North Pacific Ocean starts near the western coast of Central America. Waters of the CALIFORNIA CURRENT and other western and eastern North Pacific currents feed into it as it flows west.

Toward the western side of the North Pacific most of the waters turn northward along the eastern coast of the northern Philippines and Formosa; some of the waters turn southward and become a part of the EQUATORIAL COUNTERCURRENT. Consequently, the North Equatorial Current takes very warm water to the eastern side of the island systems in the western Pacific.

CROMWELL CURRENT. —The Cromwell current is a narrow, swift subsurface current

centered on the equator between 2°N and 2°S. It flows from west to east between 140°W and

92°W. At the equator, the easterly flow begins at approximately 20 meters and disappears at

roughly 250 meters. It reaches a maximum speed of 2 to 2.5 knots at 100 meters.

KUROSHIO SYSTEM. —The Kuroshio system is quite similar to the Gulf Stream system of

the North Atlantic Ocean. It begins where the North Equatorial Current leaves off. It flows past

Formosa and proceeds northeastward in the deep ocean area between the China Sea and the

Ryukyu Islands. The system flows eastward and north-eastward along the coast of Japan.

Like the Gulf Stream system, the Kuroshio system has three branches: the KUROSHIO

CUR-RENT, KUROSHIO EXTENSION, and NORTH PACIFIC CURRENT.

Kuroshio Current. —The Kuroshio corre-sponds to the Florida Current of the Gulf Stream

system. It flows from Formosa to about 35°N. The salinity is less than that of the Florida

Cur-rent, and cold offshore winds cause an annual range in sea-surface temperature of as much

as 9°C in some localities.

Kuroshio Extension. —As the name implies, this current is an extension of the warm Kuroshio

Current. It begins near 35°N, where the Kuroshio splits. The major well-defined portion of this

cur-rent flows eastward to about 160°E. The other branch flows northeastward to about 40°N,

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Ultimo aggiornamento: 27/02/16