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Responses of the Kuroshio and the Kuroshio Extension to global warming in a high‐resolution climate model
Author(s) -
Sakamoto Takashi T.,
Hasumi Hiroyasu,
Ishii Masayoshi,
Emori Seita,
Suzuki Tatsuo,
Nishimura Teruyuki,
Sumi Akimasa
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2005gl023384
Subject(s) - ocean gyre , climatology , environmental science , boundary current , latitude , oceanography , global warming , wind stress , sea surface temperature , current (fluid) , climate change , ocean current , geology , atmospheric sciences , subtropics , geodesy , fishery , biology
Using a high‐resolution atmosphere–ocean coupled climate model, responses of the Kuroshio and the Kuroshio Extension (KE) to global warming are investigated. In a climate change experiment with atmospheric CO 2 concentration ideally increased by 1% year −1 , the current velocity of the Kuroshio and KE increases, while the latitude of the Kuroshio separation to the east of Japan does not change significantly. The increase of the current velocity is up to 0.3 m s −1 at 150°E. This acceleration of the Kuroshio and KE is due to changes in wind stress over the North Pacific and consequent spin‐up of the Kuroshio recirculation gyre. The acceleration of the currents may affect sea level along the southern coast of Japan and northward heat transport under global warming.