INVESTIGATION OF THE KUROSHIO CURRENT IN THE TOKARA STRAIT FOR OCEAN CURRENT POWER GENERATION

Abstract

 Suitable places for ocean current power generation in the East China Sea and the southern region of Honshu, Japan were ex-amined using the data of current path of the Kuroshio at sea surface and current velocity of the Kuroshio. Therefore, the Tokara Strait is shown to be one of the suitable places for ocean power generation, using the strong Kuroshio current. Moreover, it is found that the Kuroshio flows with a speed greater than 0. 8m/s above 60m depth north of Kuchino-shima and south of Nakano-shima.