Evaluation of coastal waters advected to the Kuroshio based on particle-tracking experiments with a high-resolution coastal ocean model

Abstract

While it has been suggested that advections of coastal waters stimulate plankton standing stocks and productivity in the oligotrophic Kuroshio, there is still limited information. Here, we explore the source and process of coastal waters advected to the Kuroshio using particle-tracking experiments with a high-resolution coastal ocean model. Advections of coastal waters to the Kuroshio were stimulated by encountering frequent disturbances such as meandering and eddy near the Kuroshio front. The source of coastal waters advected to the Kuroshio were the largest from southern Kyushu throughout the year and from the East China Sea during winter to spring. Zooplankton biomass fluxes across the Kuroshio front were equivalent to 2 to 44% of those across the Kuroshio path. The estimated fluxes across the Kuroshio front were comparable to zooplankton biomass increase by their growth rates reported in the Kuroshio. These results suggest that the coastal zooplankton community advected to the Kuroshio supports food requirements for the fish community in the Kuroshio.