Estimation of water volume transports through the main straits of the East China Sea

The structure of current speed and the variability of volume transports of the Kuroshio in the Tokara-kaikyō and Ōsumi-kaikyō are discussed on the basis of data of KER in the period from 1977 to 1984.The average geostrophic transport through these two straits is estimated to be 24.5×10⁶ m³/s and only 1/12 of the transport is through the Ōsumi-kaikyō.Countercurrents on both sides of the Kuroshio trunk are observed in the Tokara-kaikyō.Calculation indicates that the average geostrophic current speed is less than the GEK current speed,systematically.On the basis of the current measurements,the northward transports through the Taiwan Strait in winter and summer are estimated to be 1.05×10⁶and 3.16×10⁶m³/s,respectively.From Chu's data (1976) the average transport of the Kuroshio flowing into the East China Sea passing through the passage east of Taiwan is about 29.3×10⁶m³/s.From Miita and Ogawa's data (1984) the average transport through the Tsushima-kaikyō is 3.6×10⁶m³/s.