Kuroshio Extension

The Kuroshio Extension is the eastward-flowing continuation of the Kuroshio Current, the warm western boundary current of the North Pacific Ocean. After separating from the coast of Japan near 35°N, the Kuroshio Extension transports warm, saline water across the North Pacific basin, influencing sea surface temperatures, atmospheric convection, and storm development across the region. The extension's path and transport are modulated by the Pacific Decadal Oscillation and by interactions with the mid-latitude ocean circulation. From a systems perspective, the Kuroshio Extension is the thermal artery of the North Pacific, carrying heat from the tropics into the extratropics where it is released to the atmosphere.