Kuro Current

ocean current

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 30, 2026

Quick Summary

The Kuroshio, meaning "Black Current," is a powerful surface oceanic current in the Pacific Ocean. It flows northeast from the Philippines towards Japan, carrying warm water that influences the climate of Japan's coastal regions.1

This current is the continuation of the Pacific North Equatorial Current and has relatively high temperatures and salinity for the region. It travels at speeds between 50 and 300 cm per second and is about 400 meters deep.1

The Kuroshio exhibits seasonal variations, being strongest from May to August. It also branches off, with a portion flowing through the Korea Strait to become the Tsushima Current, which affects the west coast of Japan. Similar to the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic, the Kuroshio plays a significant role in heat transfer from the tropics towards the poles.123

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

equatorial current
This flow, known as the Kuro Current, moves north as far as Japan, then east as the North Pacific Current (West Wind Drift), part of which then turns south as the California Current, which joins the equatorial countercurrent to form the Pacific North Equatorial Current.
Read More
This flow, known as the Kuro Current, moves north as far as Japan, then east as the North Pacific Current (West Wind Drift), part of which then turns south as the California Current, which joins the equatorial countercurrent to form the Pacific North Equatorial Current.
Read More