[O-07] The United Nations Decade of Ocean Science: Progress and Future Prospects

[O07-03] International Kuroshio research programme – 2nd Cooperative Study of the Kuroshio and its Adjacent Region (CSK-2)

★Invited Papers

*Akira Nagano¹, Masami Nonaka¹, Kentaro Ando^1,2, Xiaopei Lin³ (1.Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, 2.Tohoku University, 3.Ocean University of China)

Keywords:Kuroshio, International project, IOC/WESTPAC, UNDOS

The international Kuroshio observation programme during 1965-1977, called the Cooperative Study of the Kuroshio and Adjacent regions (CSK), was led by Japan and implemented by Asian countries. Recent knowledge on the Kuroshio is mostly based on data obtained in the CSK. The ongoing 137E-line repeat hydrographic observation has been initiated since the CSK era. The activity of the CSK led to the establishment of WESTPAC as a branch of UNESCO/IOC. In addition, the accumulation of knowledge by subsequent domestic and international projects on the Kuroshio allows us to think that the knowledge of the Kuroshio may be available to benefit society. Therefore, the successor of the CSK, the CSK-2, has been initiated since 2022 as a scientific programme of UNDOS. The CSK-2 contributes to UNDOS with two objectives; to elucidate the relationship between the Kuroshio Current and climate and weather, and its impact on marine ecosystems. At present, the CSK-2 activity is being carried out by 13 projects from 6 countries (the steering group consists of members from 8 countries). To achieve the goals, we report annually on progresses, discuss future cooperation and direction, and solicit new proposals. In particular, we consider that stimulating research activities across the themes due to data sharing and gaining a deeper understanding of the Kuroshio and surrounding current systems due to data assimilation are future tasks, and are working on them. In our presentation, we would like to introduce the present efforts and the progress of the CSK-2, and discuss its future.