[Delivery class] We held a "Delivery class" at Kesennuma City Hashikami Elementary School

December 2023, 12

　On Tuesday, November 5, 11, our university's visiting researcher Hiro Yamakawa gave a lecture on the theme of "ocean currents near Japan and ocean currents around the world" to 28 fifth-year students at Kesennuma City Haikami School.

　In class, Mr. Yamakawa asked the students, ``Do you think the fish living in the river will be washed away when the water rises and the current becomes strong?'' The answer is, ``It won't be washed away.'' "is. The reason is that there is always a "countercurrent" flowing in the opposite direction of the ocean current, and while fish find this countercurrent, they find it under rocks, tetrapods, riverbanks, etc. where the water current is weaker. This is because they are hiding in a place where they can surpass them. I explained.

　Next, Professor Yamakawa talked about the relationship between wind and ocean currents. The Kuroshio (warm current) and Oyashio (cold current) that collide off the coast of Sanriku are strongly influenced by trade winds blowing from the east and westerly winds blowing from the west.In recent years, the influence of global warming has weakened the force of the Oyashio current, causing the currents to flow in the opposite direction. I explained that the Kuroshio Current is getting stronger and the current is moving northward, so warm water fish (hairtail, redtail, sardines, etc.) are increasing in Kesennuma.

　Finally, Dr. Yamakawa mentioned that in environments where the Kuroshio Current is strong, the seawater temperature rises and seaweed disappears, causing ``rocky shore burn''. After explaining that we are working on "regenerating used seaweed beds," each student actually observed the zoospores of Arame under a microscope.

　The children learned that ``ocean currents'' occur from east to west due to the influence of ``wind,'' and that seawater temperatures are rising due to global warming, and fish can be caught in the Kesennuma region. They were actively trying to learn about changes in the environment, as well as the efforts of local fishermen to combat global warming, and what is necessary to protect the environment.

　Sanriku Satellite will continue to support local marine education activities.